Multinational luxury hotel brand Sandals Resorts last week held its second group-wide town hall meeting for 2024 at which Executive Chairman Adam Stewart addressed thousands of team members live from Montego Bay.

The event, which connected employees across nine countries, showcased a suite of transformative projects focused on enhancing both the team member experience and the company’s offerings.

A standout announcement was the launch of the Sandals PALM Pass, a groundbreaking team member discount programme offering savings across a wide range of merchants, including supermarkets, restaurants, gyms, and travel services.

“This is our way of easing the burden of rising global costs,” an impassioned Stewart shared. “I’ve seen our head office working tirelessly, reaching out to business leaders across the Caribbean to make this happen.”

He credited the success of the initiative to the Employee Experience Division, spearheaded by Corporate Manager Jamie Green, and emphasised that it’s only the beginning of Sandals’ efforts to enrich the lives of its team.

The PALM Pass is part of a larger wave of enhancements, including improved gratuity offerings and expanded discounted rates for team members and their families. These initiatives were informed by a group-wide survey earlier this year which invited team members to share how Sandals could elevate the employee experience.

“Because you spoke, we listened,” Stewart told thousands of engaged employees both in person and online. Their reactions, marked by smiles, nods, and applause, spoke volumes about the impact of these developments.

Building on feedback from the survey, Sandals established eight pillars of employee welfare, which focus on communication, social engagement, collaboration, health and wellness, recognition, and innovation.

Green likened these pillars to a chef’s recipe for crafting the perfect dish. One standout initiative, Project Sparkle, has already transformed a dozen staff restaurants across the group, with six more renovations on the horizon.

“From mental health initiatives to improved dining facilities, we’re ensuring these pillars touch every level of the organisation,” Green said. “So whether you are a supervisor, a team member, or at any level of the organisation, you will feel the impact of the eight pillars of employee experience.”

Stewart also shone a spotlight on the transformative power of Sandals Corporate University (SCU), the fully funded training ground empowering employees to grow within the company. Success stories, like those of Delino Moss and Tamon Allen, who advanced from entry-level roles to senior management, exemplify the opportunities available through SCU.

“These stories are just a snapshot of the magic happening in this company and that has been happening for years,” Stewart said, underscoring that team members remain Sandals’ greatest asset. “We are a people business. The real horsepower that makes us who we are is our 18,500 team members.”

Looking ahead, Sandals also announced plans for new resorts in The Bahamas, Jamaica, and other destinations, promising more than 5,000 new hires and 300 managerial positions. Stewart encouraged team members to enrol in SCU, reiterating that Sandals is dedicated to promoting from within.

“When we grow, you grow,” he stated. “I’m offering to 100 per cent of our team members in this company, that if you have the right attitude and aptitude, I’ll pay for it. I’ll take you, with our team, to levels you may not be able to reach on your own. Why? Because it’s good for you, and if it’s good for you, it’s great for this company — and if it’s great for this company, we’re going to the moon. And that is the plan. We believe in education.”

The meeting had moments of laughter, camaraderie, and surprise giveaways. Stewart awarded complimentary stays to the newly unveiled Sandals St Vincent, underscoring the company’s commitment to fostering a spirit of gratitude and unity.

The meeting left employees inspired and energised, ready to embrace a future defined by growth, opportunity, and the enduring bond that makes Sandals a family.