Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito

At www.dominican-republic-holiday.com we like to interview local people to find out more about the country.

Here Ashers interviews Tito who is the Bar Captain at the Merenguero bar at the Catalonia Gran Dominicus in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.

If I had a bar, Tito is definitely someone that I would employ.

During our research of sitting at the Merenguero bar and ordering drinks, it was painfilly obvious that Tito was `on the case`. He just did not stop the whole time!

The interview is in Spanish but the English transcription is below:

Independent review of the Catalonia Gran Dominicus resort

This is an independent review of the Catalonia Gran Dominicus resort in Bayahibe, South-East Dominican Republic, following a 3 week stay in April/May 2009.

Cost/arrival/car rental [inc video]
The beach
Restaurants and bars
Sports
Entertainment
Excursions
Accommodation and Facilities
Interview with Tito
Interview with Janeris

Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito

Q] Well good afternon, well more or less good afternoon and just about good evening! Here we are at the Catalonia Gran Dominicus with Tito. Your surname?
A] Tito Jimenez.

Q] Tito Jimenez. He`s known as `The Captain`. he`s head of the team who work here at the bar. Tito has much experience in the management of bars in the resorts of the DR. Tell us a bit about the work, the tourists, etc.
A] Well I have been working in these hotels for a number of years, I have a lot of experieence because I have worked in several different resorts. I have worked up from the bottom to the top, where I find myself here.

Q] How long have you been doing this work if it`s not a rude question?
A] About 19/20 years.

Q] Where are you from?
A] From La Romana. I started as a simple barman on the beach, and then I did some waitering in a hotel, and then I progressed to being a bar tender in the resorts. Now I have ben a bar `Captain` for about 8/9 years. Thankfully I have managed to do a good job, taking new teams and building them up to a good level. [cont right]

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Q] I have noted that although you are `The Captain`, shall we say that you are very involved with the work as well, perhaps seting an example? Hw do you see it?
A] Well, as I have a number of new employees coming through I have to be vigilant both inside and around the outside so that all runs smoothly on both sides of the bar and to ensure that the team performs perfectly.

Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito
Q] It seems also that the levels of training have to be good, because not all the bar staff are permanent employees, right? For example, one waitres was telling us yesterday that she is working here for just over a month but with no pay, just to get a certificate so that she can obtain work elsewhere.
A] No this is when they are at vocational school, and they need to complete a certain cross-section of disciplines to take to the school. So they come here from the school so that they can meet some of the requirements for their qualifications.

Q] So this is a process of eductation, helping educate the people that live around this area?
A] Yes we can teach them about the hotel industry, so that they can advance their own careers.

Q] Yes a good idea. So to finish Tito, talk to us a bit about yourself if you will, your personal life, but you don`t get much time to enjoy yourself do you?!
A] Well my personal life is shall we say fairly strict, because much of my efforts are directed to work. When I have two or three days off, I normally spend them at home with my family taking I easy, or perhaps we go to the beach. But my life is a bit limited because, how would I explain it, I don`t have any vices, I don`t drink, and I don`t really have lots of friends with whom I would go out and have fun, I have only really got one main friend, who is my brother. So what happens is that when I am free I might go round to his place, he might come round to mine, but we don`t go out and about, that`s the way I am.

Q] Its whatever one likes to do yes?
A] Yes and as for my work colleagues I always try to teach them and encourage them in good ways, but I also let them know when something is not good. everything has to be just right. I am tremendously diligent.

Q] Yes, and we`d like to thank you and wish you all the best.
A] Fine, many thanks, we are here to serve.

Above: An interview with Tito who works as the Bar Captain at the Catalonia Gran Dominicus

Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito

Q] Yes, we`ve been here now for almost 3 weeks. I don`t think there has been a day when we haven`t seen you here and not working hard. We have noted that there is a lot of activity around the bar, and everyone seems to be rushing around but to good effect, and you always seem to be on top of things, in control. What is the secret, how do you achieve this?
A] Well I feel good because in this discipline that I have I think I achieve a good level of motivation and purpose. You have to be well trained in this profession. For example people have different tastes, someone wants an exotic cocktail, a tropical cocktail, any type of drink you have to know what they want and get it right.

Q] So here at the Catalonia what are the most popular drinks?
A] Like in just about all the reorts `Pina Colada`, `Banana Mama`, beer, `Cuba Libre`,`Blue Hawaii`

Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito

Q] So in a lot of these drinks there`s rum, correct?
A] Yes there`s rum, many with vodka, margaritas, and several drinks that I have invented during my time in various resorts, like the `Merengue Dancer`, `Teeth of the Caribbean`, `Love of the Night`, `The Sailor`, a number that we have devised over time.[cont left]

Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito

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Catalonia Gran Dominicus interview Tito