The Reservations and Customer Service team fields enquiries from prospective charter customers and BOSS students, manages pre-charter communications, greets charter customers when they arrive, manages the check-in and check-out process as well as all other administrative and financial details connected with charters and sailing schools.
Tessa Rouse – Customer Service Specialist
Debbie began her career in the catering industry in the UK, and early on worked with the now famous Jamie Oliver as he was starting out as a restauranteur in London. She then migrated to the travel industry focusing on holiday packages to the Caribbean. This led to a decision to move to the Caribbean in 2000 when she took a position as Base Manager for the TradeWinds charter operation on Bequia Island in SVG.
After 5 years in that position, she spent another 5 years as a roving transient manager at various charter bases in the Caribbean, covering for managers on leave. She then decided to put her culinary skills back to work as a 1st mate / chef on charter boats. This led to an opportunity to join Barefoot in 2017, initially as a chef. It quickly became apparent that Debbie could make a broader contribution leading the reservations team for BYC and BOSS.
Mary Yearwood – Customer Support and Provisioning Supervisor
Mary started out as a shift supervisor for Shell gas stations here in St Vincent. She had an interest in tourism and travel and took up an opportunity at Irie Travels, a local travel agency for just over 2 years before joining us at Barefoot in 2005.
Mary began as a receptionist initially, but her intimate knowledge of the local producers and suppliers soon saw her moved to the role of concierge and head of our provisioning department.
Transportation Team
For most Barefoot guests, their first contact with BYC is when Phyllis or Lisa picks them up at the airport. We arrange this service to ensure our guests feel welcomed by a member of BYC’s team from the moment of their arrival.
Phyllis Peters has been in the taxi business for 40 years and has been BYC’s “taxi ambassador” for much of that period. She was St. Vincent’s first lady taxi driver and built her business up over the years to include two air conditioned taxi vans, the second driven by Lisa Comas. From day one, Phyllis has welcomed our guests to Barefoot and SVG with her trade-mark smile.
Lisa joined 8 years ago and her up-beat helpful attitude has also been a winner with our guests. Between them these ladies have a wealth of local knowledge and are eager to share it with Barefoot guests. From airport transfers, to supermarket runs, from island tours with water falls, to shopping trips to the capital city Kingstown,
Phyllis and Lisa are always ready with a smile and friendly advice.
