WHITEHOUSE, Westmoreland — Antiguan Nasasha White, a wedding co-ordinator employed to the Sandals Grande Antigua became the recipient of the second annual Sandals Ultimate Award here last Wednesday night.

She was chosen as the most exemplary team member of the Sandals group’s over 10,000 strong workforce serving in the group’s 20 properties across the Caribbean.

During the evening of ceremony and dinner award at the Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa, the affable wedding coordinator who has been employed at Sandals Grande Antigua for over three years, failed in her effort to hold back the tears of joy after being announced the winner.

Her prizes include US$2500 and a fully paid one-week vacation at a Sandals resort of her choice. The Sandals Ultimate Award winner will be transported by limousine from her house to the company’s private jet to be flown to the property where she will spend her vacation as a VIP guest.

“I am overjoyed. I cannot believe I have won,” she told the Observer. “This award means the world to me”.

White came out ahead of the 18 other nominees who emerged the Prestige Award winners at their respective hotels.

Gerald Christ, the general manager for Sandals Antigua General appraised White as an outstanding member of his staff who is “an energetic and generous employee who is also an active member of the Sandals Foundation Team and the Green Team”.

“I am not surprised that she has won am very proud of her,” said Christ.

Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), Adam Stewart during his address used the opportunity to laud the efforts of the Sandals team. He was also quick to point out that all the nominees were winners.

” I salute the nominees that are in this room and as cliché as it may sound you cannot be here unless you are the absolute pinnacle and the cornerstone and the backbone for the Sandals organisation. You have all won already,” said Stewart.

A deafening silence blanketed the Sandals Whitehouse European Village and Spa ballroom, moments before Stewart opened the envelope revealing the identity of the winner.

Thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the audience which included high-ranking representatives from all the Caribbean properties, followed.

The factors used to determine the winner of the coveted Sandals Ultimate Award include:

*team spirit,

*training,

*attendance,

*awards, recognition and achievements’

*ambassadorial qualities, and

*community and environmental stewardship.

Wednesday’s ceremony saw Touch of Elegance Band flavoured the evening’s atmosphere with beautiful renditions of classical pieces, much to the delight of the receptive audience.

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings, whom is also SRI director, business processor and administration lauded Sandals for showing appreciation to it’s team members.

“Still I think that it is the kind of recognition that a company must do for it’s team members which shows no boundary on celebration. The business that we are in is about people and the most important is the team members who help and what Sandals did is the epitome of how to celebrate staff,” Cummings noted.