SUPERVISORS from all departments at Sandals Negril Beach Resort and Spa recently participated in an extensive series of training workshops.

These were aimed at streamlining guidelines and techniques in order to ensure that the employees meet the 120 hours of minimum training they are mandated to undergo each year.

The resort’s human resources and training manager, Radcliffe Robertson, conducted the workshop over a three-day period. It was entitled the ‘Train the Trainer Programme’.

“Sandals Negril, and indeed Sandals Resorts in general, places serious emphasis on training of its personnel in a variety of life skills and hospitality related disciplines,” said Robertson. “And these workshops were designed to sharpen and fine-tune the delivery skills of these supervisors, guaranteeing the desired results to their team players in the various departments.”

The group’s activities included role playing, that depicted actual guest situations; sensitisation to the resort’s policy that guests were always the number one priority; and the need to always exceed their expectations. Employees received tips on being industry-smart and thrifty in terms of maximising the available resources and still being able to deliver above-standard quality service. Problem-solving techniques were also among the items on the agenda.

At the end of each day, Robertson encouraged feedback by way of a question and answer session and opinion period, which saw animated and lively discussions from all the attendants. The resort, through its human resources and public relations departments, coordinates a minimum of six life skills monthly.