Allison Price
Q. Are you where you’ve always wanted to be?
A: Yes, my aspirations were always to be a manager in the hospitality industry and I have been employed in the industry for many years. Of course I have been setting new goals and getting satisfaction from working with a great team and sharing the knowledge I have acquired with others.
Q: What is your biggest professional challenge?
A: As a manager in the tourism business, the challenge is keeping our team of workers motivated to provide the best possible service every hour of the day or night. We have to balance employee interests and their personal challenges to ensure that professional standards are never compromised.
Q: What is your biggest life challenge?
A: Most times it seems as if there are not enough hours in a day to balance personal and professional obligations. I am very committed to my career and I am never satisfied until I can complete my tasks, and deal with issues, to the best of my ability.
Q: When you look to the future, what do you see?
A: I see a need for more businesses in Barbados to better understand the importance of improving their customer service and the full customer experience. I think we can fix these challenges with ongoing training and the country will realise the benefits of exceeding customer expectations.
Q: What is your favourite pastime?
A: Improving my decorating skills by redecorating my home or the homes of family members. I also enjoy shopping, mostly online, and enjoy “me time” on the sofa with a good movie.
Q: What is your favourite meal?
A: I am a pasta and seafood lover. If I can’t have that, I would take a delicious potato salad with ‘pops pot-chicken’.
Q: On Saturday nights where are you likely to be?
A: If I’m off duty, I would most likely be out dining or hanging out with friends.
Q: What upsets you the most?
A: People who are uncommitted, unmotivated and do not understand teamwork. I always encourage people to communicate and offer their opinions in a respectful way even if they have different opinions. I am not able to embrace disrespectful and dishonest people.
Q: What is your guiding philosophy?
A: Do every endeavour to the best of your ability and use every opportunity given to learn and to grow. I also believe in sharing knowledge and giving opinions.
Q: If you had the chance to manage Barbados for a day, what would you do?
A: I would focus on doing the things we can do at the national level to improve the tourism industry, which remains the main bread basket for the island. There is a need to rid the popular tourist areas of harassment and from people performing illegal acts. More patrols from officers would assist in this area which has been causing immense strain on businesses, with many losing revenue. Tourism is our business and we need to pay closer attention to keeping it alive and make sure that Barbados remains safe and friendly for nationals and visitors.