by Curlan Campbell, NOW Grenada
- Property celebrated 25 years of Grenadian service
- The 300-room property will be the largest resort in Grenada
- Longstanding staff recognised for their years of service
On Friday, Starfish Grenada Resort, formerly known as Grenadian by Rex Resort, celebrated 25 years of Grenadian service ahead of the rebranding of the hotel to Royalton Grenada in December 2019.
The Sunwing Travel Group’s Royalton brand continues to spread its wings throughout the region and has hailed its latest acquisition of the Grenadian by Rex Resort property as a historic feat.
The new all-inclusive Royalton Resort will take available rooms from 212 to 300, with an investment of a US$80 million.
The 300-room property will be the largest resort in Grenada, adding to the expanding collection of all-inclusives on the island including Sandals Grenada and Spice Island Beach Resort.
Guests and longstanding staff were treated to dinner and a cocktail party where staff with exemplary years of service were awarded. There was a spectacular display of fireworks to signal the strategic alliance with Rex.
Anderson Howard, Regional Director Eastern Caribbean, Blue Diamond Resort, said that starting with Grenada, the Sunwing Travel Group’s Royalton brand will commence its growth throughout the Caribbean. “From a sales and marketing standpoint, our company strength within the Canadian, UK and USA markets allows for an increased yield through higher-end volume-based business. Our mission is that this transition will improve overall performance, guests satisfaction and returns.”
Alison Palin of Rex Resorts has heralded the acquisition as a new start to a lifelong partnership that will bring mutual benefits. “It is important to celebrate the past and even more important to celebrate the future with the new partnership with Sunwing Travel Group and Blue Diamond Hotel and the future evolution of this great asset. As the newly christened Starfish Grenada effective 1 December we are delighted to be a part of the Sunwing family and will be looking forward to a busy winter season, especially with the addition of a weekly flight from Toronto via Sunwing Airlines.”
General Manager of Starfish Grenada Resort Christopher Forbes says Grenadians can now look forward to a new and improve the brand of the all-inclusive resort that will defy expectation. “We are elated with new plans that will be unfolded under this new partnership agreement. We are confident that upon implementation it will undoubtedly boost the hotel stock and make Grenada the envy of its brother and sister islands in the region. Now, as we move forward under the Starfish brand, we look forward with anticipation for a great future.”
Speaking on the milestone reached by the resort, Private Sector Representative Christopher Deallie said 25 years in existence is no small feat and therefore the management and staff must be commended. He particularly mentioned employees at the resort who he referred to as the greatest asset of any company. “I am told that the resort still has staff after 20 years in this operation and that is a feat. So I think that is important to recognise your staff because we all know in business we have all different types of assets in our balance sheets, but we never put our staff on it and that is the most important asset.”
During the ceremony, longstanding staff were recognised for their years of service.
20 years of service
- Charlean Jones – Public Area Cleaner Supervisor
- John Abraham – Hall Porter
- John Ventour Snr – Hall Porter
- Ralphie Simon – Bars Supervisor
- Dessi-Ann Charles – Kitchen Food Preparation
- Raphael Mitchell Duty – Manager
- Carlson Lee – Accounts Supervisor
- John Richards – Repairs Plumber
- Stephen James – Gardens Supervisor
- Edmund Smith – Gardener
- Deslin Langaigne – Supervisor
- Donald DeCoteau – Night Auditor
15 years of service:
- Emelia Samuel – Public Area Cleaner
- Tessa Richardson – Front Office Supervisor
- Oral Murrell – Maintenance Senior Supervisor
- Allem Date – Maintenance
- Martin Phillip – Gardener
10 years of service:
- Deslin Langaigne – Supervisor
- Shannon Ledlow – Supervisor
- Carol John – Waitress
- Charlene Lawerence – Bartender
- Beaverly Woodruffe – Supervisor
- Donald DeCoteau – Night Auditor
- Shirlyn Cyrus – Supervisor
- Glen Browne – Gardener
- Veronica Lewis – Room Attendant
- Paula St Paul – Room Attendant
- Loraine Clarke – Room Attendant
- Charmaine Courtney – Laundry Attendant
- Tracey Leid – Laundry Attendant
