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High on customer service A labour of love Taking service to another level At one with nature

Stewart

It was approximately four-years-ago that a friend introduced Levette Stewart to the field of tour-guiding, resulting in her switching from her job in the accommodations sector of the tourism industry to ecotourism.

Today she still has no regrets and is very contented with her tour-guiding job at the Negril Area Environment Protection Trust's (NEPT) Royal Palm Reserve, in Negril's Great Morass. Like a true environmentalist, on a daily basis she happily takes scores of tourists, nature enthusiasts and schoolchildren on an educational tour on the reserves (one fourth) mile boardwalk nature tour.

"I do more than tour-guiding," she said in explaining her regimen at the reserve. "NEPT is a non-profit organisation, so we are like a little family. The staff is small here, so I look about everything here including serving at the bar, reception area, even removing lilies, and of course, tour-guiding."

very successful

Stewart first started working at the reserve part-time before becoming part of the full-time staff two years ago. She was trained by the Tourism Product Development Company before embarking on what has been a very successful tenure at the reserve.

"A friend who used to work in the NEPT office called me and asked if I would like to do tour-guiding at the time," Stewart, a mother of three, told Hospitality Jamaica. "I was working at a bed and breakfast inn back then as a chef and housekeeper.

"I did not know much about the environment but had been to the reserve before and so I knew what to expect," she said. "I wouldn't trade it for anything else. You get to meet a lot of people from different countries. The environment is also very cool, nice and peaceful. There is no overcrowding with vendors or anything like that. It is very nice here."

dedication and patience

Stewart is from New Works in Westmoreland. She attended New Works Primary, Beersheba All-Age in St Elizabeth and the Clan Carthy High School in Kingston.

She said her key to success is hinged on the fact that she has a warm personality, is jovial and performs her job well. Her hobbies include meeting people, listening to music and reading. She said the qualities necessary for being a good tour-guide include dedication, patience, and a love for the occupation. She is also urging more locals to visit the park.

"I would love to see more Jamaicans come to the reserve. It is a nice experience - so come on over and take a walk and I will be happy to take you," she said.

claudia.gardner@gleanerjm.com