February 17th, 2016 -- Fay Walters, one of the Conference Services Manager, Four Seasons Resort was the first Nevisian to be employed by the resort 25 plus years ago, she talked to Pauline Ngunjiri about how the resort gave her an opportunity to become a successful career woman…..read on.
After Ms Walters had completed her studies at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, where she pursued secretarial studies which was the traditional option for many women, she did not work with one option, she decided to be ambitious. She applied for a job at the Bank of Nevis and the Four Seasons Resort. Both entities offered her jobs. Apparently she was destined to work in the hospitality industry and so the job offered by the Four Seasons Resort was accepted.
Walters handled many responsibilities at the Resort’s pre-opening office such as incoming and outgoing mail, running all the errands in Charlestown, paying Social Security, dealing with Bank transactions, preparing the payroll, typing and photo copying.
“As we started to grow, we hired other persons. We started to develop the policies and procedures manuals for the pre-opening team,” she said. At the time, there were no computers. She used a typewriter to get her work done.
She was amused as she recalled the art of mastering a typewriter, “If you made a mistake on a particular document, you have to insert that document back into the typewriter and make the necessary corrections.”
Walters has held several positions at the Resort. Some of the positions she held include: Pre-opening Resort Receptionist, Accounting Receptionist, Administrative Assistant, Engineering Secretary, Conference Services Secretary, Conference Services Coordinator, Assistant Conference Services Manager and presently Conference Services Manager.
What is the secret of Walters’s ability to work for one employer for 25 years?. “For me it is the passion for the job, knowing what the job is all about and knowing what is expected of me. We were always told by our Mum that if you are in an Industry where you are expected to give service, you have to remember that people who are given service are paying for that service. Mum also told us to treat others as we would like to be treated.”
She elaborated further, “for example, if you walk into a business place, the service you are expecting you should also give to the people who come to your work place.”
There have been many challenges, for example in the Conference Services Department, “We work with various clients with different personalities and sometimes you do not connect with a particular client. The challenges are numerous, however I have learnt that experience is a great teacher and patience is a virtue.”
Based on the economy the clientele changes. “Everybody is looking at the dollar and wants to make sure they get value for their money. I am pleased to report that a number of guests accompanied by their young children have been coming since the Resort opened and it’s a joy to see the children as they mature into adult hood.”
Walters said the Four Seasons Resort has provided jobs to local Nevisians. It has given women opportunities to take jobs such as bartenders, engineers and landscapers which are normally filled by men. “Presently we have females working in jobs previously mentioned. Women do not necessarily have to be waitresses or secretaries.”
“More women have become independent because they are working for a salary that can enable them to support themselves and their families. Work and life balance is pretty good. Previously they did more than one job but because of the pay scale at the Resort, it enables them to have one job and spend more time with their families. They are more organized.”
Walters talked of her most trying moment at the resort. “The most challenging time was 2008 when hurricane Omar hit the resort forcing the hotel to be closed for two years. Most persons were laid off. Some of us stayed on.”
Her most memorable moment was when the resort reopened again in 2010 after being closed for two years. “All the renovations had been done and knowing that you will have a team again who will be serving guests from all over the world was a comforting an exciting experience.“
She has coordinated numerous weddings and has shared exciting times with couples, families and their guests. She can recall one wedding couple that has been retuning every year to celebrate their anniversary. On each visit they will contact her so that they can reminisce the wedding day.
What is Walters’s advice to new employees at the Resort, “They should make sure they know the goal of the Company, make sure the company’s goal is their goal and aim for the highest performance level.”
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