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A17
LOCAL Monday 25 noveMber 2019

Hotel

Hustle

Column by: Shanella Pantophlet
New sheriff in town

ORANJESTAD — I’ve been ervations. Understandably It’s been a good three or him she hadn’t been there are miles apart.
in my current position for there was some upset at so years since I’ve had in about 5 years so even
about 5 years now and the outset, everyone had someone make any com- under my oversight his re- We used to be a company
to tell you the truth at the to get used to me being parisons about the job quest was still being met. that did okay and were
outset I was intimidated the new sheriff in town. I’ve been doing vs the job complacent with our busi-
by the shoes I had to fill. done by my predecessor. It was the last thing I was ness model. In the last few
My predecessor had been The one thing that used Until about 2 weeks ago expecting to hear about years we’ve grown and
with the company for 29 to irritate me the most, when during our Members in that meeting with every- with that growth comes
years, our guests knew would always be emails meeting one of our Mem- thing else going on. How- changes and not every-
her and loved her and she that would go “this is the bers stood up to complain ever, where a few years one will be happy with
knew and loved them right assignment I want and that he hadn’t received ago my response would those changes, but they
back. I remember when I I’ve always gotten it in the the assignment he wanted have been profuse apol- are necessary for our con-
started as an intern I would past.” It becomes quite and it was the first time in ogy, the more confident tinued success. A lot has
see here there at all hours difficult to tell someone 30 year it had happened. and steady in myself per- changed since I took over
of the day and night work- who has become used to He’d never had an issue son I have become, ex- and I’m sure there is more
ing through reservations a certain accommodation with the former reserva- plained that the company change to come even be-
and doing her best to ac- over the years that it’s not tions manager. Someone we were 5 years ago and yond me.q
commodate requests. On possible this year. I’ve had helpfully pointed out to the company we are now,
Saturdays she would prac- more than my fair share
tically be the first person of angry people in my of-
on the job and the last to fice on Monday morning
leave, still trying to work a making comparisons be-
miracle. tween the way I do things
and the way things used to
It was that dedication and be done. It used to affect
determination that I found me and weigh me down,
intimidating. The first year but as time went on and
I spent countless hours people understood that
emailing people and ad- our goal post had shifted
vising them she was no lon- we started to find our own
ger with the company and routine.
I was now in charge of res-

Aruban born and bred Shanella Pantophlet is
passionate about tourism. That is the world she
studied and works in, so we might as well call
her a specialist. Luckily for Aruba Today Shanel-
la also loves to write. And together with the fact
that the majority of our readers are tourists, we
found ourselves a perfect combination for a col-
umn: Hotel Hustle.