The Red Dragon Disco was crowded with employees from CuisinArt Resort & Spa for some seven hours on Tuesday evening, September 5, the venue of a mass staff party which closed off the tourist season for the hotel.

Employee of the Season - Lionel Hodge (centre)

General Manager, Stephane Zaharia, said, to the applause of the workers, that just recently CuisinArt had been nominated the best resort in Anguilla by Trip Adviser.Com and it happened because of the high level of service rendered by the 320-plus employees. He announced that a customer service course conducted not long ago for supervisors and managers, by Belinder Goddard, would be delivered to the entire resort prior to its reopening on October 31 for the 2006/2007 season. He also spoke of other training programmes for the staff which will include an intense ten-day course at Paris Wineries.

Supervisor of the Season - Merla Smith

Mr. Zaharia told the staff that a number of letters of commendation for staff had been received from the guests who had also expressed their delight with the beauty of the resort. “I am very proud of you because you guys are doing a fabulous job,” he added.

Manager of the Season - Aideta Gumbs (2nd from left)

The Executive Director at the resort, Bob Dixon, said: “The amazing thing that CuisinArt is - and it is not the building - it is all of your smiling faces that keep the guests coming here.” He stated that CuisinArt, with its unique name, had changed a lot of perceptions and is now one of the most preferred hotels on the island. “As Chris Richardson, pointed out, keep our friends at Malliouhana and Cap Juluca in your prayers. It is because of them that we have a hotel and hospitality destination,” he said. “It is very important that we all succeed together.”

Dennis Nedd - (2nd from left) winner ofcruise trip

During the function a number of employees were awarded for having no late or absent records on their files. This was followed by the presentation of three main awards.

One of the many gift winners

The first was Employee of the Season which was won by Lionel Hodge of the Engineering Department. His prizes included a glass plaque, three nights stay at the Guanahanzi Resort & Spa in St. Barths and US$200. The award for Supervisor of the Year went to Merla Smith of the Front Office. Her prizes included a glass plaque, three nights stay at Little Dix Bay Hotel in Virgin Gorda and US$250. The Manager of the Year award was presented to Aideta Gumbs of the Housekeeping Department. She got a glass plaque, three nights stay at the “One And Only Ocean Club” in Paradise Island, The Bahamas and US$300.

One of the many gift winners

A special prize, a five-day cruise on a Carnival Line cruiser for two was awarded to Dennis Nedd, the popular Doorman at the resort, for a job well done. He commented to The Anguillian: “So many to choose from, but there can only be one to take with me.”

Some 45 prizes were presented to other staff members on raffled tickets. The gifts were provided by CuisinArt, Caracasbaai Supermarket, J.W Proctors and other businesses.

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