Awards are key factor of staff recognition, says Wilby

According to general manager Pam Wilby, bricks and mortar are only one part of a hotel with staff making an increasingly important contribution to a hotel's success.

She said: "While we are very proud of our resort facilities - from the 500 rooms and 12 food and beverage outlets to our outstanding spa and other leisure amenities - you have to have something extra to make a hotel stand out from the crowd.

"At Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, we are in no doubt that our staff make the difference - they are our front line, in constant contact with the guests, and many repeat visitors look forward to renewing their acquaintance year after year."

Acknowledging the challenges of human resources in the Middle East, where most staff are expatriate, Wilby said her priority was to ensure staff at the hotel felt their work was more than just a job.

"We know that many hotel workers in the region tend to focus solely on financial remuneration, and while this is paramount, at Le Meridien we aim to foster a culture that rewards staff with more than just money."

The luxury resort will be holding its own in-house award ceremony to reward staff achievement, and Wilby said: "Staff recognition is one of the most importants aspects of team-building."

The group, which operates nine deluxe properties in the United Arab Emirates, has a renowned training programme for staff and also carries out regular career monitoring and appraisals.

"In our resort, staff have the benefit of seeing recognition of their efforts as we have won a series of hotel awards, both within Le Meridien and also from outside bodies, and this has an extremely positive affect on morale," added Wilby.

"We all need praise and I'm delighted to share the World Travel Award with all the staff at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa - every single one has contributed to our success."

In the last 12 months, the resort has been awarded ISO9001:2000 accreditation from BSI for quality standards, as well as the World Travel Award for Leading Resort in the Middle East.

The hotel has again been voted Le Méridien's top performer in the Middle East for guest satisfaction and number one in the group worldwide for food and beverage, as monitored by global consultants, J D Powers. Le Royal Meridien has now been in poll position for the last 18 months.

"The team have really worked hard to achieve these results, and I am delighted that these accolades reflect the property's success, both in terms of guest numbers and satisfaction," concluded Wilby.