Hamilton Princess Mission Statement Contest
The Fairmont Hamilton Princess announced Housekeeping as the winner of the hotel’s first-ever mission statement competition in which each department worked together to create a mission statement that represents the department’s purpose and values.
The mission statement, “With Pride and dignity we play our part. Giving service from the heart,” has earned the department a special group celebration of their choice.
“The purpose of this initiative was to engage employees in a team-building exercise that reinforces their commitment to providing outstanding guest service,” said Leonard Czarnecki, General Manager of The Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
“We were overwhelmed with the positive response we received and pleased with the high level of enthusiasm and creativity that teams brought to the challenge.”
The competition officially rolled out in February when employees received a how-to guide on creating mission statements. From there, each of the departments worked as a team to develop their mission statements, as well as creative ways to present it.
After several rounds of internal judging by Fairmont executives, the competition was narrowed to four finalists who presented their mission statements at a final judging, which included local industry figures Billy Griffith, Director, Bermuda Department of Tourism; John Harvey, CEO, Bermuda Hotel Association; Karla Lacey, CEO, Bermuda Hospitality Institute (BHI); and Joanne MacPhee, Executive Vice President, Bermuda Chamber of Commerce.
“I was delighted to be involved in this unique competition,” said Ms. MacPhee. “It’s a great example of a company thinking outside the box to inspire and connect with employees and involve them in the process that builds confidence and pride in their work.”
Mr. Griffith added, “The tourism industry has grown increasingly competitive and what makes a difference between one luxury destination and another is its people. This competition has taken service delivery at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess to a whole new level.”
Criteria for judging included creativity, team spirit and presentation quality as well as understanding of the department’s mission and alignment with Fairmont’s company-wide mission statement – “Turning moments into memories for our guests.”
In addition, as a part of each presentation, the departments provided action plans on how the mission statement will be consistently integrated into the everyday work day as well as sustained into the future.
“While we set out to get employees excited about the role each person plays in guest service, we also were thrilled to uncover all sorts of talents, such as filmmaking, acting, PowerPoint skills and public speaking, that were revealed through the creative ways the teams presented their mission statements,” said Kellianne Smith, director of human resources with The Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
“As a judge for the competition, I saw how enthusiastic the employees are about their role in guest service but just as important, I could tell that they truly had fun developing their mission statements and presentations,” said Mr. Harvey. “That’s what The Fairmont Hamilton Princess is all about.”
The entire Housekeeping department consisting of more than 70 employees took part in creating their mission statement. The judges praised the group for the preciseness of their mission and felt the powerful statement sums up what all hoteliers should be doing each and every day.
“This competition gave us the opportunity to show once again the tremendous pride we take in our work and the passion each of has for the industry,” said Reid Furbert, Head Houseman/Supervisor in the Housekeeping department. “We’d love to see that hospitality mindset permeate across the island.”
Ms. Lacey agreed, “The mandate of BHI is to encourage Bermudians to pursue a career in the Hospitality industry. We can use these presentations in our efforts to convey the variety of opportunities available to the community.”
Each mission statement will be posted in a visible spot within the department to serve as a constant reminder of what can be accomplished when working together as a team. In addition, based on the success of this competition, it will serve as model for other Fairmont properties.
