John Jefferis shares success with his people

Caribbean hotelier John Jefferis gives credit to where it’s due. The owner of the famous Coco Reef resorts in the region, Jefferis knows where success truly comes from. Always exuding that humble persona, he honors the same people that helped him become one of the top hoteliers in the region—his staff.

From John Jefferis

In his acceptance speech during the 2003 World Travel Awards Ceremony where he received the award for having “The Best Resort in the Caribbean,” he said that “the success of Coco Reef is not based on the US $50 million spent on the property, but rather on the friendly, caring, and professional attitude of the staff at the hotel who should share in this award.”


When the Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Tobago won the World Travel Award in 2011, John Jefferis again dedicated the honor to the men and women in his Caribbean properties.

John Jefferis. Image Credit: breakingtravelnews.com

“Our guests continue to tell us that their most memorable experience is [with] our friendly, courteous, and professional staff,” he said.


Valuing the people and recognizing their worth has in fact etched an inspiration to his staff—a sense of respect carved hard in the minds, and interestingly, even posted on the wall.


“When it comes to staff, hire for smile and attitude, train for skills![sic] It has always been Mr. Jefferis’ motto. I have it framed on the wall in my office,” says general manager Eric Feniet. And it does work.


More information about John Jefferis is available at this Twitter page.

From John Jefferis

John Jefferis on expanding hotel empire to exotic Panama

With the unprecedented success of Coco Reef hotels in Tobago and Bermuda, John Jefferis has never been more confident of the continued growth of his hotel brand. After an impressive streak in national and international awards where he received one distinction after another, Mr. Jefferis set his sights to another uncharted territory for the possible expansion of Coco Reef.

John Jefferis. Image Credit: Internationalliving.com

Panama.

Set within the isthmus connecting North and South America, Panama is a canal city that offers a myriad of adventures for the audacious soul. Known for its exotic splendor and fascinating culture, it has enthralled many tourists for many years—a getaway experience par none. Panama can indubitably quench any tourist’s thirst for adventure. No wonder John Jefferis took a great interest in this prime location.

Tourists find Panama to be a tropic paradise, with its virginal beaches and pristine waters that spread out into the indefinite vastness. Nature lovers are also sure to enjoy the rain and cloud forests that serve as home to a surprising biodiversity. With over 1,500 species of trees, 7,000 vascular plants, and nearly 940 species of birds, it is an experience worth cherishing for a lifetime.

John Jefferis. Image Credit: Cocoreefbermuda.com

Faithful customers of Coco Reef Tobago and Bermuda can now experience the same world-class hotel services in an entirely new and revitalizing location.

When asked about the plans for a new Coco Reef development in Panama, John Jefferis gives an assured response. “[We are] still working on the developmental plans,” he said, further noting that the hotel will be built on a private island.

John Jefferis. Image Credit: Islandbrides.com

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Caribbean hotel king John Jefferis behind the accolades

An undisputed force in the Caribbean hotel industry, Coco Reef owner John Jefferis is a decorated man. Even before taking over the development of Coco reef Tobago in 1991, he already made a name for himself in the hotel business when he bagged the first Bermuda “Hotelier of the Year” Award back in 1989, proving that, even at such an early time in his career then, he was, and still is, a force to be reckoned with in the business.

John Jefferis Image Credit: Greengirlsglobal.com

From then on, there was nowhere else to go but up. In 1990, he was elected ‘Caribbean Hotelier of the Year’ in recognition of his indispensable efforts to make The Elbow Hotel an exemplar of excellence. In 1991, John Jefferis steered a project that was to become The Coco Reef Tobago, the premier beachfront hotel in the whole of the Caribbean, a paradise resort that would eventually catapult him to the frontiers of the industry. In 1999, The Coco Reef won ‘Caribbean Dream Resort of the Year,’ paving way for the hotel’s imminent success.

John Jefferis Image credit: Cocoreefbermuda.com

The feat carried on to the next millennium. In September of 2000, Jefferis, won the Ernst & Young sponsored ‘Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year Award.’ During the prestigious 2003 World Travel Awards Ceremony in London, considered by many as the ‘Oscars’ of the global Travel and Tourism industry, Coco Reef Resort received the distinction as ‘The Best Resort in the Caribbean,” affirming the initial recognition accorded a few years back. John Jefferis, in his incessant drive to be on top, made sure Coco Reef never left the list. From 2008- 2012, Coco Reef Tobago never failed to notch the distinction, leaving the award-giving body deeply impressed with its ability to withstand the global economic downturn while consistently providing customer service that is beyond comparison.

John Jefferis Image credit: Breakingtravelnews.com

“[He] is not only a great guy and a passionate hotelier; he is probably the best marketeer in the business,” says award-winning hotelier Robin Hutson about his long-time colleague. “John deserves every bit of his success which he has achieved through hard work, tenacity and humor.”


To know more about John Jefferis, visit this Facebook page or follow this Twitter account.

John Jefferis: Master innovator of Caribbean hospitality

It took one visionary hotelier to leap beyond the bounds of convention and break new ground for world-class hospitality business in the Caribbean—premier hotelier John Jefferis.

John Jefferis. Image credit: Breakingtravelnews.com

While the Caribbean hotel industry is built on the daring entrepreneurial spirit of its pioneer innovators, Jefferis on the other hand is doing a unique facelift of the trade—adding elegance on beach resorts and providing luxurious hotel stays.

John Jefferis. Image credit: Bookingadvisor.com

Back when he was still a modest hotel manager in one of the Caribbean’s tourism hubs, nobody would have thought that Jefferis was cut out of a different cloth. After four decades of hard work, he was able to sew a new fabric of success along the hems of old business tradition for the Caribbean hotel industry.

John Jefferis. Image credit: Islandbrides.com

Always thinking out of the box, John Jefferis is a man who relishes uniqueness. He can still vividly remember the time when he was building the Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Tobago back in the 1990s. He shared his dismay over the design which he described as “just like any other hotel.” Jefferis actually wanted a bar circling over the hotel’s lobby, a suggestion met with expected reservations. “They never could seem to understand that I wanted something theatrical and dramatic,” he said.


A sweet taste of vindication came when Coco Reef was voted as the best resort in the Caribbean World Travel Awards.


Today, John Jefferis plays an active role in supporting efforts to continually lift Bermuda’s tourism industry. Aside from being an owner of a chain of successful resorts and hotels in the Caribbean islands, he is a recipient of many significant awards and recognitions—a true testament for a man who continues to innovate the unique Caribbean hospitality.


Learn more about John Jefferis by visiting this Wordpress blog.

John Jefferis: Indulging you with palate pleasures

To complete your Caribbean vacation, indulge in some of the finest and most delectable flavors at John Jefferis’ Coco Reef Bermuda Resort.

The hotel boasts of its culinary artistry, courtesy of award-winning British chef and restaurant cookbook writer Jason Prangnell. The talented chef has had the honor of serving a wide range of people from the likes of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during the Commonwealth Heads of State summit in Trinidad to the equally important locals and guests. Samples of his gastronomic delights are the fusion of international cuisine and Bermudian flavors.

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Morning delights

Start your day by delighting yourself with the breakfast buffet at the La Vista Bar or Café Coco Restaurant. There’s a wide array of choices from fresh fruits and yogurt to breakfast cereals and eggs in different styles, among others.

John Jefferis has established his career around developing great hotels along the Caribbean.

From John Jefferis

Lunch in or out?

Tamara’s Terrace is a place to enjoy your lunch. It is a semi-outdoor venue of Mediterranean style, overlooking the pool, and with a magnificent view of the South Shore. You can stay a little longer at the Terrace in time for a warm afternoon drink.


Elegant dinner

An elegant dress code is fitting for an elegant restaurant as Café Coco. The Spanish-inspired design enhances your dining experience as you enjoy ambrosial cuisine and tasteful wines from different countries. All these come with a view over one of the best ocean scenes in Bermuda.

From John Jefferis

John Jefferis’ hotel has received recognition and awards for outstanding service and facilities. Visit www.cocoreef.com for more details.

John Jefferis: “Hire for attitude, train for skills”

Employees are the engine of a company. Any good leader knows this, including John Jefferis of the Coco Reef Resorts, who gives credit to his employees by taking into consideration their contribution to the company’s success.

John Jefferis Photo Credit: Cbc.ca

Michael Crom, executive vice president at Dale Carnegie Training and columnist at USAToday.com, once said, “the most important competitive advantage in any business, especially a fast-growing one, is its work force — the skills and the dedication of its employees.” In a business, an idea is worthless if there’s no strategic plan for its realization. And to achieve seamless execution of the idea, well-trained and knowledgeable employees are necessary.

John Jefferis Photo Credit: Officialtips.com

When employing people to be part of the team, the management should look beyond the facts written in the resume. Famous hotelier John Jefferis employs his own special strategy. He believes that leaders should “hire for attitude, train for skills.” Apart from considering the skills and past experiences of applicants, he also looks at their attitude as an important factor in getting hired and attaining success in the business.


Mr. Jefferis provides his employees with a different outlook on how they should view the business and do their work. During orientation, he makes his employees visualize work as a “theatre; wherein Coco Reef Resorts is the well-crafted stage, and they, as employees, are the actors.”

From John Jefferis

This type of motivation makes employees do their best. Career experts call this “employee empowerment,” a perspective that implies that people at all levels in the company possess unique knowledge and abilities that can be of great value to the company.


Know more about John Jefferis and Coco Reef Resorts by visiting this website.

John Jefferis: Strategic hospitality and hotel efficiency

From John Jefferis

John Jefferis believes that strategic hospitality is an overriding factor behind the numerous awards received by Coco Reef Resort and Spa in Trinidad and Tobago. In his press release, the renowned hotelier said that the ‘friendly, courteous, and professional staff’ is what sets Coco Reef apart from other hotels and resorts in the Caribbean. He emphasizes that employees are the key players of success, making it important that they are treated with the same level of respect and dignity regardless of tenure and position.

He believes that empowering employees with the right skills, behavior, and mindset is crucial in every company. When it comes to hotel staffing, it has been John Jefferis’philosophy to ‘hire for smile and attitude’ and ‘train for skills’. His philosophy has never failed him as he cemented his position as a top hotelier in the Caribbean.

From John Jefferis

Strengthening the tenets of good customer service within a professional culture renders staff with the necessary tools on keeping guests happy and exceeding their expectations. Training of the employees should be focused on their emotional and intelligence quotient to identify areas of improvement. Among the significant factors of hotel efficiency is the ability to empathize with guests, defer judgment of a situation, listen attentively, and ask the right questions.

John Jefferis argues that a crucial part of his commitment to excellence is motivating the staff to be at their best when facing guests from around the world. For more information, go to www.cocoreef.com.

From John Jefferis