The Week at the SLHTA, August 2nd, 2013

Friday, August 2nd 2013 In This Edition Windjammer Staff Awards Vote for Saint Lucia Gros Islet Weekend Activities SLHTA Tourism Incentive The Art of Up Selling BARBAY Limited wins award Mandela Day Activities Quick Links SLHTA Website SLTB Website Creative Industries Visitor Channel VOTE NOW World Travel Awards CHTA Website CTO Website Caribbean 360 Windjammer Landing  Rewards dedicated Employees The Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort held an awards ceremony for its Employees on Wednesday 31st July 2013 at Royal Palm Conference Room.  The resort understands the importance of recognizing and rewarding employees for their hard work and therefore shows its appreciation by hosting this annual ceremony.  The prestigeous Awards Ceremony was held under the theme “Going the extra mile, with a captivating smile“.  The following awards were handed out to the respective individuals: Most Mentioned Helen Richard Most Entertaining Sylvester James Most Congenial Marla Willie Most Innovative Michel Alphonse Supervisor of the Year Emmanuel Jules Manager of the Year Roney Francis Employee of the Year  Winston Hunter – Front of House Quincy Jemmot – Back of House Sports persons of the Year Alvin Lafeuille – Cricket Laurence Pierre – Football Department of the Year Papadon’s Managing Director Award Charlene Francis Barry Prospere Staff Welfare Committee Award Hugh Fontenelle    The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association congratulates all awardees on their achievements.  The Association would like to encourage them to be role models to other employees and also ambassadors for their resort and Saint Lucia.   VOTE SAINT LUCIA Let us make St Lucia the 8th-Wonder-of-the-World by voting once a day,everyday!!! Saint Lucia has lived up to its tagline as “Simply Beautiful” by maintaining its status as the best island in the Caribbean amid all the tough competition. Saint Lucia consistently remains on top by winning several awards every year.  Being recently named best honeymoon destination in the Caribbean and #4 in the world by Brides Magazine, we have proven to be a force to reckon with. Saint Lucia is a 238 square mile island with the most breathe taking sites, including the worlds’ only drive-in volcano, beautiful beaches and resorts and the most wonderful people.  Saint Lucia has attained World Heritage Status with its spectacular Pitons, World Heritage Site. Visit www.virtualtourist.com/8thwonder GROS ISLET FRIDAY NIGHT   The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association would like to encourage members to participate in the Gros Islet Day weekend of activities. As part of the Gros Islet Day weekend activities, this Fridaynight will take the form of the Gros Islet Jazz Friday night with local bands and street dancers in attendance. The Gros Islet Street Party is the longest running street party in St. Lucia and is a hot spot for locals and tourists alike, with the pulsating rhythms of calypso, zouk, reggae and R&B echoing from the speakers.  The street party offers a wide variety of local dishes, including barbecued chicken, pork and sea food prepared by local vendors.   The street party starts around9pm with a friendly, holiday atmosphere in the crowded streets of Gros Islet. Locals and visitors alike wander from bar to bar, drinking, mingling, dancing and just enjoying the scene. SLHTA Board of Directors Meeting Held: Friday August 2nd, 2013 Agenda Call to order and Welcome Remarks Minutes of the previous Meeting Review of previous Board’s accomplishments Roles and Responsibilities of Directors SLHTA Tourism Enhancement Fund Public Awareness Campaign Any Other Business  Details will be provided in next week’s edition of our Newsletter. SLHTA Knockout Cup 2013 Gros Islet Football League The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) partnered with the Gros Islet Football League to host the first ever SLHTA Knockout Cup since the revitalization of the Association’s very own Sports Invitational.  The SLHTA realizes the importance of community sports and its ability to psychologically develop our youth and also the significance of health and wellness in sustaining a healthy lifestyle.  This collaboration comes on the grounds of the SLHTA’s new Public Awareness Campaign and the efforts of the Association to build a closer relationship with the different communities. The Gros Islet Football League held its march pass and opening ceremony at the Gros Islet Playing Field on Thursday 1st August 2013.  The ceremony was also held in commemoration with Emancipation Day, along with a number of other events and activities happening around the island in various communities.  The following teams were in attendance and pledged to make this tournament exciting and competitive as they attempt to become the SLHTA Knockout Cup Champions 2013; Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa and Beach Resort Windjammer Landing Landing Villa Beach Resort Luthers (Northern) Marina Massive Youth Porter Caye Mange Dominators Coco Peer GMC York Veterans Seaview Monchy Reduit Police Orion Nuas GMC Review of Tourism Incentive Act   On Tuesday 30th July 2013 at 9:30 a.m. the SLHTA in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries hosted a consultation with the membership of the SLHTA at the Bay Gardens Hotel, to capture recommendations to inform the revision of the Tourism Incentives Act.   This exercise was very important as it provided members with an opportunity to share their views on considerations that should inform the new act to ensure that it captures more specific references and incentives for emerging services in tourism.  Among the SLHTA member companies represented were The Marina at Marigot Bay, Windjammer Landings, Landings Saint Lucia, Spice Travel, Trouya Beach Ltd, UMI Foods Inc., Courtesy Car Rental, St. Lucia Linen Services, Sea Spray Cruises, La Haut Resort, Cap Maison, National Car Rental, Sandals Grande and representatives of the Ministry of Tourism.  The discussion was presided over by Dr. Claudius Preville. Among other recommendations made at the four hour meeting, participants called for an approach to offering incentives which would be performance based and which would essentially reward sustainable tourism practices including efforts to promote social equity, reduce unemployment and trade with local suppliers of craft and other products and services. The consultant, Dr. Preville, continues to meet with other stakeholders and tourism sub-sectors and is expected to circulate his findings and recommendations for further discussion in September 2013. The Art of Up Selling The Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) continues to offer innovative Development Training Programmes to members  to ensure the continued development of industry employees and entrepreneurs.  In this competitive industry, mastery of the art of up-selling and cross-selling of products and services is key to increasing one’s productivity. Up-Selling is a sales technique whereby a seller induces the customer (guest) to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons in an attempt to make a more profitable sale. Up-selling usually involves marketing more profitable services or products but can also be simply exposing the customer (guest) to other options that were perhaps not considered previously. Whether you’re a Sales Agent, a Wedding Coordinator, a Photographer or a Loans Director, this technique is an unquestioned, immediate profit generator.  The SLHTA has proposed an Up Selling Training Workshop as part of its calendar of activities this year.  This workshop will take place at the conference room of the SLHTA  on Wednesday 14th August 2013 from 9:00am – 3:00pmand will be facilitated by Mr Joseph Dubois.  Training materials, lunch and coffee break will be provided for participants. The cost to attend this workshop is EC$250.00 per person.  Persons registering and settling payments before Wednesday 7th August 2013 receive a 20% discount.  Upon completion, participants will receive a ‘Certificate of Participation’.  Interested persons are invited to contact Mr. Wendel George atadmin@slhta.org  for more information and to confirm your willingness to attend. Please note that space is limited therefore interested persons and companies are encouraged to register early.  Thank you for your kind attention. Chairman’s Reserve & St Lucia Distillers   double Trophy winners at ISC 2013   The International Spirits Challenge is one of the most prestigious global drinks competitions with the annual presentation dinner being known as the “Oscars of the Spirits Industry”.  Saint Lucia Distillers competes in the challenge annually against the best brands in Rum, Whisky, Vodka, Gin, Cognac and other spirits. Over 1,000 spirits from 125 companies enter the competition from all over the world.   At the International Spirits Challenge awards dinner held in London last week, Chairman’s Reserve Finest Saint Lucia Rum won the Trophy for ‘The Best Rum’ and Saint Lucia Distillers followed this up by being awarded the best ‘Individual Distiller’ Trophy against all other distilleries. Saint Lucia Distillers has now won three International Spirits Challenge Trophies following successes for Admiral Rodney and Chairman’s Reserve Spiced in previous contests. “We are extremely proud to have won the Trophy again and are delighted to be recognised by winning the “Best Individual Distillery” Trophy as we continue to strive for world class standards” says Margaret Monplaisir Acting Managing Director of Saint Lucia Distillers. This is the first time a Caribbean distiller has won the Individual Distillery Trophy and recognizes the commitment of the company to making the finest rums in the world. . “This has been a grand slam win for Chairman’s and Saint Lucia Distillers” said James Rackham, Chairman of Emporia Brands Ltd who first brought Chairman’s Reserve to the U.K. market five years ago. “Every spirit category has a gem spirit distiller” James Rackham continued “and Chairman’s Reserve is a wonderful example of this, exemplified by the attention Saint Lucia Distillers takes in every step from sourcing the best ingredients and in their careful distillation, blending and maturation that results in a rum which now leads the premium Caribbean rum category – an International Superstar.” Chairman’s Reserve is now distributed throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Saint Lucia Distillers is close to appointing distributors in Russia, the Middle East, India and Australasia so that consumers in all corners of the globe can appreciate our nation’s award winning rums. Chairman’s Reserve is fast becoming a major international liquor brand and all St. Lucians can be proud that their favourite rum is now savoured in the finest bars and restaurants world wide.   SANDALS FOUNDATION MOBILIZES FOR   MANDELA DAY    The Sandals Foundation commemorated the globally-recognized Mandela Day by educating more than 300 children about the life and works of former South African President Nelson Mandela on July 18.   The Sandals Foundation, in partnership with the South African High Commission in Jamaica, is carrying out its mission with children and children’s homes in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.   Every year on Mandela’s birthday, individuals and organisations across the world are asked to spend 67 minutes of their time helping people to recognize their own ability to have a positive effect on society. This is to commemorate the 67 years Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa and Anti-Apartheid activist, dedicated to the fight for human rights.   “Nelson Mandela is a remarkable man who dedicated his entire life to effecting positive change. His impact has been felt across the world as people associate him with justice and humanitarianism,” said Heidi Clarke, Sandals Foundation director of programmes. “Every year that we celebrate Mandela Day, we are ensuring that his legacy lives on for future generations to cherish.”   Activities for Mandela Day included talks and discussions at the Edward Gartland Youth Centre (Turks and Caicos); the Forward and Onward to College Upward to Success (FOCUS) group (The Bahamas); Lights on Day Camp (Antigua); Saint Lucia Crisis Centre (Saint Lucia); Clifton Boys Home (Whitehouse, Jamaica); West Haven Children’s Home (Negril, Jamaica), the S.O.S. Children’s Home (Montego Bay, Jamaica), and in the Huddersfield Community (Ocho Rios, Jamaica).   To learn more about the Sandals Foundation, visit online at www.sandalsfoundation.org.