The Week at SLHTA, July 13th, 2012

 

Saint Lucia’s very own Accela Marketing has received seven awards including the coveted, “Best of Show” category at the 2012 Caribbean Advertising Federation (CAF) ADDY Awards. What is considered the Oscars of the Advertising World, the ADDY Awards are hosted by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), and are the advertising industry’s most comprehensive and prestigious competition recognizing and rewarding creative excellence in the art of advertising.

 

Among Accela’s wins were two GOLD ADDYs for the SLASPA’s ‘Behind the Everyday Benefits of Life’ Corporate Campaign and the FDL Pest Control Solutions Radio Advert. The Agency also won four SILVER ADDYs for the ECFH 2012 Calendar, the ECFH 2010 Annual Report, and the Accela Website and Facebook Page. The FDL Pest Control Solutions radio advert also won the highly valued Best of Show award. Out of all the radio adverts submitted it was considered the best of the best.

 

Accela, a first-time entrant and winner of five awards in 2011, is one of the smallest agencies operating out of one of the smallest markets in the Caribbean. This year, over 420 entries were judged from over 30 different companies in the region including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Agency held its own against some of the biggest multi-national creative agencies like McCann, Red Advertising & Marketing Ltd and Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi.

 

“We are ecstatic to bring home seven awards this year, especially the award for best radio advert in the Caribbean,” stated Accela’s Managing Director, Agnes Francis. “This is a huge accomplishment and a strong testimony of the world-class products that our talented creative team produces for our clients. Big ideas that bring big results do not need big budgets, big markets or big agencies, just big thinking and attention to small details.”

Recently, Caribbean Journal conducted an interview with Hon. Lorne Theophilus, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industries.Hon. Theophilus explained that over the years St. Lucia’s tourism industry is a continually growing entity. St. Lucia is known primarily as a destination for romance and honeymoons, but the new Minister is looking into enhancing and developing the product and also be established as a destination for health and wellness. According to him, product is what sells, what drives this engine that we call tourism – so we want to establish a product that is of a very high standard, and includes standards for the industry as well.Hence keeping it at its present level with a high reputation and moving it further and will regenerate itself.

As discussion of entering into the Latin American market continues, Hon. Theophilus shared some insight on discussions dealing with airlift and cost. He also optimistically expressed the possibility of a blossoming market coming out of Latin America in the next few years, unlike Asia which posses to be a lot more problematic because of time and the proximity of getting to our destination. The Minister says he is seriously looking into the development of such a relationship, especially from an investment standpoint.

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) is a growing market and beneficial to many of our destination marketers and travel agents. Coming out of the recently concluded budget, Hon. Theophilus indicated that this market was mentioned and government plans on actively pursuing this new global trend for the benefit of our destination.

In conclusion, Hon. Theophilus emphasized on the diverse culture of Saint Lucia. A culture which includes our people, scenery and now internationally awarded cuisine, one that is best known for romance, which has made Saint Lucia a marquee destination.

Lyle Pauls is pleased to join The Landings St. Lucia and brings with him his expertise from running other Luxury Hotels in the Caribbean, Canada and the United States.After graduating in Culinary Arts and his start as a Sous Chef at the Banff Springs Hotel in Canada, Lyle moved to the Rooms Division and graduated in Hotel & Restaurant Administration.  He left the kitchen to manage Front Office operations in two Westin Hotels in Winnipeg and Ottawa before accepting Hotel Manager of the 1,100 room Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans. Lyle then accepted GM positions in W and Westin hotels in both Chicago and Manhattan.

Lyle’s Starwood expertise includes being named “Hotelier of the Year”‘ winning “Highest Year over Year GOP Improvement” and winning “Best Sales Team” for North America.  He is a Six Sigma Black Belt and was deployed numerous times to head up service and defect challenges in many Starwood hotels.

His opening experience includes the Westin Providence, the W New Orleans. His development and condo expertise was gained in designing and opening The Carlton Savannah in Trinidad, where he also hosted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II during the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. Lyle’s most recent assignment was a turnaround property, Coco Reef Bermuda, where RevPAR improvements of over 30% brought it to record performance.

Ashley Chung started his journey at the age of 22, with Sandals Resorts International when the Company opened Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort in 2002.  He was employed as a Beach Attendant.  Before long, he participated in Life Guard courses and became a Certified Life Guard.  He got extensive exposure driving the ski boats at the resort, and because of this love for working not just on the beach but in the water, he obtained a Boat Captain License from SLASPA.Ashley was the recipient of Most Courteous – Team Member of the Month for February 2006. In 2010 he was recognized as the Team Member who was the Most Promising/Most Improved for the Month of January 2010. In 2011 Ashley Chung was recognized as the Resort’s Team Member for the month July 2011 and again in December of 2011 he was the Team Member of the Month for December and also the recipient of the General Manager’s award.

He is now a senior Boat Captain at Sandals Grande St. Lucian.  Ashley continues to enjoy his years at Sandals and is very dedicated to his job.  He is a true team player and can be depended on to assist in any area, at any time that he is called on.  Ashley recently was awarded the Ultimate Team Member Award at Sandals Grande for 2011 at the Prestige Awards recognizing outstanding employees and was awarded for hisOutstanding Service, from Sandals Grande at the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association’s President’s Gala Ball.

Ashley is described as a competent, diligent and helpful individual.  Guests have been blown away with his enthusiasm, charm and level of professionalism displayed.  His service has also been described as impeccable and memorable.