SANDALS Royal Caribbean recently handed out cash and prizes amounting to more than $1.2 million to top performing staff at the hotel’s 19th Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony.

The resort also recognised two ‘Employees of the Year’, as opposed to the tradition of honouring one outstanding staff member.

Okley Cunningham, a butler, was named “front of the house employee of the year”, while Creeton Brown of the Stewarding Department took the “heart of the house employee of the year” award.

“I am so happy and surprised to have won this award,” said Cunningham. “It is great to know that all my hard work paid off,” he added.

Creeton and Oakly each received US$750.00, a computer, one week’s paid vacation, a one-week holiday vacation for two adults at Sandals Regency, St Lucia, one 20-inch television set, a gold pendant, a Motorola cellular telephone, a certificate of achievement and the winning trophy.

“The Employee of the Year Award is the highest award offered by the hotel,” said Jeremy Mutton, the hotel’s general manager. “We decided to honour both a ‘front of the house’ and a ‘heart of the house’ employee of the year. That way, more team members would have the opportunity of receiving the most- sought-after-award,” he added.

Meanwhile, Marlon Newton, gym instructor, was presented with the “Environmental Award”, while Janice Campbell, dining room supervisor was named “Supervisor of the Year”.

The “Manager of the Year Award” went to Coverly Robinson, assistant food and beverage manager, who received US$750.00, one week’s paid vacation at Beaches Turks and Caicos, round trip airline tickets for two to the Turks and Caicos Island, a bed room suite, one 20-inch television set, a gift basket, a gold pendant, a certificate of merit and a trophy.

“The Annual Excellence Awards recognises employees who are true team players and who consistently go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure guest satisfaction, in today’s highly competitive hotel industry,” said general manager Mutton.