Leslie Prea, a native of the exotic Seychelles island joined La Cabana All Suite Beach Resort in September 2000, where he accepted the challenge of serving as the resort's Quality Assurance Manager. In that capacity Prea interacted with all departments helping them reach their pre-agreed performance goals in addition to leading all quality initiatives within Aruba's largest resort complex.
Prea reports that stepping into the role of Quality Assurance Manager involved all processes regarding service and product delivery. In time, the policy of "inspect what you expect" resulted in very high service scores and improved performances across the board at all resort departments.
General Manager Lou Roelofsen asserts that with the island's increase in business and with the record occupancy rates achieved by the popular resort, the position of Rooms Division Manager needed to be filled. It had been vacant for a while as a result of the 9/11 economic challenges. "We felt," says Roelofsen "that with the current flow of visitors the operation required some extra help, an injection of renewed energy." Prea, a resort executive who is intimately familiar with all aspects of resort life - having written the Operational Procedure manuals himself, was the natural choice for the job.
In his new position as Rooms Division Manager Prea oversees almost 200 employees including front desk and housekeeping, two highly visible, intensely busy departments. Also under Prea's leadership, all guest related services from PBX to activities.
Pleased with his promotion Prea explains it is a mere extension of his previous career in international agri-business working for various Ministers of Agriculture and for international agencies in Asia & Africa. "My former involvement," he explains, "with overall management of large commercial agri-business projects required good leadership skills, a teaching ability and a gift of communication. The core of the businesses evolved around building customer trust & retention which is very much the same in the hotel sector. The same methodology and principles which I apply when partnering with the local community here in Aruba, to manage this island's natural resources on behalf of a successful tourist industry."
With customer satisfaction and retention as his main focus, Prea joins the management team of the resort offering couples and families a superb Aruba vacation experience, determined to create a Happy Home Away From Home for Members, Guests and Employees.
