Tourism: Reasons of lovers
The Roc Arenas Doradas Hotel has just celebrated its 27th anniversary satisfied with the stability of a workforce that includes 15 founders and a majority of long-time workers at the Gran Caribe Group facility.
Lubisel Ojeda arrived long before the inauguration. She did it in that advanced start to clean and leave everything ready for the entry into services. «I have dedicated myself to what I do. The hotel is my second home,» she says with a pride she does not hide. Today he is happy to take over as head of the front desk. «I have served millions of tourists here. The important thing is not to get tired of doing well what you have to do,» she says with pleasure.
The history of this facility could not be told without a fair mention of José Jesús Maden Machado, founder and secretary general of the union bureau. He has always been a reception assistant, which is known as a porter. Anyone in this role becomes the first contact with the customer and also the last. «I usually greet them and fire them,» he confesses with a faint smile.
Maden has a maxim, lead by example. Maybe that’s why he paid more than five thousand convertible pesos (CUC) during the tipping season for the purchase of medicines for the fight against cancer. I remember that the first time I interviewed him I called him the «major tipper». At that time, nobody contributed more than he did in the Gran Caribe hotel group in the country.
His integrity made him worthy for twelve years of a higher category such as National Vanguard, Leader of Quality, and he won the Labor Achievement Medal and the Jesús Menéndez Medal.
«In my work, I always try to satisfy the customer. Everyone should do the same, wherever there is tourism».
A similar opinion is shared by Miladys Milián Ángulo and Rolando Cabrera Bacallao, bartenders at the lobby bar El Patio, where they always welcome guests with the same smile. She arrived before him, but they are both united by their love for this world of drinks, cocktails and all kinds of preparations.
«I’ve been here for 26 years. I’m not the founder, but I’m pushing 27» and she smiles as she serves the cream… Next to her is Rolando, her partner for the day. «I’m going on 18,» she says. «I’ve learned from established chefs like Miladys. She speaks five languages. Miladys says that some of them were self-taught. Referring to the facility, she says: «The hotel exists thanks to its workers, to the founders and to those of us who have spent a lifetime here. I myself joined when I was 18 years old and I still have the same desire as the first day. If this is not love, then what is».
Located on the beachfront, the facility, founded on August 14, 1996, stands out for its spectacular architecture and excellent position facing the sea. Nothing, however, surpasses the professionalism and friendly spirit of its employees, as many of its clients recognize.
Sheila Álvarez Bouza, assistant general manager of Roc Arenas Doradas, has no doubt about that. «We have an average of 270 workers. They are the most precious asset the facility has.»
Photos by the author.
Written by Eva Luna Acosta Armiñán.
