How RIU employees built careers and a legacy over 25 years

June 24, 2026

For RIU Hotels & Resorts, the success of its Jamaican operations over the past 25 years has been built on more than beachfront properties and luxury accommodations.

It has been shaped by the dedication, professionalism and loyalty of employees whose work has helped create memorable experiences for millions of visitors.

That commitment was celebrated during RIU's 25th anniversary observances in Jamaica on June 18, when the company recognized 25 employees who have been with the organization since it opened its first hotel on the island.

Their stories reflect not only personal achievement but also the opportunities the tourism industry continues to provide in a country where tourism remains one of the largest contributors to economic growth and employment.

Among those honoured was Carlington Pryce who joined RIU straight out of high school as a waiter at its Tropical Bay destination in Negril.

“I was privileged to serve the first guests that entered the property,” he recalled. “That was my first job.”

What began as an entry-level position quickly evolved into a rewarding career for Pryce who is part of the management team at RIU Ocho Rios.

A self-described people person, he was drawn to hospitality because it allowed him to serve and interact with others. Along the way, he received encouragement from colleagues and managers who helped shape his professional development.

One experience that stands out occurred during his early years with the company when a general manager took a personal interest in his growth.

“He told me that he was going to teach me Spanish,” Pryce said. “I was privileged to learn a lot of things from him and it motivated me to continue practising. Now, I speak Spanish fluently, and that was accomplished without going to school to learn the language.”

The lesson became one of many stepping stones in a career that eventually led him into management.

Pryce has credited his success to humility, self-motivation and a genuine passion for the industry.

“Not every day will be a very good day,” he noted. “For me, every day is a new day. I first try to motivate myself and then I can motivate others to do a good job.”

Reflecting on the evolution of Jamaica's tourism industry, he pointed to the stronger collaboration that now exists between international managers and local employees.

“In the early years, because of cultural differences, communication wasn't always the best,” he said. “But over the years, I have seen a huge improvement. The cultures are now more married together.”

Pryce’s advice to young Jamaicans considering a career in hospitality is straightforward.

“You have to have a goal and that should be to achieve something,” he pointed out. “Once you want to do that, the hotel industry is a way that you can do it.”

Another employee whose career reflects RIU's growth in Jamaica is Nadia Forrester who has spent her entire 25-year career with the company and now serves as Director of Human Resources for Jamaica.

Her path into hospitality was largely unexpected.

After high school, Forrester enrolled in college and participated in a field trip to RIU’s first property in Negril that was preparing to open.

She initially hoped to secure a front desk position, but a conversation with the human resources team changed the course of her career.

“I didn't go for the role of HR,” Forrester recalled. “I was actually there for a front desk position, but then I was drawn into this role, and I fell in love with it ever since.”

That passion has guided her professional journey.

Today, Forrester oversees human resources operations across RIU's seven Jamaican properties, with responsibility for recruitment, payroll, employee relations, training and staff development.

Her rise through the ranks has earned the respect of colleagues and business associates alike, including former Jamaican diplomat Stewart Stephenson, one of RIU's attorneys responsible for personal injury cases.

“Nadia is very co-operative and easy to work with,” said Stephenson who served as Jamaica's Consul General in Toronto from 1999 to 2002. “For someone to leave high school and rise to the position where she is in 25 years is a testament to the quality of the person and their desire to grow exponentially.”

Nadia Forrester with former Jamaica Consul General in Toronto Stewart Stephenson (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

Despite the scope of her responsibilities, Forrester says the most rewarding aspect of her work remains helping others succeed.

“I love to see the employee grow,” she said. “I have seen many of my co-workers who started years ago and are now managers. I am proud of that.”

Forrester said her greatest achievement is not measured by titles or promotions but by the success stories of the people she has helped along the way.

“What stands out for me is my employees,” she noted. “I have seen persons who came into the industry together grow and develop. I am so proud of my co-workers. It has been an honour.”

Forrester’s own career serves as an example of the opportunities available within the hospitality industry and RIU itself.

“When I started, I did not see myself getting here,” she said. “But I knew I was destined for growth. Once I started working in the hotel industry, I fell in love with the people and the culture.”

The celebration also recognized O’Neil Vernon, whose career reflects the value of perseverance, dedication and continuous learning.

He joined RIU as an assistant cook and steadily worked his way through the ranks before becoming executive chef.

“When you believe in yourself, when you have the passion for something, and when the company believes in growth, the sky is the limit,” Vernon said. “What I like about RIU is that they see the potential that you have and they allow you to grow.”

Inspired by his mother and a lifelong love of cooking, he describes food preparation as something that comes from the heart.

“The best feeling you have is when someone enjoys what you prepare and tells you they came back just for that particular item,” Vernon said.

During his years with RIU, he has also witnessed the growing popularity of Jamaican cuisine among international visitors.

“The first thing guests ask is, ‘Where is the Jamaican corner?’” he noted. “Where is my ackee and saltfish and my jerk kitchen? Jamaican cuisine now in the world is second to none.”

Receiving recognition after 25 years of service was particularly meaningful for Vernon who completed high school in Hanover before honing his culinary skills at the Human Employment & Resource Training Trust/National Service Training Agency, Jamaica's national vocational training and certification agency which has helped prepare generations of hospitality professionals for careers in the tourism industry.

“This means a lot,” he said. “The company appreciates the work that we did. What is good about RIU is that they come into the country, they study the culture and it becomes a family.”

Looking at the plaque he received, Vernon said it represents far more than an award.

“I have it to show my kids, my grandkids and my great-grandkids,” he added.

O’Neil Vernon (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

As RIU celebrates a quarter-century in Jamaica, the stories of these employees illustrate how careers can evolve when opportunity, dedication and support come together. Their journeys, from waiter to manager, from temporary employee to director, and from assistant cook to executive chef, mirror the growth of the company itself.

While hotels are often measured by occupancy rates, guest satisfaction scores and expansion plans, RIU's anniversary celebration served as a reminder that its greatest achievement in Jamaica may be the people who have devoted decades of service to helping build the brand.

Their loyalty, experience and commitment continue to shape the guest experience while strengthening an industry that remains vital to Jamaica's economic future.