GeneralManager, Doug SearsUp Front
Doug Sears leaveslocal Hyatt
GeneralManager, Doug Sears
In what appears to be a sudden departure,Doug Sears, General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Grand Caymanfor the past six years, will end his tenure with the hotel thisFriday.
"I have been offered a promotion toopen up a brand new property that will open this June - GrandHyatt Seattle - which happens to be in my hometown," Mr.Sears told Cayman Net News.
"This will give my seven-month-oldson an opportunity to get to know his grandparents better andwe will be closer to my wife's home in Hawaii," he explained.
His departure, he said, had nothing to dowith the recently-dismissed case regarding gratuities paid tomanagers, which was brought against the Hyatt by the Labour Boardlast year.
The suit claimed that $1.5 million was owedto the staff from 1994 onwards in gratuity payment. However thecase was dismissed because the matter was over time.
"I believe that the facts of the gratuitycase supported the decision of the magistrate," Mr. Searssaid.
Cayman Net News contacted Dr. Frank McField,General Secretary of National Alliance of the Cayman Island Employees(NACE), the islands' sole trade union, which last year led a protestagainst the Hyatt for its dismissal of the union's president,Ms. Dorline Welcome, who was employed to the Hyatt as a cashier.
He declined to comment, but referred CaymanNet News to Ms. Welcome.
Ms. Welcome, who was terminated by the Hyatton 21 November 2000, for "unprofessional conduct", saidthat she was happy that he was moving on, because "he hascaused our people enough pain."
Mr. Sears has been employed with Hyatt Resortsfor the past 21 years, and has worked in Hawaii, the Caribbeanas well as US mainland-based properties.
"I have appreciated all the supportand friendship that my staff has given me ,both professionallyand inspirationally and will miss them all very much", Mr.Sears said.
"I would like to thank all the peopleof the Cayman Islands for their fine job in providing a safe,friendly destination for tourists to compliment the obvious backdropof the crystal waters and sunny climate", he added.