WILLEMSTAD - February 2022 marked the start of a gratifying experience in the hospitality industry for Gideon Zimmerman. The 26-year-old was one of the first members of the housekeeping team who helped to prepare the newly acquired property that would later become the Luxury Included® Sandals Royal Curacao (SCR).

As the resort underwent a vigorous overhaul, the impressionable young man helped to clean the walls, dust furniture and clear the corridors to make way for the pristine transformation. As Zimmerman enthusiastically went about his daily tasks, the eyes of impressed leaders were on him, coining plans to help him up the rungs of the proverbial ladder of success.   

“After the resort opened June last year, I was working on the floor and Ms. Beverly Brown, the group manager for rooms division at Sandals Resorts International (SRI) started asking me a few questions about myself. I shared with her that I was currently studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Control at the University of Curacao and she asked if I would be up for the challenge to work in linen room control,” he recounted. 

Excited for the opportunity to grow in the housekeeping department, Zimmerman trained with experienced linen room controllers from other established Sandals hotels who were assigned as support team members during the first months of SCR’s opening. After weeks of training and further on the job exposure, the young man accepted his promotion to linen room controller on June 2, 2023, one day after the resort celebrated its first anniversary on the beautiful Dutch isle. 

“I am very thankful to the leaders in housekeeping, especially Ms. Brown and my manager Ms. Peaches who saw my potential after such a short time working at Sandals and I will continue to make them proud,” he shared. Currently writing his thesis which will signify the completion of his degree programme in August of this year, the humble, young star has every desire to continue to grow within his role. He is also optimistic about his prospects in upward mobility within housekeeping or even a transfer to the finance department with his degree aligning well with that division.  

“SCR has tremendous potential and I am excited for what the next years have in store. One of the most notable things for me is the opportunity Sandals gives to employees who want to grow and develop. In just one year, I have seen many of my colleagues get promoted. In housekeeping especially, our room attendants and housemen have advanced into more senior positions and many have transitioned to other departments. These promotions are great sources of motivation for the team because it shows that Sandals remains true to developing and growing its employees,” he shared.  

For Executive Housekeeper Peaches Carter-Irons, being impressed with the young man is simply an understatement. The way he effortlessly handles the demands of his degree programme as well as the tasks he has to manage at work is admirable.

“Gideon never appears overwhelmed balancing school and work. He is very focused and has a passion for his job and the department. He follows up and has earned the respect of the team. He is brilliant and is an emerging leader that has our support in honing his management skills. The next step for him is more exposure to other aspects of the operation as we look to move him into the role of housekeeping supervisor. At the rate that he is performing, learning and embracing new challenges, I see him becoming an executive housekeeper in a few years,” shared Carter-Irons confidently.  

Not at all phased by the demands of going to school and being employed fulltime, Zimmerman shared his approach towards his job and his views of his place of employ. “Communication and accountability are very important in doing your job. Consistency is also key. Watching the progress of the resort from being one of the first housemen to come on the floors and prepare the resort for opening, I feel a sense of pride just seeing where we are now and how magnificent the resort is looking,” he shared.  

His hope for Sandals in Curacao and Sandals Resorts overall is that the company gets even bigger, employ more team members and provide more opportunities for his fellow countrymen and the Caribbean at large.