Sandals Staff Member Alternate Program to spice up Caribbean employment
A central part of Sandals’ strategic plan for its regional exchange program is to increase direct employment and increase presence in the Caribbean.
- Sandals Resorts is expanding its longstanding team member exchange program to expand its regional team.
- The exchange program is an initiative of Sandals Corporate University and enables new employees to immerse themselves in the resort’s culture.
- This program is designed to empower Sandals’ regional workforce, provide awareness and cultural sensitivity, and position them as global citizens.
Over the next four years, thousands of Caribbean nationals will benefit from more employment and regional training opportunities as the long-established Sandals Team Member Exchange Program (TMEXP) kicks in and seeks to grow its regional team from 15,000 to 20,000 team members.
This follows the new acquisition recently announced by the leading hotel chain, expansion into a ninth Caribbean island destination, and expectations of a full recovery in the regional tourism sector from the devastating effects of the coronavirus.
A central part of Sandals Resorts International’s (SRI) forward-looking strategy is the company’s Team Member Exchange Program, under which Caribbean nationals continue to operate at a number of the company’s resorts in the region. The exchange program is an initiative of Sandals Corporate University (SCU) and allows new employees to immerse themselves in the culture of the Sandals and Beaches resorts, while existing employees are seconded to other resorts for the opportunity to travel and new work to be exposed Environments and cultures will expand their skills and insights, enhance their professional development, and have a positive impact on their job performance upon return to their home resort.
The program is still a clear indication of SRI’s commitment to regional integration and also of the investment in its employees, which has been achieved with great success through initiatives such as the Management Trainee Program (MTP). The MTP identifies and nurtures outstanding young recruits to become managers in the company through hands-on learning and training in resorts across the region. In addition, the company continues to conduct regional recruitment exercises, provide ongoing employment to Caribbean nationals, and take advantage of the CARICOM Free Movement Agreement.
Adam Stewart, executive chairman of SRI, said the company was very optimistic about the future of tourism and Sandals’ leading role in its full recovery in the area. “Sandals Resorts International is still a real representation of the spirit of CARICOM. In the short term, we focus on getting all of our current team members back to work, but we are also looking to the future and our medium to long-term goals. With our announcements for Curacao and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, there is no doubt that opportunities not only exist for existing team members from our resorts in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Grenada, Antigua, Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia and the Bahamas. but also new recruits from these new island destinations. We pride ourselves on our long tradition of providing cross-border growth and opportunities for local residents to learn new skills and share their existing ones. “
The unique training program of each participant, including the length of stay abroad and the learning objectives, is determined in cooperation with the home resort and the SCU. All participants will submit a reflection report at the end of their training and receive SCU trainers to support them during their training journey.
Stewart added, “Our training has always been centered around the process of immersive learning. Over the years we have built a strong and distinctive sandal culture that has made us a leading global brand. We want our people to travel to other islands, spend time and learn from their peers and other nationals. Each island is unique, as is each of our resorts. This exchange program serves not only to empower our regional workforce, but also to give them the kind of notoriety and cultural sensitivity that position them as global citizens. We are therefore very pleased to be driving this program forward and launching what we know will continue to be the model for regional education, development and employment. “
For more information on Sandals Corporate University programs, please visit: https://www.sandals.com/about/
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