Coop chats with Rickardo Foster, Executive Chef at Sandals South Coast

WOGL-FM /  Big 98.1

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00:00It's Big981 and Coop live from beautiful Sandals South Coast here in Jamaica.

00:05Remember, you can win one of five trips we're giving away.

00:07Just go to Big981.com.

00:08I want to talk about this incredible resort.

00:11I've got Gary Sadler with me, who's the EVP of sales here at Sandals.

00:14Good morning. Thanks for the time today.

00:16Can you tell me about this beautiful resort?

00:18No, I mean, I can tell you about Jamaica, first of all.

00:20Sure, let's do that.

00:21We start with Jamaica, and Jamaica is just absolutely wonderful.

00:25I mean, it's sunny, it's bright.

00:27I mean, the beach is lovely.

00:29And life is usually perfect.

00:31Now, but Sandals South Coast is one of my favorite resorts.

00:35I mean, it is on the southern part of Jamaica,

00:38which means that the coastal line is very calm always.

00:43And it's just always amazing to travel through the countryside

00:47and then come down to the south coast of Jamaica.

00:49It's just an untouched area.

00:51I mean, we are we're, in fact, the first of the largest

00:55ever resorts on the on the island, on the south coast.

00:59And it's just absolutely amazing.

01:00We were talking yesterday.

01:01I understand that we're on about 500 acres of nature preserve,

01:05which is where this resort is.

01:06And you're right, it's absolutely beautiful.

01:08We're at 72 degrees right now and sunny back home in Philly.

01:11It's like twenty five, twenty six.

01:13It's the perfect time to get away and come to Jamaica.

01:17Can you tell me why?

01:17Why Sandals and why this resort so great?

01:20You know, Sandals Resorts usually has, if not Jamaica's finest product.

01:25What do I mean by Jamaica's finest product?

01:28You have some resorts, for example, with 10, 15, 20 restaurants to choose from.

01:34Everything is included.

01:35All your tips, your gratuities, water sports, all activities.

01:39And the fact that we have upgraded all of our rooms,

01:43you know, some of you were weren't lucky enough to get the over the water suite

01:47and, you know, because you're staying in Jamaica for too long.

01:50But we have accommodations that are just absolutely first class.

01:54But it's about the staff.

01:55It's about the food.

01:56It's about the culture.

01:58It's what you're looking for on a vacation is what we try to provide.

02:01And we do provide because we do have a very high returning guest ratio

02:06and people are very excited to always come back to a Sandals resort.

02:09I'm glad you mentioned that because we've had the pleasure of meeting

02:12all the people here, whether you're in the pool bar,

02:15whether you're at some of the entertainment that you guys have here at Sandals.

02:17And just about everyone I've met, it's not their first time here at Sandals

02:20South Coast, it's their 10th, it's their 11th, it's their 12th time coming to Sandals.

02:25And I think that speaks volumes about this experience that you guys have,

02:28not just the island of Jamaica, which is obviously gorgeous and beautiful,

02:32but what Sandals offers and what you bring to people

02:34who want to enjoy their relaxation, their vacation, right?

02:37It's all about relaxation.

02:38I mean, I tell people all the time, you can go anywhere in the world

02:42and chances are you go to some destinations.

02:45They're absolutely wonderful because everywhere provides

02:48a very good tourism product.

02:50But what Jamaica has is a certain magic.

02:52What Sandals brings to the table is training of the staff.

02:55So you feel like you're coming home.

02:58And that's what makes a difference.

02:59You know, you don't feel as if you're really going to a resort on vacation.

03:03You feel the pressure of a vacation.

03:05You get there, the bartender remembers your drink.

03:07I mean, you probably are here for, you know, the 10th time.

03:11And you walk up to the bar and the bartender says, yeah,

03:14you're the guy that wants, you know, such and such a drink.

03:17And it makes a huge difference to the guest satisfaction ratio.

03:20And people are very excited about that kind of thing.

03:23I mean, the butler, the butler service, I mean, we touch on the butler service

03:26because that is just a premium way to really pamper the guest

03:31and make sure that whatever their desires are, that they make it work for them.

03:35So it's all good.

03:36I can't recommend the butler service enough

03:39because I've had a chance to experience it.

03:40It is truly incredible.

03:41They, you know, get you your spot at the beach

03:44if that's where you want to be or the pool

03:45and they get your reservations for dinner.

03:47And we were at the beach yesterday.

03:49It was a beautiful day yesterday here in Jamaica.

03:51And the butler brought down the red stripes, which is what I was drinking.

03:54He brings them down.

03:54Oh, I heard you were drinking champagne and strawberries.

03:58I mean, you know, and you call it work.

03:59Exactly. That's it. Somebody's got to do it.

04:01Yeah, somebody's got to do it.

04:03Have you tried the Jamaican patties?

04:05No, but I need to know.

04:06No, no, no. They're calorie free, too.

04:07You know, everything is calorie free.

04:09Yeah, yeah, yeah. I believe it.

04:11Make sure that you book your your vacation, your trip to Sandals South Coast.

04:16And of course, you can you can win your trip.

04:17We're giving away five of them right now.

04:19At Big98one.com. Gary, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

04:21Yeah, man, it's my pleasure.

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