1CSunday, May 26, 2019

THE JEWEL of the south is celebrating in style as only this beachfront beauty Ocean Two can. Situated on Dover Road, Ocean Two Resort and Residences by Ocean Hotels is the epitome of a luxury experience located just steps away from all of the action of the Gap.

According to Shireene Mathlin Tulloch, general manager of Ocean Two, “We won

many awards last year and we want to thank the public and our customers for all of their support over the years and for bringing us to the point where we are. We want to thank all of our day-pass users, staycation users, meeting room users, the people who come to the restaurants, everyone who has supported us”.

“My biggest focus since joining Ocean

Two has been expanding the food and beverage in the hotel and to create awareness in the public of what this hotel has to offer,” she said.

Who doesn’t want to sit on the beach and enjoy a breadfruit bowl? Ocean Two offers a unique experience and has just expanded their breadfruit bowl Friday Night Roast & Lime to include shrimp and lobster and black belly lamb with pesto and parmesan cheese.

The price range is fantastic. The bowls start at $25 and the shrimp and lobster are $47. The price is right and as people experience what we offer the word spreads. “We try to make everything a

little more exciting and put in a little more creativity. We encourage our team to try new things,” Tulloch added.

“Ocean Two is positioned to become bigger and better and is continually offering something new to our clients. Anything is possible for Ocean Two. If there is anyone who has not come to Ocean Two, I think they are missing out on something fantastic that Barbados has to offer”.

“Our packages now include more for the public. We’ve just opened up a lovely coffee shop where you can sit and have a gourmet coffee and pastry. You don’t need to go west to go stylish. We have the style on the south.”

2C Sunday, May 26, 2019

by Patricia Affonso-Dass Ocean Hotels Group general manager

I AM VERY PROUD to lead the Ocean Hotels group, a Barbadian family owned company with properties located on the island’s south coast.

The group is made up of Ocean Two Resort – our beautiful luxury condo hotel, Sea Breeze Beach House – a beach chic all-inclusive resort with true Bajan charm, and South Beach Hotel – a retro-inspired all-suite property just steps away from Rockley Beach.

Service and quality are in the heart of the group . . . we believe that true Bajan hospitality must shine through in everything that we do and that our guest’s holiday is the most important thing. At each of our Ocean Hotel properties our guests are treated to a variety of personal touches, from refreshing homemade ice lollies served on the beach, to a game of beach cricket or dominoes with the staff or savouring roasted stuffed breadfruit on the beach. The sights, the sounds, the tastes and the feel of the island are woven into the experience.

We first entered the hotel business in 1992 and over the next couple years acquired three two star hotels. Over the years since, we have focused on continuously renovating, upgrading and expanding the properties, improving our management team and marketing capability, investing in the development and training of our team members and we continuously look for ways in which we can grow and adapt in an ever changing and competitive market.

Over the past four years we have invested BDS$28M in renovation and expansion projects at South Beach and Sea Breeze Beach House (BDS$4M and BDS$24M respectively) and are in the final planning stages of a BDS$22M renovation and expansion of Ocean Two. The Ocean Two expansion will take the room count at that property to 130 rooms and the total number of rooms across the group to 301.

Ocean Hotels is excited and positive about the future of the island’s tourism industry and is committed to consistently improving our product, our people, our marketing, and our service to become the luxury brand of choice in Barbados and the region.

We look forward to welcoming you.

OCEAN TWO has won many awards throughout its eight years of existence. Below are some of the most significant awards won over the past eight years:

• Winners - Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association’s Employee of the Year Award 2018

One of our very own employees, Naria Lord copped the big Employee of the Year prize at the BHTA Gala Awards last year. This award is given to employees who qualify as Employee of the Month at their respective hotels. In Naria’s case, she was our overall Employee of the Year for 2017. Naria’s commitment and dedication to service excellence wowed the judges and as a result Naria was victorious, winning from among the many tourism professionals on island.

• Finalists – Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association’s Hotel of the Year Award 2018

This award is given to a property that has demonstrated a commitment to the pursuit of excellence, not only as it relates to the property and standards of service, but an inclusive commitment: demonstration of visionary and innovative practices; participating in initiatives and activities that promote the destination; sustainable environmental practices; positively impacting on the community and the value and development of the human resource asset. Ocean Two were finalists in 2018 but won the Large Hotel of the Year award in 2016 and the BHTA’s President’s Award in 2014.

• Finalists – Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association’s Social Responsibility Award 2018

This award is given to a member that demonstrates outstanding achievements through leadership, innovation and commitment to excellence in corporate social responsibility. Ocean Two entered for the first time in 2018 and went all the way to the finals.

• Winners – Barbados’ Best Employers Award 2018 (Medium Category)

Ocean Two was a finalist in both 2014 and 2016 but took the big prize in the Medium Category in 2018.

• Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s Chief Awards – Social Responsibility Award 2018

The CHIEF Awards held under the Caribbean Hotel &

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3CSunday, May 26, 2019

SHIREENE MATHLIN TULLOCH, general manager of Ocean Two, only joined the Ocean Two family a year ago and refers to herself as “the baby of the group”, as so many of the O2 team have been around for many years.

According to Tulloch, “It was a big change for me when I joined Ocean Two because my last property was a very different style hotel. And it was a big change for the team because they only ever had one general manager, Paul Collymore. He opened the hotel and was the person behind Ocean Two’s excellent reputation for seven years.”

“I have always loved this hotel. I remember the first time I saw it which was around the time it was built; I fell in love with the rooms. Two things that have always been outstanding at Ocean Two have been the beds in the rooms and the sunbeds on the pool deck,” she said.

For Tulloch, joining Ocean Two was one of the best decisions she’s made. “It’s a fantastic property and a beautiful product but what I think makes this hotel more than anything is the warmth and the genuine, welcoming nature of the staff.”

Ocean Two has invested a lot in training over the years and it really shows in everything the team does. The managers have done a fantastic job managing their teams. They’re young teams and they’re energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate.

“We really appreciate everyone who has partnered with us over the years and have helped to make this hotel the success that it is. We hope we will continue to have those relationships going forward and we promise to deliver as people expect us to,” said Tulloch.

“This year, for the first time, we will be doing our awards as a group. Our

beautiful sister properties are Sea Breeze Beach House and South Beach Hotel. The celebration is normally held in April. This year it will be a little later but it will be a bigger celebration. We’re looking forward to that and we’re hoping that this is going to be 8 of 80!”

Tourism Association were established to recognise successful practices which CHTA member hotels and tourism-related enterprises have adopted in four categories:

• Business Operations • Environmental Sustainability • Sales And Marketing • Social Responsibility

Ocean Two successfully copped the Award for Business Operations in 2016 and in 2018 again copped the award

for Business Operations and Social Responsibility, while the Ocean Hotels Group copped the award for Sales & Marketing.

• Certificate of Excellence – Trip Advisor – 2012 – 2018 (Hall of Fame)

Consistency is key and as such we’ve won the award every year since 2012 to 2018 placing us in the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame.

5CSunday, May 26, 20194C Sunday, May 26, 2019

NATALIE KING fell in love with the Ocean Two property before it became the jewel of the south coast. King, the assistant general manager of Ocean Two, recalled, “My first job in the hotel industry was at Rainbow Reef, which is where Ocean Two is now. When I heard that Patricia Affonso-Dass was managing Ocean Hotels and was opening Ocean Two, I knew I wanted to be on board because of her vision and her standards”.

Ocean Two opened in May 2011 and King joined the team in September as the front office manager. “Initially, I was in charge of front office operations. That involved setting up the front desk and bell services which is ensuring there is someone to greet the guests and take their luggage. We also introduced the Ocean Two taxi service. We wanted our guests to experience the same service and culture they get within the hotel on the outside,” said King.

She continued, “The hotel is so different from when we opened. We have a lot more staff. We do internships with The University of the West Indies and some of our core staff actually came and stayed working

KATRINA CUMBERBATCH has been with Ocean Two for three and a half years. “I first joined as the front desk team leader, a supervisory position. Ocean Two is a place of growth and development. Over time, I got involved in different operational aspects and was named assistant front office manager”.

“We ensure that when persons are coming to the property, whether they’re coming to stay or meet someone or just for a few minutes, that they feel welcome and that they leave wanting to come back,” said Cumberbatch.

“We make sure that the check in and check out process is seamless and that any complaints or requests are taken care of promptly with the best of service at all times. We have a team of nine and somebody is on staff at all times”.

Ocean Two’s concierge department enhances a person’s stay. According to Cumberbatch, “We implore our guests to go out and experience the island through tours or just go around with a taxi. Many guests come to the island after they’ve saved for months or years so we like to engage them so that they don’t just stay at Ocean Two but see what the island has to offer”.

“We also do private beach dinner setups. It can be for a special occasion or just to enjoy dinner on the beach. We also decorate for any celebration that you want to have. We can keep it discreet or make it lively. We do anything to enhance a persons’ stay.”

Prompt emails of thanks, offering to stock groceries in rooms, and airport transfers with fast track services are the little things that put Ocean Two above the rest. “We want everyone to have a taste of what Ocean Two has to offer,” said Cumberbatch.

FOR THE PAST six months, Kyle Jones has been the food and beverage manager at Ocean Two. August will be his third anniversary with the company that he initially joined as a waiter.

For Jones, “It was very different when I came to Ocean Two. I came from working at a large hotel so the culture, the size of the hotel, the offerings of the restaurants were all totally different. What caught my eye about Ocean Two is that they have a lot of young leaders”.

“I had just completed my bachelor’s degree and thought if I came in and worked hard that there would be positions available for growth,” he said.

“I was given the opportunity to cross-train as the cost controller so that when she was on vacation or leave I could fill that spot. The cost controller then got a promotion and I got her position”.

From BBQ to Italian style, Ocean Two offers an eclectic mix to please any palate. “A lot of hotels have three or four restaurants. We have one. At our one restaurant you can get so much. Even on our themed nights you can still get our tapas and a la carte dinner menu. Huge kudos to the chefs for being able to prepare three menus almost every night of the week. Be on the lookout for our Father’s Day special coming up”.

“Over time, you start to feel like you’re a part of a family. Relationships develop and the love grows and you feel proud and happy to be a part of something. There have been so many additions and so much growth. I’m very appreciative of the things we have now and the direction that we are going in,” he said.

MICHAEL HARRISON, group executive chef for Ocean Hotels, has represented Barbados on many occasions. He has won gold, silver, and bronze in many categories and has been competing for numerous years. At one point, Harrison managed the Barbados Culinary Team when they won Team of the Year. He has won Chef of the Year in Barbados and been awarded the Governor General’s Award of Excellence. Harrison travels the world representing Barbados and Ocean Hotels at different trade shows and events promoting Barbados and its cuisine.

He has worked in the United States, Scotland, London, the Seychelles, and has cooked for David and Victoria Beckham and Salma Hayek.

“I’ve been with Ocean Hotels group for over three years now. I felt like I had the opportunity to create something unique. The company and the brand are very young. There is opportunity to grow and create my mark with the team that is unique to the resorts within the group,” said Harrison.

“The great thing about this group is that the focus is on local ingredients,” he said. “My background is French and I did my training in London at a two star Michelin restaurant called Le Gavroche.

DERIO BOYCE, sous-chef of Taste Restaurant at Ocean Two, is the silver medallist for the Taste of the Caribbean 2018 Chef of the Year and silver medal winner for Taste of the Caribbean 2018 team of the year for Barbados.

According to Boyce, “I’ve been with Taste Restaurant for a year and four months. I assist our head chef in overseeing the day to day operations in the kitchen. We aim to give the best quality to the guests”.

“I don’t have a favourite cuisine because every cuisine has a highlight. I like contemporary plating with a fusion of cuisines,” said Boyce.

“At Taste Restaurant we offer a fantastic English-style breakfast but with a Bajan twist. We have our local bakes, salt fish, and fritters. We present traditional Bajan food but with an international flair”.

At Ocean Two, lunch bistro style with wraps, salads,

NATALIE KING – assistant general manager (LD)KATRINA CUMBERBATCH – assistant front office manager (LD) KYLE JONES food and beverage manager (LD)

MICHAEL HARRISON – group executive chef (LD)

DERIO BOYCE – sous-chef Ocean Two (LD)

SADÉ DAISLEY – rooms care manager (LD)

with us through internships. When it comes up, students request to do their internships at Ocean Two. We treat interns as the future of tourism”.

Ocean Two has even created the WOW committee. WOW is responsible for their Kadooment Fever, Bajan Day for Independence, Roast & Lime Friday Nights, and Saturday Night Barbecue Buffet. Quite a lot has changed since inception and, according to King, “will continue to change because we are trail blazers”.

At the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Awards (CHTA) last year O2 made a clean sweep of the award categories and also last year won the Barbados’ Best Employers. “It gave us affirmation of all our hard work. I am excited to see where we’re going from here,” said King.

“Ocean Two is in an enviable location, we are not too far from the action but far enough to feel a little secluded. The rooms are fantastic, the service is amazing, housekeeping is beyond what you can imagine, and we have so many things going on. Whatever you need, we can do.”

After working and travelling all around the world I’m back in Barbados and my style is contemporary Caribbean”.

“At Ocean Two, I encourage chefs Sheri and Derio be the ones to lead the menu content. We create the menu as a team,” said Harrison. The Ocean Hotels have many excellent chefs working together to make something beautiful”.

Harrison continued, “I’m excited that the company is growing. The great thing about our properties is that we’re on the South Coast. We’re affordable and unique but very luxurious.”

fries, the homemade O2 burgers, West Indian curry, and cutters.

There are multiple themed nights for dinner at Taste Restaurant. Ocean Two hosts Tuesday Roti and Wrap Night, Thursday Pasta and Pizza Night, Friday Night Roast & Lime, and Saturday Beach BBQ. The Friday Night Roast & Lime involves breadfruit bowls that are very popular.

“The cuisine at Ocean Two is a fusion. The main premise is putting our Bajan stamp on international offerings and presentation. The majority of our offerings, like our yogurts and granola are made in house. Our dressings are made here. We present things that are homemade and fresh. We locally source our fruit and veg. Our seasonings, herbs and spices come from our connection with local suppliers,” said Boyce. “At Ocean Two, it’s an experience that’s more than just coming for food”.

SADÉ DAISLEY is in charge of the daily operations of the maintenance department, the detailing of rooms, rectifying issues that guests may report, and preventative maintenance. She was part of the Ocean Two pre-opening team.

Rooms care manager, Daisley, said “We make up a schedule for servicing inventory that needs to be checked at regular intervals. This includes checking the washers and dryers in each room and making sure that parts aren’t worn and stay in good condition as well as servicing the air conditioners in all areas of the hotel. There is a team of 11 people in Room Care Services”.

Daisley recalled, “I worked as a room attendant at first. It was tough coming into an environment that I had never worked in before”. She has worked as a room coordinator and supervisor, climbing the ladder within Ocean Two.

“I love my team. I can call on them at any time. Anything that I ask them to do, even if it may be out of their job description, they’ll do it. It really is satisfying working for Ocean Two as we get to see the output of our work every day. Maintaining the rooms at Ocean Two is a lot of work but our team laughs a lot and that gets us through,” she said.

“I am excited about our anniversary. I’m mostly looking forward to our award ceremony and I’m so glad to see that we are almost at 10 years.”

6C Sunday, May 26, 2019

MARQUITA JORDAN began working at Ocean Two one month before the hotel opened its doors and she came with a wealth of knowledge as she had worked at several resorts on the island and even taught at the Hospitality Institute. Jordan joined the team as the housekeeping manager and recalls that in the beginning it was very stressful and filled with long hours. Now, the housekeeping department is set up for efficiency as each room requires perfection before being presented to the guests. “Every time a room is set for an arrival, a team comes in, the room attendants come in, and maintenance comes in. They check while we clean and detail everything and then a supervisor comes in. We don’t spot-check, we check

JACQUI MCDERMOTT has been with Ocean Two for four years and is the sales and marketing manager along with responsibilities for the reservations team and weddings and events.

According to McDermott, “Ocean Two is a breath of fresh air. The positivity that we have as a team, the communication that we have between various departments, and the passion that people want to do a great job and be the best in their field is really amazing”.

“We are passionate about making sure that the guest experience is a luxury one and that we highlight the very best of all things Bajan. Everything we do

has that personality,” she said. “At the Ocean Hotels

properties, we make sure that it’s your stay, your way. We want every experience to be personalised. Whether you’re coming in from overseas or a local coming for a staycation or on a work trip, you have different wants and needs and it’s up to us to deliver that.”

“I’m truly excited for our anniversary; we’ve come a long way. We never rest on our laurels within the Ocean Hotels Group so it’s onward and upward. To reach our 8th milestone is a place where we can look back but also stop and look forward to where we’re going.”

MARQUITA JORDAN – housekeeping manager (LD)

JACQUI MCDERMOTT – sales and marketing manager (LD)

everything in the rooms. It can take two to three hours to prepare one of these rooms. A room isn’t passed until it is perfect,” she afforded. At Ocean Two, all of the cleaning products are environmentally friendly and nontoxic and guests are encouraged to hang up their towels so as to cut down on water wastage. Recycling linens and donating gently used products are all part of the Ocean Two community ethic. Marquita Jordan is on the advisory committee for housekeeping with the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology and has been instrumental

in helping them set up their lab for housekeeping. Ocean Two has also given them items to set up their lab. “We have also donated to the Homeless and Vagrant Society, the St Michael District Hospital, and to the less fortunate in and around our neighbourhood,” she added. “I like the culture we have created here. A lot of us are like family. I even cook for the staff sometimes and we have fun like a family. I also appreciate that the managers get us involved in awards like Barbados’ Best Employer and awards from the CHTA. I’m glad to be here after eight years and moving to nine.”

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sales@hotelfoods.bb

7CSunday, May 26, 2019

ROGGICK QUESTELLES – assistant pool and beach manager (LD)

ROGGICK QUESTELLES began working at Ocean Two in July of 2011, so, like many others, he’s celebrating an anniversary alongside the hotel.

“I started off as a pool and beach attendant and have moved up the chain. As an attendant, we make sure that the guests are comfortable and that all the areas are clean and tidy and ready for them,” said Questelles.

“One of the great things about Ocean Two, as an employer, is that once someone comes into the organisation they are provided the opportunity to grow. Ocean Two looks within the group for promotions before going outwards,” he said.

“When I started working here it was very quiet. It was the new hotel on the block. In the beginning we only used to set up six umbrellas and twelve chairs. Now, especially around Christmas time, the whole beach is taken up.”

Ocean Two has everything from water-sports to ice lollies. “For Easter we had a lot of activities to get kids involved and engaged. We had chug-a-lug for the adults drinking beer and we had an Easter bunny and kite making and face painting for kids,” he said.

“We try to make sure we give guests a positive and memorable experience. I’ve seen all of our anniversaries. This anniversary reminds me of our previous experiences of fun and excitement. It has been another year of growing and developing and I’m really excited.”

8C Sunday, May 26, 2019

TRISHA CHOTHIA – sales manager Ocean Hotels (LD)

NARIA LORD – front desk shift leader (LD)

NARIA LORD is the current Hotel Employee of the Year for the whole island from the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA).

“My training manager, Janice Hurley, did a write-up on me as an employee at Ocean Two. I had won employee of the year at Ocean Two for our staff awards in 2017. That involved my punctuality, attendance, and attitude. In the write-up, she mentioned that I came up with an idea for the frozen t-shirt competition”.

“We freeze t-shirts and guests have to remove them from a plastic bags and get them open and placed on themselves without using any sharp objects, water, or assistance. It’s hilarious and a lot of fun,” said Lord.

As a front desk shift leader, Naria Lord helps run the shift and supervise the front desk agents. She began her journey with Ocean Two as an intern in 2015.

“I just got the promotion to shift leader this January. It showed me that not only had my hard work paid off but that I was growing. Three years ago, I was not the same Naria. I was not as open to speaking with people. I’m always helpful but in terms of interacting with guests openly it took time, I used to be much more shy,” she said.

“Working at Ocean Two has helped me gain confidence. I’ve grown personally and professionally. At Ocean Two we like to go above and beyond. No matter how odd a request, we try to make your stay the best one ever. We try to make the impossible possible.”

“Ocean Two has changed and developed, every year there is something new that we’re offering. I like that we’re always evolving. Our guests are always changing and so are we. We’re always looking to make things different and new.”

TRISHA CHOTHIA is responsible for all of the direct sales through all three of the properties in the Ocean Hotels group. She has been with the Ocean Hotels group for just over a year.

Just wrapping up public space and in room refurbishments Ocean Two continues to raise the bar for luxury accommodation on the island. The hotel was built new and is always looking to improve to offer the very best.

According to Chothia, “We make everything at Ocean Two unique and infused with Barbadiana. We have three happy hours throughout the day and you always know it is happy hour when the guys on the beach blow the conch shell. We offer fruit kebabs on the beach and ice lollies and face misting”.

“Ocean Two’s rooftop terrace is a fantastic space for any event—weddings, cocktail receptions, etc. We have a boardroom for intimate work gatherings or you can use the penthouse suites for unique meeting events,” she added.

Ocean Two is always doing something spectacular. Father’s

Day is the perfect place to impress dad this year. It will be really exciting as we have a game bus, day pass specials, along with a fantastic lunch buffet.

“We also have a weddings team on property. What they do is create dreams. They guide you through the whole process from the initial contact to the moment you say ‘I do’,” said Chothia.

“Nothing is too much to ask. If you are missing a wedding dress, we can find that for you. We’ve had brides request an impromptu wedding the day before and we made it happen”.

“I’m really happy that Ocean Two has made eight years. The property looks fantastic. I’m in sales and I feel confident about everything that I’m selling about the property. Everything that I’m selling is exactly what I would want from a hotel.”

39ASunday, May 26, 2019

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a great day or evening out, Ocean Two Resort caters to all, from a “chill out” day pass at the pool with your friends to an evening cocktail with colleagues after work at our Oasis Lounge.

Spend the weekend in one of our newly renovated luxury one-bedroom oceanfront suites on a staycation special and be sure to feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

Dining is also a treat at the resort

which has nightly theme nights including the most popular “breadfruit bowls”.

Our new Coffee & Tings coffee bar has all the perks, so make sure to stop in and take a shot.

All of these make perfect gift ideas for any celebration

and give that unique touch to any present. So visit our website www.oceantwobarbados.com or call 246-418-1800 to book your next stay.

The jewel of the south coast

LUXURY ONE-BEDROOM Ocean Front Suite. (GP)

THE POOL DECK with the most comfortable loungers on the island. (GP)

SPECIAL