THE group of butlers listened attentively as their manager briefed them about the task at hand last Sunday.

The briefing came to an abrupt halt as a group of visitors entered the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St Ann. Broad smiles greeted the visitors.

Butler Service Manager Tamon Allen walked over to the guests and welcomed them to the world-renowned resort.

“How are you doing, ladies and gentlemen? How is your day going so far?” Allen asked in a pleasant tone.

Warm smiles lit up the faces of his team members, making the visitors feel even more at home.

“We are all okay,” the visitors responded in unison. They were about to walk away when Allen gently held one of them by the hand.

“How are you, sir? Good to see you again. You don’t remember me, do you?” Allen asked the visitor who appeared to be in his late 40s and who identified himself as Steve Savage.

Savage took a long, hard look at Allen, his eyes and expression betraying his puzzled mind.

Allen proceeded to recount to Savage how, as a curious youngster he would walk to the Sandals resort where Savage worked at the time.

“As a child I used to wander close to the golf property and you used to show me around when you had time,” said Allen. “You used to even encourage me to stay in school and study hard.”

The simple gesture resonated deep with the little boy, who at the time would stand and watch with a gleam in his eyes as employees at the property carried out their duties and delivered first-class service to guests.

Before that moment Allen was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. The experience, though, changed him.

Fast-forward 20 years. Allen was now meeting Savage for the first time since those days.

As they stood looking at each other, they marvelled at how their roles had now been reversed with the passage of time.

The man who took care of a boy was now being taken care of by the boy who had now become a man.

“A cyaan believe it seh a you youth get so big,” Savage exclaimed with obvious pride and joy.

Allen smiled.

“When I was young,” he said, “you took care of me. Let me take care of you.”

Savage nodded in approval.

Savage is among approximately 27 employees nominated by various departments in the Sandals chain of hotels and other companies in the Appliance Traders Ltd (ATL) Group selected to participate in the annual Sandals Ultimate Awards ceremony.

Managers of the organisation explained that the event was designed to recognise the work of employees who, over the past year, have excelled and have been identified as role models.

The employees have all, in their own ways, displayed the spirit of the organisation founded and owned by hotelier and business entrepreneur Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

Last year’s event was won by Earl Cummings, an 18-year Sandals veteran from the Maintenance Department at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

Cummings received the Ultimate Team Member trophy, a luxury-included trip for two outside his home country complete with VIP airport transfers, champagne service, an exclusive private jet round-trip transfer to the destination of choice, a host of VIP resort experiences and a cash prize of US$2,500.

At last year’s event, Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International, in his address praised the nominees for their incalculable value to the company, reminding them that they each play a critical role in the success of the group. “The machine that is our company cannot work without everyone being in full harmony. Each department and division must perform,” the young Stewart said.