November 2013
| Business World Magazine | 251
it was only the second occasion in more
than fifty years that a true blue Bajan had
been appointed to this role. On that occa-
sion, Wilkie shared insight as to his lead-
ership philosophy, saying, “Do your best
always, have respect for people, remem-
ber your roots and never give up.”
Wilkie says his jobhas beenmade rather
easy from have such a talented composite
of team players helping to fulfill duties,
but again, this was something he helped
bring to the property. Under his watch, the
staff to guest ratio expanded, now stand-
ing at 5:1. Among those hires was a new
Italian Resident Manager named Mario
Bevilacqua von Gunderrode. Formerly
affiliated with the famed Jefferson Hotel
of Washington D.C., Mario is a graduate
of the equally exceptional Lausanne Ho-
tel School. He has fulfilled a crucial role
in driving what he describes as a “new era
of engagement with guests.” He says staff
have not only been encouraged to contrib-
ute their own ideas in terms of improving
operations anyway possible, but have also
been encouraged to interact with guests.
He says as great as the beach, golf, restau-
rant and spa may be, what drives guests
