ANSWERING the call of philanthropy promotes a sense of fulfilment and community as lives become enriched and impacted.

One such individual who has responded to the call of community service is Hermione Hemmings-James, the loyalty and travel manager at Sandals Royal Caribbean.

She is a truly inspirational figure whose steadfast commitment to leaving a legacy of love through the Sandals Foundation and Sandals community relations initiatives has helped to transform countless lives within the Montego Bay region.

From an early age Hemmings-James recognised the importance of giving back. She noted that her enthusiasm for charity came from an innate desire to empower the less fortunate.

“One of the driving factors that led me to seek employment here with Sandals Royal Caribbean eight years ago was Sandals’ philanthropic commitment,” said Hemmings-James. “I would read about the transformative work that they were doing in communities in Montego Bay and felt compelled to be a part of a brand that shares my values about uplifting underserved communities.”

Being equally as passionate about her work, Hemmings-James and her loyalty and travel concierge team are regarded as top performers throughout Sandals. The team members consistently use their expertise to further drive support for Sandals Foundation among their guests.

“We believe in healthy competition and we try to outdo our performance every month, not only within the loyalty and travel department but also regarding the number of donations we garner for the Sandals Foundation,” she said.

While mentioning her support of Sandals Foundation, Hemmings-James spoke liberally about some of the initiatives she has proudly been a part of since joining the Sandals Royal Caribbean team.

“I do what I can to support on the resort end but once my schedule allows, nothing beats joining outreach programmes within the communities. Perhaps the one that has tugged at my heart the most is serving as a mentor for a teen mom I met when we visited the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation in Montego Bay.”

She continued, “I have a daughter who I raised as a single mother. Although I wasn’t a teen mom I have been around long enough to know that oftentimes they may let this define them for the rest of their lives and become a negative statistic. However, with proper guidance they can use being a young mother as the fuel that compels them to aim higher for themselves and their children.”

A teary-eyed James continued, “I see the potential in that young lady, however, I know she lacks the resources to fully tap into that potential so, in addition to the donations that have been made to the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation, I have made the conscious effort to sponsor her to the best of my ability.”

Hemmings-James, along with Dawn Smith, general manager for Sandals Royal Caribbean; the learning and development team; and several key departments have pledged to also help guide the young, soon-to-be mothers of the Montego Bay Women’s Centre. The aim is to enrol them in the resort’s hospitality training programme as a way to help them secure further certifications and gainful employment in the tourism industry once they are of age.

According to Sandals Montego Bay’s Regional Public Relations Manager Rochelle Forbes-Reid, “Hemmings-James is a true heroine, not only in the way that she lends her support to our community initiatives but more so how she understands the profoundness of how changing even one life means you’ve changed a generation. She understands that we are in a position to use our resources to serve others and she does that with great understanding, humility and pride.

“Most importantly, by using these initiatives as an avenue to address many of the systemic issues that exist in Montego Bay and empowering marginalised populations she, along with other members of our dedicated team, have created a ripple effect of positive change, inspiring hope and fostering a sense of possibility.”

Dawn Smith also sang high praises of Hemmings-James’ dedication to effecting change. “She is a shining example of how we want all team members to embody and magnify Sandals’ sustainability values. We commend her for not only going above and beyond at work but for also bringing that spirit of enthusiasm to our philanthropic initiatives. She is an inspiration to us all.”