In this latest edition of A Day in the Life of Property Management, we turn to the property management team located at the Camana Bay Visitor Centre — specifically, Programme Coordinator Alexandrea Tiofilo, who shared with us how her Dart journey began.
“I first started with Dart when I was in high school,” said Tiofilo. “Taking part in a one-week internship with my year group, working with the marketing [creative team] assisting with the poster designs for the “Decade of Magic," Camana Bay's 10th anniversary. Then when I was about 17 or 18, I spent two weeks with the Visitor Centre during December for the Christmas season. I did this again the following year, and it helped me to get introduced into the company more and spark my interest in working with Dart. The Visitor Centre’s operations and environment really interested me.
“The January after the second year of working there, [former Visitor Centre team member] Angela Walsh encouraged me to apply to Dart so I could continue working with them. She liked my work ethic, the way I interacted with our customers and team, and so I began part-time employment for about three years as I was attending college as well. Last year, December 2024, was when I became a full-time employee.
"I like that the Visitor Centre has an environment more suited to my personality than a typical office environment. We work hard at the Visitor Centre to create a fun ambience for our team and our customers. We do a lot more than people realise, and the variety makes each day different and interesting.”
CBT: What drew you to this field?
AT: In general, I am quite a shy person, but I do like customer service and interacting with people daily and sharing Cayman culture. I like the challenge of the different questions I get every day and meeting people from different places around the world. When I was at UCCI taking my hospitality certificate programme, they had us do different side courses, one of which was a course called Cayman Pride. They took us on tours all around Cayman so we could gain more knowledge about our island and history, and this training has enabled me to share what I know with our visitors who have come to Cayman and Camana Bay.
CBT: What is your favourite part of your job?
AT: The customer interactions are my favourite part because I am really passionate about the history and culture of the Cayman Islands, and I love discussing this with our Camana Bay visitors. Any little pieces that I think may get forgotten about I love to share, whether it is about a particular district or site of historical interest.
CBT: Do you have a set schedule for tasks or is every day different?
AT: Every day is different. Some days we have lots of gift card orders or sports, and other days hardly any. Then there are our visitors, of course. On the cruise ship days, we may have several tour groups come through Camana Bay, so we are very busy, and on other days there may be groups from the hotels coming over for a leisurely day with us. I love the variety.
CBT: What are some examples of the variety of tasks you are presented with as Programme Coordinator?
AT: We do a lot in the Visitor Centre, but I am mainly in charge of gift cards, and I assist my supervisor Venessa with that. I do the inventory, help with choosing the designs on the gift cards and so on. I also help the stores around Camana Bay if they have any issues with their terminals. I also assist with the sports complex and ensure visitors get the correct information they need. Different challenges every day, but that’s what keeps it interesting.
CBT: Who inspires you?
AT: I take inspiration from those around me, so that could be family like my parents, my grandmother, my older brother and even my fiancé. In the work environment, Angela has really helped me to come out of my shell and be more confident, as has Venessa Ebanks, who has helped me to improve my standard of professionalism and build up those skills.
Timeline of a typical day
8:30-9 a.m. — As soon as I arrive at work I go and get the keys from Security to open the office and then unlock the doors, turn on the lights, balance the till and ensure the screen is on a loop video of Camana Bay. I also make sure that the radio is on. Music is important for helping to create a welcoming ambience.
9 a.m. to lunchtime — Restock gift cards out front and make sure all magazines and brochures are laid out. I also make sure our merchandise is displayed neatly. I pay attention to Outlook and answer emails where necessary, especially bulk orders of gift cards.
Lunchtime — This varies depending on what is happening during the day. I tend to go a bit later in the day when things are calming down, but I can take a 15-minute break earlier if necessary.
3-5:30 p.m. — This time is used for any other customer service matters, preparation for closing and reconciling the till and our receipts. We don’t close until 5:30 p.m. but we like to be on top of everything so there are no delays. Taking this time also allows us to catch any mistakes and correct any numbers, if necessary.
This article was first published in the June/July 2025 edition of Camana Bay Times.
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