Sterling Resorts has been responsible for creating relaxing and exclusive stays for fortunate people since 1986, and has been a part of the Thomas Cook Family since 2015.
During the difficult pandemic period, our administration and staff showed ‘sterling’ qualities indeed, by handling the tough times as well as they could with courage and determination!
After the pandemic, with new opportunities coming our way it was time to review and revise the organization’s strategy, goals and culture to be in line with the ever evolving markets. And in many cases be a trend setter or a bench mark player in the industry.
As the famous saying of Peter Drucker goes, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”.
To ensure that the new beginnings and peppiness in the environment translated to a wining culture, the company has been through a very interesting journey to bring about changes meeting the expectations of, not only the market and the customers, but also to the expectations of its most important asset “its people”.
In line with this mission various initiatives and activities were conducted. These included the following:
EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
One of the many effects of the pandemic was all the social distancing, and work from home and virtual calls made people into silos where the manta unwittingly became ‘me and my work.’
To break this trend and to bring about collaboration, fungibility and comradeship, the following initiatives were taken up:
- All India Senior Management Meeting for 2 days was held in October 2021
- We had the All India GMs meet in March 2022, where we had GMs from all resorts come together for three days. It was a journey of knowledge and self-discovery blended with fun filled activities. GM All Hands Meet rejuvenated, enriched the participants, giving them the opportunity to meet and interact with all the GMs in person.
- Family day: An evening to enjoy and celebrate with all employees together along with their families. The evening started with games and off stage events, followed with very lively and diverse stage shows. The evening rolled into a pleasant, tasty dinner and something nice (gifts!) to remember the day by. All our employees and out contract staff attended the grand event. (Moments Captured from Family Day. See photos below!)
As the famous quote goes “The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting in above average effort “
No organization can be built of only super humans, but it surely can be built of average people giving in above average efforts consistently. When they do that, what they seek, is recognition.
LEARNING & CAREER PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
- EAM Program: The program is aimed to identify Hi potential HOD’s and enroll them into EAM program that imparts skill and knowledge needed to become future General Managers. Some of our success stories in the last 3 months are Rabbani for Madurai, Aveneesh to Kalimpong, Somnath Bera to Rishikesh etc.
- Training Programs: Partnering with Clarified Better to make 200+ courses available for our employees. The adoption of these courses is in a sturdy rise.
- Learning Saturdays: Where subject matter experts are invited to conduct online program for employees on trending and impactful topics. The participation is open for all across sterling resorts & branches.
EMPLOYEE WELLBEING
The whole pandemic has brought about a rude awakening to the health and wellbeing of individuals. In-order to keep up with trends and employee’s wellbeing needs, the following initiatives have been undertaken:
- Sterling Cares – Training on Covid Protocols for all employees – FOSTAC training & certification for minimum 2 employees in each resort as per FSSAI standard
- Leave Policy : Much robust and cutting edge leave policy focusing on work life balance, introducing paternity leave & adoption leave
- Sterling ADDA : Employee wellbeing was and is our TOP MOST concern: Sterling ADDA – facilitated employees to unwind through virtual coffee sessions with cross functional teams during lockdown – Counselling facilities for all employees on a Pro Bono basis – Learning sessions focusing on Health (Yoga & Pranayama), and Financial wellness – Communication groups set up on telegram to ensure seamless information to all employees.
- Power to Spark Joy : Concept of Power to Spark Joy where employees find innovative means to spark joy to our guests during their stay. Seeing the potential, and the difference it is making, (because no employee can spark joy without feeling joy in return) we embarked on a journey to popularize it. Every day one “Spark Joy” instance is displayed on our desktop. Sends a good feeling to all employees reading all the countless ways one can be of service to another and spark joy in their lives.
REWARDS & RECOGNITION
Below initiatives are taken keeping this in mind.
- Quarterly awards: Employee and Team of the Quarter Awards to encourage excellence.
- Spark joy cards: Measuring of the spark joy instances were done and the resorts were pegs against each other. Spark joy cards, were introduced where the employee was recognised for the effort by way of a handwritten note signed by the CHRO.
- Long Service Awards: We took the opportunity of family day to bring to the fore employees who have stood with us through the test of time, and continue to do so with the same zeal and passion. People who have served the company for 15-30 Yrs. Each awardee was asked to share their journey and listening to them left us all spellbound.
- BEST awards launched in March is a healthy competition that measures 10 key drivers of business and it encourage resorts to compete with each other. The competition is getting heated up and last 3 months only shows that it’s anybody’s game and going by past trend, it appears to be heading towards a photo-finish.
Enjoy the photos, which will give you an idea of what we are all about!
—Thabitha David—
CHRO, Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd.