From a four-lap wellness walk to “Know Your Numbers,” the Princess Group is turning employee wellness into an ongoing commitment to healthier minds, healthier bodies and stronger tomorrows.
Being a responsible employer involves much more than paying salaries or providing a safe and healthy working environment. Increasingly, responsible organizations recognize that their employees are amongst their most valuable resources and that investing in their health and wellbeing contributes to a productive, resilient and sustainable workforce. It is with this philosophy that the Princess Group of Companies, together with Port de Plaisance Resort Trademark Collection by Wyndham, launched its Employee Health and Wellness Initiative earlier this year.
The initiative brings together employees from Princess Casino, Princess Sunset Casino, Coliseum Casino, Tropicana Casino and Port de Plaisance Resort, including hotel operations, ground staff, maintenance personnel and gardeners, with the goal of encouraging healthier lifestyle choices, greater awareness of personal health and a stronger culture of wellness throughout the organization.
STARTING WITH SMALL STEPS
The initiative officially got underway in July with a four-lap wellness walk around the Port de Plaisance Resort property. The event provided employees from across the various companies an opportunity to step away from their normal routines, get moving and participate in a simple activity centred on physical fitness and camaraderie. The walk was deliberately designed to be accessible to everyone. Participants did not have to be athletes or fitness enthusiasts. The objective was simply to take that first step literally and figuratively toward becoming more conscious of the importance of physical activity and personal health.
The message behind the initiative remains straightforward: “Small Steps Today, Stronger Tomorrows.” The Princess Group recognizes that wellness cannot be limited to an occasional event. It requires creating an environment in which employees are encouraged to think about their health as an ongoing personal investment.
KNOWING YOUR NUMBERS
That commitment continued on Saturday, September 12, when the Princess Group hosted its employee health screening event under the theme “Know Your Numbers.” Held at the Port de Plaisance property, the event brought together employees from the Group’s four casinos and the resort, as well as employees working in the maintenance, grounds-gardeners and other operational areas. More than 80 employees participated in the health screening, making the event an important milestone in the Group’s wellness initiative.
The American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), under the leadership of Dr. Natalie Humphrey, has been a valued partner of the Princess Group’s Employee Health and Wellness Initiative from day one. AUC medical students, faculty members and volunteers supported the initiative from its very beginning, including their enthusiastic participation in the July walk-a-thon.
This continued commitment carried through to the September 12 health screening, where Dr. Humphrey once again led her team in providing professional health services and guidance to our employees. The dedication, knowledge and professionalism demonstrated by the AUC faculty, medical students and volunteers contributed significantly to the success of the initiative and are sincerely appreciated. The collaboration also provided an important educational component, reinforcing the value of preventive healthcare and encouraging employees to become more informed about their personal health.
MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER
The health screening focused on giving employees an opportunity to learn important information about their current health status. Employees were able to participate in health checks designed to provide key measurements and information, while healthcare professionals were available to answer questions and provide guidance.
The purpose of the screening was not to replace an individual’s personal physician or regular medical care. Rather, it provided an opportunity for employees to become more aware, identify areas that may require attention, and make informed decisions about seeking appropriate follow-up care. For the organizers, the value of the event went beyond simply obtaining a set of numbers.
It was about understanding those numbers, asking questions, receiving professional guidance and taking greater responsibility for personal health. Knowing one’s blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, body measurements, testing their vision, and other health indicators can encourage individuals to take preventive measures and make healthier lifestyle choices.
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
The success of the September 12 event was also the result of strong cooperation throughout the Princess Group. Management teams across the four casinos and the hotel played an important role in encouraging employees to participate. Their support and motivation helped create awareness of the event and demonstrated that employee wellness is regarded as a shared responsibility throughout the organization. Special appreciation is also extended to our Divan Café, which supported the initiative by providing snacks and beverages for participants.
This contribution helped create a welcoming environment for employees as they moved through the screening process and interacted with the healthcare team. The cooperation and participation of employees themselves were equally important. Taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the screening demonstrated a willingness to invest in personal health and embrace the philosophy behind the initiative.
CREATING A CULTURE OF WELLNESS
The Princess Group’s wellness initiative stems from a broader goal: to encourage healthier lifestyles within each of its companies. Good health is influenced by many factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management and preventive healthcare. The initiative therefore seeks to encourage employees to develop healthier habits, incorporate physical activity into their routines and make regular health checks part of their personal wellness plans.
The initiative also recognizes the realities of the hospitality and casino industries. Employees in these environments may work irregular schedules, spend long hours on their feet, interact continuously with guests and customers, and operate under demanding conditions while maintaining high standards of service. Over time, these pressures can contribute to stress, fatigue and disrupted sleep, which can affect energy, concentration and overall wellbeing. For this reason, wellness must be viewed as more than simply what a person eats or how often they exercise.
LISTENING TO THE BODY
One of the important messages emerging from the wellness initiative is the need for employees to become more attentive to their own bodies. Feeling unusually tired, experiencing prolonged stress, noticing changes in sleep patterns or simply not feeling one’s best are signals that should not necessarily be ignored.
WELLNESS BEGINS WITH AWARENESS
Employees are encouraged to listen to their bodies, recognize when something does not feel right and take appropriate steps to seek professional advice rather than waiting until a concern becomes more serious. This approach also recognizes the shared responsibility between employer and employee. While companies have a responsibility to provide supportive and healthy working environments, individuals must also take an active role in caring for their own health.
MIND AND BODY WELLNESS: THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
With the successful completion of the September 12 health screening, the Princess Group is already looking toward the next stage of its wellness journey. The upcoming focus will increasingly explore “Mind and Body Wellness.” The concept recognizes that physical and mental wellbeing are closely connected. A healthy lifestyle is not simply about maintaining a certain weight, exercising or eating nutritious food. It also involves managing stress, getting adequate rest, maintaining healthy relationships, finding ways to recharge and recognizing when additional emotional or mental support may be needed. By expanding the initiative to include mind and body wellness, the Princess Group hopes to encourage employees to view health from a more complete perspective.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE
The success of the September 12 screening demonstrates that employee wellness can become a meaningful part of workplace culture when employees, management and community partners work together. For the Princess Group, the goal is not simply to organize individual wellness events. It is to establish a sustained culture in which employees are encouraged and supported in making their health a priority.
The July walk was one step. The September “Know Your Numbers” screening was another. The next focus on mind and body wellness represents another step in a broader journey. Ultimately, the message extends beyond the workplace: Health is the New Wealth.
By encouraging employees to take small, meaningful steps from walking and making healthier food choices to knowing their health numbers, seeking preventive care and caring for their minds as well as their bodies, the Princess Group of Companies is demonstrating that investing in people is an investment in the future. And when employees are healthier, more informed and more empowered to take ownership of their wellbeing, the entire organization and ultimately the wider community of Sint Maarten benefits.
