Members of the Pelican Bay at Lucaya Barracudas Slow Pitch Softball team were feted at a reception recently in recognition of their achievement to the Grand Bahama Softball Pitch League’s playoffs. Playing with a team of rookies, the Barracudas team was amongst seven teams advancing to the Slow Pitch Softball League’s playoffs this month. Magnus Alnebeck, hotel general manager, is pictured as he congratulates team captain, Melissa Carroll, who is also revenue and reservations manager, Pelican Bay. Doug Koschnitzke of US Immigration is pictured front left while other team members look on

The social event brought together Pelican Bay staff and its business associates from US Immigration and Customs, Freeport Aggregates and Underwater Explorer’s Society, who banded together with the group to form and boost the team.

The Barracudas, a rookie team, set a record when it made it to playoffs after only being initiated into play in May and operating with team members completely new to Slow Pitch Softball. 

Pelican Bay Barracudas team captain, Mellissa Carroll, who is also revenue and reservations manager at the hotel, garnered support of hotel corporate partners and team family members to create the “robust team.” 

What started as an internal team-building exercise for hotel staff associates eight months ago led to sufficient in-season wins to land the team amongst seven other teams advancing to the Grand Bahama Slow Pitch Softball League season’s playoffs.

“I was surprised that we made it to playoffs as we did not expect to make it that far,” said Ms. Carroll. “When I built the team, it was done to build morale and comraderie amongst staff members.”  The team practiced twice weekly from February this year to October when the Slow Pitch Softball Team’s season playoffs began.

Ms. Carroll continued:  “Needless to say, we are extremely pleased with relationships built and our accomplishment; we eagerly look forward to next year’s season.”

The Slow Pitch Softball’s Team happiness and successes spilled over to Pelican Bay at Lucaya itself when the hotel finished September with a record 59 percent increase in business over last year. 

'We are very pleased to finish this September at 59 percent over last year’s performance,'' said Magnus Alnebeck, general manager of Pelican Bay.  ''With current economic climate and market conditions, the increase of business year over year is remarkable.''

Pelican Bay at Lucaya once again hosted members of the Florida Panthers Ice Dancers and crew when they recently visited Grand Bahama island for a three-day Ice Dancers 2010 calendar shoot around the island. Videography and stills photography featuring the 17-strong Ice Dancers were shot around the resort and Grand Bahama Island. They shot scenes around the resort and at attractions on the island. An Ice Dancer is pictured here as she posed in front of Pelican Bay’s reception area.

Pelican Bay at Lucaya further fostered partnerships when it hosted 17 Florida Panthers Ice Hockey Ice Dancers and crew who were on island to shoot the Ice Panthers 2010 Calendar.  Shoot locations included various hotels, beaches, Garden of the Groves and other beautiful scenic locations around the island. This marks the second year that Pelican Bay has played host to the Ice Dancers.  Calendars will be on sale at the BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, home of the Panthers Ice Hockey Team, as well as on the Panthers website.  

Pelican Bay at Lucaya’s management and staff also recently recognized Front Office and Housekeeping team members with Instant Rewards for outstanding service. And, management and staff bid a fond farewell to two St. Paul’s 12^th grade students who worked at the hotel for three months job study during the summer.

Front Office Manager, Della Bridgewater, said ''the Instant Rewards are a terrific way to show appreciation. They are great incentives and a good way to keep employees motivated, '' pointed out Mrs. Bridgewater.

 

Management and staff of Pelican Bay at Lucaya awarded hotel associates with instant rewards for outstanding guest service and said a fond farewell to students from its adopted school, St. Paul’s Methodist College, at a recent gathering. Pictured, left to right, are: Ms Yvette Evans, security supervisor; Mrs. Renay Russell, vice principal, St. Paul’s Methodist College; Miss Regina Dean, St. Paul’s student; Grant, St. Paul’s student; Nelson, St. Paul’s Guidance Counsellor; Mrs. Della Bridgewater, front Office manager, Pelican Bay; Nicoya Bethel and Uniquika Missick, reservations associate and Mrs. Patra Albury, financial controller.

Employees receiving the Instant Rewards were Front Office supervisor Karen Wilson and Front Office associates Eleanor Bullard, Christopher Ramsey, Tara Knowles and Aurora Curry as well as Renee Gibson, Housekeeping.  They received restaurant gift certificates and tickets for the movies.  Instant Rewards are issued on the spot as staff perform outstanding guest service acts and have been active for over a year.

St. Paul’s School is Pelican Bay’s adopted school.  The hotel annually employs students from the school during the summer.  The summer students, Regina Dean and Vernard Grant, graduating 12^th grade students, spent time training in the accounting and Front Office departments at Pelican Bay to gain first hand job experience.

For further information on Pelican Bay at Lucaya, go to : www. pelicanbayhotel.com.

#  #  #  #

Pelican Bay at Lucaya is owned by Sundt AS, a private investment company based in Norway.  Pelican Bay is the only investment that Sundt has in The Bahamas.  Sundt is also the majority shareholder of Pandox, which is a specialized European company that currently owns 48 hotels in Europe and Montreal, Canada (15,000 rooms ) .  Pandox hotels operate under well known brands such as Scandic, Hilton, Radisson SAS, Crowne Plaza, Choice, Hyatt, Intercontinental or independently managed.