Jacques Marias is nominated for the 2009 GSM Award for Excellence in Training and Development while managing gift shops for Celebrity Cruise Lines. He is praised for his dedication to training and developing his team through various programs, which has led to strengthened sales associates and increased revenues. Jacques believes in training to fortify his team's abilities and leads by example in recognizing and cultivating talent. He has embraced specialist training programs, monthly training topics, and management mentoring to build a knowledgeable team and ensure guests receive excellent service. Jacques' commitment to training his team through diverse programs has made him an inspiration respected by peers and crew.

1. 2009 GSM Awards
Nomination Form
GENERAL INFORMATION
Please select which one of the two categories the GSM is being nominated for: Excellence in Training & Development
Nominee: Jacques Marias Cruise Line: Celebrity
NOMINATION INFORMATION
Please highlight why you feel this GSM deserves this award:
Jacques Marias has been selected as the Gift Shop Manager who has stood out in Excellence in Training Development
for Celebrity Cruise Lines. Jacques' dedication and commintment to train and develop his team is second to none, his
drive and passion to grow his team to better themselves is evident if you walk on any of the Celebrity Ships he
managed in 2009.
Jacques believes that his training fortifies his ability to train his team and lead them to success. He instills this
commitment by his own example. His ability to recognize and develop talent within his team has made Starboard more
successful. He has been an advocate of the monthly training topics, the ASM training program, the Specialist training
programs, the OAM program, and the Harvard Management Mentoring program.
In 2009, Jacques fully embraced the three specialist programs and set about stregthening his bench and succession
planning on each ship he managed. Under Jacques the Specialist Training flourished, his belief in the program led him
to train a core team of specialists and continue building team strength by training all associates. This allowed him to
ensure that guests would be greeted with knowledgeable and well trained sales associates. On Jacques' ships we
have never run short of specialists to serve our guests. His ships are always 100% staffed with knowledgeable sales
professionals who understand his commitment to excellence.
His commitment to training continued with the monthly topics. Jacques would always administer the training sessions
ontime and utilized these opportunities to build team strength and develop his assistant sales managers to focus on
developing the knowledge and strength of his team .
Jacques also understood the important of ongoing training, each month he would administrate and conduct the many
excellent Starboard Training Programs to his team. His motivation and enthusiasm in each training lesson was
exceptional and he would continue to monitor the progress within his team in order to ensure that the training message
was not forgotten.
Finally, Jacques inspiration and dedication in his role as Shop Manager has won him over countless supporters
amongst the cruise line. Senior Management onboard views him as an inspiration and a solid leader in the onboard
retail environment. His revenue results have been challenging at times but his commitment to always have fully well
trained and knowledgeable sales associates in his team at all times is un-touchable. He is well respected amongst his
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2. peers and newer Shop Manager's often reach out to contact him for advice and support.
Jacques truly is an inspiration to the Celebrity Team and his ability to look within his staff to locate, nurture and
enhance those talents onboard have led to countless sales that may have been lost. He makes training his first priority
on every ship he manages. The many associates that have worked with Jacques are now more valuable than ever to
Starboard. His passion for knowledge and his never ending drive have given countless scores of individuals a view and
real life perspective of how excellence in training and development should be executed and embraced.
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