At a recent staff awards ceremony held at the Golf Club House, Cap Juluca’s General Manager, Gary Thulander, told the hotel’s workers that the property was looking forward “to a really great 2010 and there was a need for each employee to make a difference.”

Staff members with over twenty years flanked by Mr. Aron (left) and Mr. Thulander (right)

He went on: “All 360 of us can make a difference at Cap Juluca. We want to make sure that we build on the success of the past year. If we can all work together, what a great hotel we will have. Let’s dedicate 2010 for a great team year, maintaining these awards and making Cap Juluca better and better.”

The awards he spoke about included such accolades as the 2009 Andrew’s Harper Award in recognition of Cap Juluca being number one in the Caribbean and number three in the world; the 2009 Travel & Leisure award for number one in Anguilla; and the 2009 Luxury Travel Award for Excellence. He noted that such awards were not won by Cap Juluca three or four years ago. He credited the present award-winning success of the hotel to the renovation and upgrading work done by Adam Aron and his partners.

Mr. Aron also referred to the resort’s successful participation, earlier in the year, in the Anguilla Culinary Team, captained by Deane Moore, which competed in the Taste of the Caribbean Competition with Glendon Carty emerging Chef of the Year gold medalist. In addition, he mentioned Patson Williams, who was recently adjudged Employee of the Year by the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association.

“We have a lot to be thankful for, and I can’t tell you how proud I am to be part of this property and the family here, and we are really looking forward to a great 2010,” he stressed.

In referring to the recent staff awards, Mr. Thulander said Cap Juluca had now created a Julucan Jubilee Club. He explained that the members were a number of employees with 20 years of service or more who were being honoured in that way for the first time. The other awards announced were for housekeeping and culinary, a Manager of the Year Award, the Julucan Pride Award and the Spirit of Juluca Award.

Staff members at the award presentation

Part owner of Cap Juluca, Adam Aron, expressed delight that the resort had won the Hotelier of the Year Award in Anguilla several weeks ago. He took the opportunity to personally present the award to Mr. Thulander, saying he had won it with the support of the 360 members of staff.

“It is true that we have spent a lot of money renovating Cap Juluca, and this is my 41st trip to Anguilla since Christmas of 2007 when I decided to buy the hotel two years ago,” he recalled. “On every one of those 41 trips I have talked to hotel guests…and from everyone of them, I hear the same thing: ‘Your staff at this hotel is fabulous,”’ have reported.

Mr. Aron who took the opportunity to comment on the golf course now being managed by Cap Juluca, stated in part: “Another good year is about to begin. Bookings since September 1st have been strong. We have this beautiful 15 million dollar golf course, club house and restaurant facility to excite our guests this winter. I am trying to get it for 25 years but right now it is for one year.”

He introduced the two officials now running the golf course, Erin Stevens and Paul Veneziano, who are responsible for its upkeep and operations, and thanked them for their work to revive what he said had virtually become an area for herding goats.

Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Victor Banks, spoke at some length on the Government’s involvement in the memorandum of understanding for the sale of Cap Juluca to the new owners and about the continued efforts to maintain the resort as a five star property. Mr. Banks was pleased that the event at hand was really to celebrate the awardees and to thank them for their contribution.

Golf Course Officials, Mr. Veneziano and Mr. Stevens with Mr. Thulander

The awards were announced by Director of Human Resources, Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, and presented by Mr. Thulander in the presence of Mr. Banks, Mr. Aron and other leading Cap Juluca personnel. Although much attention was paid to the individual awardees, special recognition was accorded to the many employees who were inducted in the newly-established Julucan Jubilee Club.

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