16 | Sandy Lane
dining and guest service operations could
not flourish without the presence of a staff
driven to deliver excellence. Wilkie says
Sandy Lane has gained a reputation for
being the world’s best resort because it
has amassed the world’s best team of hos-
pitality professionals. Wilkie has not only
been integral to the hiring process, but
vital to the development of an environ-
ment where employees are instilled with
an awareness of the significance in their
respective service roles; they understand
why their work matters and are cognizant
of the fact that they are entrusted and en-
couraged to make their own, unique, ben-
eficial difference in their respective in-
teractions with guests. For staff, there is
great pride in not only serving at a world
class venue, but also in working with a
home grown professional such as Wilkie
(who was actually born in Scotland, but
raised in Barbados since the tender age
of three-month-old). As a 30 year veter-
an of the hospitality industry, Wilkie has
led operations at several very fine resorts
from Jamaica to Antigua, but when he
was recruited to become General Man-
ager of Sandy Lane several years ago,
