Exactly one year to the day when the very first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Jamaica, Sandals Resorts International has announced its intention to gift 300 health care workers across the region with complimentary two-night stays at its award-winning all-inclusive resorts.
The gesture, according to the company’s Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, is in recognition of the selfless efforts of health care workers across the region, who continue to exhibit admirable bravery and make tremendous sacrifices in the face of what has now become a year-long fight.
“Our health care workers have been our heroes throughout this pandemic,” Stewart said. “This has been an extremely difficult year for everyone but our heroes on the front lines and our healthcare workers in particular have demonstrated a level of perseverance and commitment that is awe-inspiring. This is our way of saying thank you and showing our appreciation for what we know has been a very difficult time. These vacations are well-deserved and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet and pamper our heroes at our luxury-included resorts.”
The resort company will work closely with Ministries of Health in the seven islands where it operates to identify the beneficiaries of its latest act of generosity, starting in Jamaica where the company is working with the Ministry of Health’s Staff Welfare Programmes Department to gift a number of the island’shealthcare workers with vacation packages.
Health care workers in Antigua, Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Lucia and The Turks and Caicos Islands are also set to receive complimentary vacations.
Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ena Dalso Henry said, “This thoughtful gesture in recognition of the invaluable contribution and sacrifices made by the frontline healthcare workers to the Covid-19 response efforts speaks volume to the core values of Sandals Resorts International. The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment in Antigua and Barbuda expresses its gratitude and appreciation for this gift to our hardworking and dedicated staff and looks forward to continued collaboration and partnership on this national effort.”
Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, the Sandals Group has consistently lent its support to the fight, supporting regional governments in their efforts to combat the disease and sharing its robust Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness document with regional travel and tourism associations and other resorts to assist in the safe reopening of the region’s tourism industry.
Speaking on the company’s consistent efforts, Stewart said, “This fight is not just for the Government. This is everyone’s fight. The private sector must join hands with the public sector so we can fight this pandemic together. We have all been affected by this pandemic and we continue to be affected one year later. This is everyone’s challenge and finding solutions should be everyone’s business. Sandals Resorts International remains committed to playing our part and we are thrilled to be able to extend this latestoffer to our very deserving health care workers.”
