Woman of growth
Rose Skinner retires after 17 transformative years with RIU Resorts Jamaica
Published:Monday | July 21, 2025 | 12:11 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
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WESTERN BUREAU: For nearly two decades, Rose Skinner stood at the intersection of discipline and compassion, growth and grit, as she quietly built one of the strongest human capital legacies in Jamaica’s hospitality industry. On her final day as...
WESTERN BUREAU:
For nearly two decades, Rose Skinner stood at the intersection of discipline and compassion, growth and grit, as she quietly built one of the strongest human capital legacies in Jamaica’s hospitality industry.
On her final day as human resources (HR) director for RIU Hotels & Resorts Jamaica, Skinner walked out of her office with not only grand fanfare, but also the deep satisfaction that she had done the work, changed lives, and passed the baton with pride.
“I still have a lot left in me,” she said with a smile. “But I believe it’s time for me now. Me time.”
That “me time” comes after 17 years of navigating labour relations, cultivating leadership, managing teams across seven resorts, and reshaping what was once a foreign-led structure into one that today stands proudly Jamaican.
When Skinner joined RIU in 2005, the company had only two properties in Jamaica.
“Every head of department was a foreigner,” she recalled. “Today, every head of department, across all seven properties, is Jamaican. That’s something I will always carry with pride.”
She helped oversee the expansion of RIU from two hotels to seven, including properties in Montego Bay in St James, Negril, Westmoreland; Falmouth, Trelawny; and Ocho Rios in St Ann. Under her watch, RIU, already a vacation brand, became a place where Jamaicans could build careers and lives.
“Watching someone move from a server to a dining room manager, or from a steward to executive chef…those are the moments that give me the most joy,” Skinner shared, eyes lighting up.
‘Mutual respect’
Her first real test came early. In 2005, workers at RIU Tropical Bay in Negril sought union representation from the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union, just as Skinner was settling into her role.
“It was my first time dealing with a union. It was tense,” she said. “But we worked through it. We got to a place of mutual respect. And since then? No strikes. No scandals. We listen, we talk, and we solve.”
That commitment to communication has paid off. Even during recent industry-wide walkouts, RIU’s staff remained on the job. Skinner believes it’s because they felt heard.
“You can’t fix every problem,” she admitted. “But if staff know you’re trying, that they’re not alone, they’ll walk with you.”
Skinner’s approach to HR was not just about enforcing policy. It was about people. She built regional HR teams in each location - Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, and Falmouth, enabling her to focus on strategy and leadership.
“I believe in team building. Once you have strong teams, the work gets lighter, and the results get better,” she said.
She is especially proud of Nadia Forrester, who is now stepping into her shoes. Forrester is a young Jamaican who joined RIU straight out of school in 2001, trained under Skinner, and now takes the reins as HR director.
“I’ve been grooming her for this. She is strong, thoughtful, and ready. That’s what succession looks like.”
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, especially for HR professionals.
“The job market is not the same,” Skinner said bluntly. “This new generation wants instant gratification. They want to move up fast, and if it doesn’t happen quickly, they move on.”
She has seen higher turnover, especially in areas like housekeeping, kitchen staff, and lifeguards. Overseas job programmes have also created a talent vacuum.
“We’re training,” she noted, “but not fast enough to keep up with the vacancies.”
Even so, Skinner remained committed to mentoring those who stayed – encouraging stability, patience, and growth.
“You can grow in this industry. I have seen it. I have lived it. But it takes time.”
Though she is officially retired, Skinner is not retreating. She is relocating to Miami to rejoin her children and grandchildren, some of whom were babies when she first returned to Jamaica.
“I’ve missed a lot,” she confessed. “Now I want to make up for that.”
Still, walking away from RIU was not easy.
“This is my second home. These people are my family. We’ve cried together, laughed together, grown together.”
When asked what is next, Skinner laughs softly.
“Rest. Reflection. Maybe a little consulting … but first, a good cup of coffee and no alarm clock.”