(Seychelles News Agency) - Devotion to the job, the love of his work and the desire to advance professionally are the reasons why an employee of Le Meridien Fisherman's Cove Hotel won the Starwood President’s Award 2015, the winner said. 

Maxime Rachel, Director of Operations at one of Seychelles’ most prestigious hotels, was awarded the Starwood President’s Award on April 21.

“I felt very happy, as I felt that my hard work had paid off because with Starwood it’s not easy. It’s a lot of hard work and there are a lot of targets to be met. So it’s important that you are someone who can really focus, you have a goal and you want to achieve something,” Rachel told SNA.

Rachel has around 20 years of experience in the tourism industry and has worked in various hotels in Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, including Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa the Constance Lemuria Resort and Maia Luxury Resort and Spa.

The award winner started his career with Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove which is part of the Starwood hotels and resorts, an American hotel and leisure company based in Connecticut in the US.

The Starwood President Award is an annual award the company bestows upon members in recognition of their passion for their work and their commitment to their employees. 

Rachel says that during his journey he has amassed lots of experience and has seen and been part of the evolution in the tourism sector where there has been many changes with regards to clientele, product and employee.

“Tourism as a product has improved immensely as there are better five-star hotels and facilities that modern tourists will expect. People are taking more time to do preventive maintenance, and are being a bit more adaptable in the way they sell their products,” he said. 

Rachel says that clients’ demands have led to changes as many of them are now conscious of prices.

“They expect value for money and I am somebody who believes that even though something is expensive, if you are providing the service equivalent to that elevated price then it is value for money which is why I inculcate in my employees that we have to deliver the service according to the client’s expectations.”

In terms of employees, Rachel said that the type and quality of employees have also changed over years with less of them being passionate about their jobs and serving clients. 

“It’s sad for me when I see the younger persons who do not want to listen, have bad attitudes, are short-tempered, lack the desire, the passion and the drive to achieve. There is however a handful that still possesses good qualities,” he told SNA.

The award winner said in spite of all of the changes he embraces the Starwood philosophy. “Everyday we rethink of how we do business, how we attract new customers and new employees.”