It was a night glitz and glamour, decadent dining and down home entertainment Tuesday as Sandals Resort and Spa rolled out the red carpet to showcase some of its most talented team members during the Fifth Annual Prestige Awards.

The awards recognised excellence among the resort’s 400-plus employees who made significant strides and in some cases went beyond the call of duty to ensure that the Sandals brand remains a success in 2012.

Sandals General Manager Patrick Drake noted that while the awards are about raising morale among team members, it is also a way for the resort to highlight its shining stars that have been crucial to the brand’s consistent success.

“This is a wonderful night,” he said. “We have had our mark-up year in 2012 and we did lots of promotions and now the staff is happy and you can feel it.”

More than 60 employees were nominated for various categories including the Rising Star Award, Most Improved, Sandals Foundation Award and Smile Award.

But among the night’s biggest winners were Team Member of the Year Shavar Gibson from the accounts department; Manager of the Year Gilles Williamson from the IT Department; Shawn Henfield from Food and Beverage and General Manager’s Award winner Denver Moss from Guest Services.

The resort also paid tribute to its recently retired Human Resources Director Caroline Major who is recovering from her series of recent strokes.

Mrs. Major has been on that very property for more than 40 years.