Jeremiah B. Leslie & Eudene L.S. Dick comfortably take BEYC awards as 2014 service stars. Photo: VINO

The award ceremony and banquet honoured employees who were deemed exceptional throughout the year 2014 and for each month several got awards. In photo are all the awardees of the night. Photo: VINO

All the awardees flanked by senior management. Photo: VINO

One of the owners from the Hokin family Ms Lauren Hokin congratulates the employees. Photo: VINO

BEYC's Director of Human Resources Ms Delores I. Crique entertaining. Photo:VINO

Jeremiah B. Leslie & Eudene L.S. Dick take the torch which they will now carry for the year 2015. Photo: VINO

The Executive Managing Director Mr Mo Sallah, second from left, in the company of some special guests, Director of BVITB Ms Sharon Flax, Pastor Gregory A. George and wife Wilma E. George. Photo: VINO

The musical entertainment was done by Latitude staff band. Photo: VINO

Owner Lauren Hokin opened the dance floor with one of the service stars award recipients. Photo: VINO

With the right music and the pace set for dance it was time to shake down the food and have a good time. Photo: VINO

Special guests Mrs Dancia Penn-Sallah QC and her husband Mr Captain Baboucar Sallah were not going to let good music go without them getting their feet on the move. Photo: VINO

Guests Akim T. Crique, Sharon Flax and Christopher Johnson. Photo: VINO

Ready to pass the torch on. Photo: VINO

Time to have a go at what was prepared for the night. Photo: VINO

Food time. Photo: VINO

A mother and son moment of celebration. Photo: VINO

And they toasted

Last night was one of celebration for the management and staff of BEYC where glasses were raised in toasts, hands applauded to the large numbers of employees who received medals as employees for the month of January – December 2014, drums rolled to the announcements of the Service Star of the years announcement and of course it was also a night of fine dining, great musical entertainment and camaraderie among staff and specially invited guests.

As the employees received their awards, they heard that they are the engines that keep the industry going as they were also credited for BEYC having an 80% rate of repeat customers.

They are the individuals who helped in ensuring that BEYC is simply the best, better than all the rest by consistently providing an experience of magic to all their customers, they were told.

Pastor Gregory A. George, who delivered the charge at last night’s celebration, did not turn the pages of his Bible nor did he quote scriptures as would have been the norm of a pastor doing such an honour but rather in his words, “I am speaking to you tonight from the heart.”

Virgin Gorda depends on you!

“I want to remind you that your job is not just about you…it’s not just about making guests return and having high sales… it’s even more than that, Virgin Gorda depends on you. If you ever do anything to destroy the legacy that it has here it’s going to affect the entire Virgin Gorda and the entire BVI,” said Pastor George.

“You are not just the cook and the chef there is something magical about your personality, you are the agent of returning guests…. I want you to know that you have created something that is truly magical that when people leave from all over this world and they touch this dock …. How you work along with each other is truly magical because the entire Virgin Islands is depending on you,” Pastor George further said.

One of the owners of BEYC, from the Hokin family, Ms Lauren Hokin made her maiden presence to the establishment’s service stars award ceremony. 

In addressing the awardees she said, “You make Bitter End unique, you set us apart from our neighbours, you create the vibe that is so Bitter End…. You are the Bitter End culture, you create this magic and for that we are forever thankful.” 

The singing of the National Anthem and Territorial Song was done by the three female students of the Robinson O’Neal Memorial School of Virgin Gorda. That school has been adopted by BEYC for some years now.

Keep doing what you are doing

The Executive Managing Director, Mr Mo Sallah, known to be a man of few words at ceremonies and one who would have lots to say when on one-on-one interactions with his employees kept it short as he also joined in congratulating the employees especially those receiving service stars awards.

“This event is one that continues to see people who grow and people who have blossomed and become true professionals in what they do. This is a programme that allows people to dare to be different, dare to standout….it’s the fact that you can do what you do and do it very well that forces the people that work with you to look up to you, to respect you and to know that the slack that they are dropping they are going to pick up anyway so keep doing what you are doing and do it to the best of your ability,” he charged.

BEYC celebrates 40 years

It was also a night that marked a fraction of the celebrations of BEYC’s 40th anniversary of existence.

“Over the past 40 years we have witnessed many amazing achievements in world history. We have seen the fall of the Berlin Wall, the marriage of Prince Charles to Lady Diana and then 30 years later, the marriage of their son Prince William to Kate Middleton in England,” said Ms Delores I. Creque, BEYC Human Resources Manager.

“We have also seen the growth of Bitter End Yacht Club from a shore front pun and a fire cottage sailor’s paradise into a first class resort,” she said.

The contribution to the job sector has been one of the key things that BEYC is proud to have achieved over their 40 years.

“We have also seen the growth in job creation for residents of North Sound and our neighbouring brothers and sisters from across the globe from 12 employees to 190 strong. We have seen the generation and implementations of a vibrant employee recognition programme the reason we are all her this evening,” underscored Ms Creque.