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Earlier this year, the owners of The Standard Restaurant in Toledo, Ohio, rewarded their staff with an all-expenses-paid cruise to the Bahamas. Jeff Dinnebeil and Megan Lingsweiler organized the three-day Royal Caribbean trip, covering flights and tickets for dozens of employees, as well as some former staff and loyal customers, with stops in Bimini and Nassau. They closed the restaurant during the cruise and staff also received bonuses in addition to the trip.
Employees describe experiencing several firsts during the trip, including cook Andrew Jackson, who says he’d never flown, taken a cruise, or been in the ocean before. He recalls feeling nervous at first but took the plunge after being encouraged by Dinnebeil. The cruise included activities like karaoke, beach visits, scavenger hunts, basketball games, and group dinners.
Staff members say the trip helped to strengthen their relationships with their coworkers, with Jackson saying they returned feeling like family. Server Allison Latta calls it one of the best jobs she’s had, while Dejah Griffith says the owners care about employees beyond the workplace. Dinnebeil says the idea came after a previous family cruise, and he describes the staff as central to the restaurant’s success.
Source: SUNNY SKYZ