HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY! |
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Dear Members,
Today, March 8 we celebrate International Women’s Day; a day that was created to shine the light on the tremendous achievements of women around the globe but also draw attention to the inequalities and challenges which still exist and the glass ceilings we must still shatter.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrating the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting the gaps that remain.
After a year of living through this soul-wrenching pandemic hell, we salute all women on island and elsewhere. We know that each and everyone of us has a story, their story, to tell. Protecting and feeding our families, teaching our children, caring for our parents, earning a living, maintaining a positive outlook for the benefit of those around us, being kind and supportive to our neighbors and people in need - many women out there did that, all of that.
We recognize that our women health care professionals and all frontline workers were particularly challenged during this past year and they deserve our eternal gratitude.
The SLHTA appreciates all of our women in hospitality and tourism for all they have done and continue to do to see us through as a tourism industry and as a country. We admire your strength and tenacity!
We also want to pose a challenge today and are calling on all of our women leaders! We recognize that the pandemic disrupted the professional development and career path for many of our young women who were ready to join the work force and now have difficulty finding a job. Other young women have lost their jobs due to the pandemic and have lost confidence. If ever there was a need to offer mentorship and support, it is now.
And while we know that in Saint Lucia and in the Caribbean, there are more women in leadership positions than in many other places in the world, there remains a lot to advocate for and for our women to achieve.
Let us support each other, celebrate our achievements, fight the inequalities and above all, ensure that the pandemic will only be a temporary set back for our next generation of women leaders.
Sincerely,
Karolin Troubetzkoy
President
SLHTA
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Spotlight on Erwin Louisy
CEO of Barefoot Holidays St Lucia and 2nd Vice President of the St Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association
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“What matters most is your integrity and how you show it in everything that you do.”
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My greatest achievement: "Thirty years ago I recognized that the growth path of tourism on the island called for a Destination Management Company with a specialized and authentic focus to service its potential. Consequently, I founded, have grown and sustained Barefoot Holidays St Lucia into an internationally respected Destination Management Company with a pre COVID-19 team of 23 full time employees, 15 part-time employees, numerous suppliers and affiliates. This leaves the company with a tremendous responsibility as we are aware that many look to us for employment opportunities, as well as guidance."
Challenges: "I encountered a myriad of challenges in what has been a male dominated industry. Moreover, being a national aggravated this situation as many persons for many years refused to recognize and accept me as the principal of the business."
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Spotlight on Cheryl Skeete
Owner of the Habitat Terrace Hotel, Bonne Terre, Gros Islet
* Founder of Hidden Gems of Saint Lucia. A grouping of small hotels.
* Honorary Member of the SLHTA
* Longest serving SLHTA board member representing Small Hotels
* Caribbean Representative on the Board of the Inter-American & Caribbean Network
of Small Hotels.
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" NEVER LEAVE FOR TOMORROW, WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY "
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My greatest achievement: "My greatest career success is that I get to wake up every day and still work in an industry and with a company I absolutely love, and feel very passionate about. In this role, I have the privilege to lead two amazing teams in St. Lucia & Dominica. For me, this isn’t a job, it’s my joy!"
Challenges: "Perhaps my biggest challenge being a woman in energy, is just as the name says, “woman in energy”. Female in this male dominated industry is still one that requires the confidence to step into the board room knowing that I am not only representing myself in how I lead, but I am also representing other who will follow."
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Waltrude Patrick, General Manager,
Bay Gardens Beach Resort
"Having a love for people is key in the hospitality industry but my love extends much further than this industry that I have called home for the last 2 decades. Over the years I have built long-term relationships with persons across all sectors both locally and abroad. Whether it is an ambassador attending one of the many successful conferences that we have facilitated, a family whose children I have seen grow over the years during their annual summer vacations or the small business owner eager to showcase his products to our guests at our previously held manager’s cocktail party. These connections have assisted me time and time again as valuable resources of information and inspiration. Through the trust developed over the years there has been a mutually beneficial exchange of information, suggestions, best practices and even well received critique."
The challenge: "It has become more evident that individuals entering the hospitality industry do not possess the same fire that was inherent in those before them. The focus has shifted from wanting a long-term, fulfilling career at one company to moving from one employer to another in search of an improved compensation package. Because of this, there is no desire to create an experience where the guest is enticed to return year after year; there is only the desire to capture as much financial benefit from the guest ‘here and now’. Other skills that are not as prevalent as before are empathy, loyalty, accountability and to be a source of strength through the good and bad times. We need to find the platform to provide training and mentorship to be True Ambassadors for the continued success of our Industry."
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Bridgette Charles
Operations Manager
St. James Travel & Tours
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“While we may be individually strong, we are collectively powerful”
~ Rakhi Voria
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Audrey Best
Resident Manager
Starfish St. Lucia and Mystique by Royalton
"You are what you think"
My greatest achievement:
"Single handedly raising two (2) kids with a demanding career and finding a balance."
The challenge:
"Always having to work twice as hard as a woman than a man to earn my seat at the big table."
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Kezieann St.Brice Executive Chef
Mystique by Royalton
"If you would like things to change let that change begin with you”
"I have achieved my long-term goal, strategized within my teenage years, which was to become an Executive Chef. I have had the privilege of doing so in my place of birth, St. Lucia."
The challenge: "Finding a good work-life balance. Due to the demanding nature of the hospitality industry, I sometimes become so indulged in its affairs that matters of my personal life are put on hold or become second priority"
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Kernetta Jankie-Wells –
Talent & Culture Manager
Starfish St. Lucia and Mystique by Royalton
"Become the change you want to see"
My greatest achievement:
"I have become a woman whom my parents are proud of!"
The challenge:
"Balancing a career within a demanding industry while being a mother, wife and student, particularly now during this pandemic, while most importantly working towards being the best role model for my daughters."
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Nerdin St Rose
"I am passionate about travel and tourism marketing and I get inspiration and gratification from helping others succeed. Inspiration breeds compassion breeds success!"
Greatest Achievement:
"My greatest achievement was stepping out on my own in 2006 to start Bornewell Marketing on an island where I was not from, but where I saw the opportunities. I was able to provide strategic direction and to help my clients (government and private sector) to successfully execute their projects and plans. I overcame the initial fear of making the choice to become an entrepreneur and that made a huge difference in my career path.
Challenges we must overcome:
1). The mindset that because we are small we are not able to achieve great things.
2). Understanding that partnerships make us stronger and most times is the best approach vs competing against each other.
3). Women deserve more respect for their abilities to lead successfully."
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Genevieve Dixon
Corporate Director of Human Resources
Sunswept Resorts (BodyHoliday & Rendezvous)
"Don’t Be afraid: Be focused; Be determined; Be hopeful; Be Empowered!"
Michelle Obama
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Michele Kalloo
CEO, Peter and Company Distribution
Today I vow to:
DREAM, what if?
CHALLENGE, How come?
ASK, Why not?
So that TOMORROW, every woman and girl will experience a world where there are:
NO glass ceilings
NO violence against them
NO second class citizens
NO stereotypes
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