Montego Bay, St James — Dorothea Grant’s grasp on team building and revenue management has led the spa at Sandals Royal Caribbean to be one of the top spas in the Luxury Included® resort chain which spans the Caribbean, thereby securing her reign as a manager of innovation and ambition.

Her journey to success started with her grandmother, with whom she, her siblings, and other younger relatives were raised. Grant admired the strength of her guardian as she maintained a happy and healthy household for her family while her mother bustled at work as a store manager — a job that would subconsciously inspire a young Dorothea to eventually pursue a career in revenue management. As a youngster, the Harrison Town, Ocho Rios-born girl dreamt of embodying her mother’s elegance, industriousness and professionalism.

“From an early age, I saw myself as an executive, a leader. Not fully understanding what it entailed but the dress, the demeanour and everything that came with it intrigued me,” explained Grant.

After completing high school, Grant did a one year course at Ocho Rios School of Hospitality, which subsequently landed her a one-month internship at Sandals Ocho Rios (now Sandals Ochi Beach Resort) as front office agent in 1998. The quick-witted and effervescent Grant grasped the concept of front desk operations rapidly, and left an indelible mark on both her superior and peers. This resulted in her being offered a part-time position as lobby hostess.

“I remember how grateful I was for the opportunity. I loved being on the forefront and dealing with guest arrivals and making them feel at home. It was the best part of the job,” Grant, who describes herself as a conversationalist, told the Jamaica Observer.

She was soon promoted to front desk receptionist in a full-time post.

On her journey to professional discovery, Grant parted ways with the company for a few years, returning to Sandals Royal Plantation as spa receptionist in 2001. She continued to excel for the next eight years, pursuing on-the-job skills training opportunities and working closely with the then regional spa manager, before making her transition to spa assistant manager in 2009. Reporting directly to a regional manager who floated between resorts saw Grant owning full responsibility of the team and facility in her absence.

“Knowing that I was the sole person responsible for the spa allowed me to step up and execute all that I learnt over the years. Failure was never an option. I had to be the best,” Grant confidently expressed.

Grant exceeded her colleague’s expectations in the supervisory position, resulting in her winning awards such as Team Member of the Year as well as Supervisor of the Year at the resort’s annual staff awards ceremony. She was soon promoted to Spa Manager at Sandals Montego Bay, with the receptionist at Sandals Royal Plantation matriculating as her successor.

The journey did not stop there for the revenue guru. In 2016, the go-getter was transferred to Sandals Royal Caribbean where she continues to represent the number one income-generation spa facility in the chain. But she has not allowed her almost 20 years of experience to make her complacenct. Through Sandals Corporate University, the radiant and endearing senior manager has made use of opportunities to advance her skillsets through Harvard’s Leadership and Communication certification and an associate degree in business management from the University College of the Caribbean.

“Professional development is an ongoing process that continues throughout someone’s career. To many, this may be the accolades that you have achieved and can add to a shelf, but to me it also encompasses the extent to which my team evolves in their work,” said Grant.

“My journey taught me that, with perseverance, you can truly attain your goal and when you have achieved those goals, you can make new ones,” she explained, and with this mantra she motivates her colleagues.

Under her mentorship, five team members have been promoted to managers at Red Lane® spas across the region.