Sandals Welcomes Back Homegrown Trainer

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Hotels

Saturday, 05 March 2011 06:55

By caribarena news

Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa’s Regional Food & Beverage Trainer Vincent Andrew is back home and ready to share his wealth of hospitality knowledge to ensure guests vacationing in his island home are treated to the highest standards.

Andrew was born to work in the hospitality industry, and from his early years at St Joseph's Academy knew that was his destiny. “As a Boy Scout, I volunteered at various restaurants in my early teens and the industry ‘bug’ bit,” he fondly recalls of his time spent at Nature’s Place on Market Street and Joe Mike’s on Nevis Street. “I learned proper knife skills whilst at Joe Mike’s!”

His hospitality journey continued, as after completing secondary studies, he joined the Jumby Bay team, gaining a wealth of experience in all areas of the industry including the front office, accounting, laundry, housekeeping, guest services, and food and beverage departments.  

Andrew is however no stranger to Sandals Grande Antigua, and for him this is also a second homecoming, as he first worked with the luxury-included resort chain as a junior assistant manager in the Food & Beverage Department in 1997.

Recognizing the need to further his studies to better support his desire to grow in the hospitality industry, Andrew resigned after two years and pursued studies at the University of the West Indies, graduating in 2003 with a Degree in Hotel Management. Since then, there has been no looking back, as he has travelled and worked extensively throughout the United States, Grenada, and St Lucia, honing his craft as a Food & Beverage specialist.

His return to Antigua, coupled with becoming a father, has been a pivotal time in his life which he recalls fondly. “In 2008 with the birth of my son, I was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home dad nurturing my son Marcus and creating a tight bond during that formative year-and-a-half," he said. "I recommend it to all fathers who have such an opportunity as it connects you with your child in ways that you never thought possible.”

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Andrew has now learned to create a balance between his home life and work, as he admits it was a difficult move to return full-time to the workforce. The industry was in his blood, however, and with the support of his loving wife, Joyce, he returned to Sandals Grande Antigua.

“As the Regional Food & Beverage Trainer, I am responsible for ensuring that the food and beverage offerings from the resort to its many international guests remain at the highest standards and continuously exceeds our guests’ expectations," he said. "This is my opportunity to promote my country as providing a most memorable vacation experience and above all, I am happy to be home. Antigua is where my heart is.”

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