Last week, we celebrated our Annual Quest for the Best Awards, HUGE congratulations to all the winners!
Throughout the past year we have celebrated 4 leaders, 37 individuals, and 4 teams as Quest for the Best winners for their outstanding contribution to SKYCITY.
The annual Quest for the Best Supreme Awards ceremony recognises winners who have also had an impact beyond their own team; had a positive impact on profitability (not necessarily directly) and are respected not only by their immediate team members but across the business.
Our winners were carefully selected by our Quest for the Best Committee which includes representatives from right across the business including both front of house and back of house functions.
There were five categories in the 2019 Supreme awards:
SKYCITY Employee of the Year
SKYCITY Leadership Award
SKYCITY Team of the Year
SKYCITY SHINE Award
The Chairman's Health and Safety Award (a new award introduced this year)
SKYCITY Employee of the Year: Phillip Tronson, Table Games Dealer
Our SKYCITY employee of the year - Phillip Tronson, Table Games Dealer
Phillip was described by the seven people who nominated him as an 'asset to SKYCITY,' a 'prime example of someone who goes above and beyond' and as someone that is 'passionate and gives more than 100% in anything he does.'
Phillip has been with SKYCITY since 2005, and has enormous enthusiasm and dedication to his job, and SKYCITY. Phillip has been instrumental in refining existing processes in our Poker Zone and training staff in our Poker schools to an extremely high calibre.
He has taken the initiative to roll out new initiatives in the poker room and update processes, often devoting his own time to develop and drive these concepts.
In addition to his fantastic work with Poker, he has been identified as an employee who is always willing to assist and go the extra mile to help his Table Games managers and colleagues.
Congratulations Phillip!
L-R: Matt Ballesty - Exec GM - Gaming, Michael Ahearne - COO, Radha Vellanki - Table Games Manager, Graeme Stephens - CEO, Phillip Tronson - Table Games Dealer , Claire Walker - Group GM HR.
SKYCITY Leadership Award: Caroline Ah-Chong Douglas, Marketing Manger Attractions
Our Leadership of the Year award winner - Caroline
Caroline has been part of the SKYCITY family for ten years and has worked across most of the marketing portfolio in that time. She started in gaming before looking after hotels and restaurants and moving to the role of Marketing Manager Attractions in 2017 where she heads up all of our onsite activations, our sponsorship portfolio, the theatre and our Federal Street events programme.
She is described as a hands on leader who never asks people to do hours that she wouldn't, be that a 5am pack in or a 2am pack out, Caroline always puts her own name top of the list. She is quick to spot and reward talent and attitude, promoting people from within her team, giving people opportunities to step up and develop new skills.
She also somehow finds the time to personally mentor several individuals both within the business, and externally. She is an outstanding people manager, a hugely popular member of staff and is recognised as a role model to many employees. Caroline is often asked to sit on Leadership Panels, mentoring sessions and to represent SKYCITY in both internal and external forums such as Accelerated Leadership, Emerging Leaders, Global Women, and the BEST Pacific Leadership programme, all of which she does with great enthusiasm and dedication.
Congratulations Caroline!
L-R: Claire Walker - Group GM HR, Graeme Stephens - CEO, Caroline Ah Chong-Douglas - Marketing Manager Attractions, Michael Ahearne - COO
SKYCITY Shine Award: Kelly Robertson, Table Games Dealer
Our SHINE award winner Kelly
Kelly provides such exceptional customer service to our International Business patrons, that we had to post-pone the presentation of her Quest for the Best award during the year to a later ceremony because she was working in Queenstown at the request of a patron.
This is just one example of her dedication to, and delivery of, customer service which is described by senior Table Games management as 'truly exceptional.' Not only are her technical skills of the highest standard, but her ability to engage with our guests and her colleagues sets her apart, and her fantastic attitude means she is a favourite with both the SKYCITY team and guests.
It was this ability to provide world class entertainment and a WOW experience to a particularly difficult guest that was a key part of her nomination where in this particular instance, the guest did not win during his stay but had still had a fantastic experience due to Kelly.
Congratulations Kelly!
L-R: Matt Ballesty - Exec GM - Gaming, Michael Ahearne - COO, Kelly Robertson - Table Games Dealer, Graeme Stephens - CEO, Claire Walker - Group GM HR.
SKYCITY Team of the Year: Gaming Technicians Team
Our Team of the Year: Gaming Technicians Team
This team was nominated for their outstanding work, efficiency and professionalism in carrying out the many table and gaming machine moves they facilitate.
The wider Table Games management team noted that they 'consistently deliver excellent service and support the table games department whenever they can.'
There were 12 supporting nominations for this team who demonstrate both personal and team commitment, working with a positive attitude to complete their activities with the least amount of disruption to their colleagues and our customers.
Congratulations team!
Our Gaming Technicians Team with Matt Ballesty - Exec GM - Gaming, Michael Ahearne - COO, Graeme Stephens - CEO, Claire Walker - Group GM HR.
The Chairman's Health and Safety Award: Linda Asher, Executive Housekeeper
Our Chairman's Health and Safety Award winner Linda
To reinforce our belief that everyone has a right to a healthy and safe workplace we have initiated a new award to recognise Health and Safety excellence.
The Chairman's Health and Safety Award recognises the importance of preventing harm to any of our employees or customers.
Linda has demonstrated excellence towards maintaining an outstanding level of health and safety performance, passionate leadership in Health and Safety, and promoted a positive safety culture amongst her team.
Linda's team has achieved and exceeded their Health and Safety targets resulting in:
a high level of Health and Safety engagement
successfully maintaining daily and weekly injury prevention initiatives to reduce the potential for manual task related injuries
positive safety culture survey results
a 40% reduction in workplace injuries and illness
Congratulations Linda!
Well done and congratulations again to all the winners! If this inspired you to join our team at SKYCITY, then check out all the opportunities we currently offer on our Careers website!
