Our Team

Welcome to our Team page!

The people who work at Bucuti & Tara share the vision and values of sustainability and hospitality that we've become known for. Their passion and dedication has made Bucuti & Tara a magical place to be a visitor and a special place to work.

We recognize those extraordinary associates who make the magic every day: Our 'Bucuti's Best' award winners and we also share some of our long time team member profiles, below.

Click here for our Team Blog

Bucuti's Best

Bucuti's Best March 2024

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for March 2024:

From left to right:

Karen Cousins was most mentioned on the guest survey, plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Yolanda Reyes won for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Kevin Maduro won Peer-to-Peer awards, for going above and beyond in his workplace.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best February 2024

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for February 2024:

In descending order:

Juan Vasquez with his back to back win with most mentioned on the guest survey, plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Abigail Sanchez & Rambo Paniagua won for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Charmante Jean Louis & Angela Pochettino won Peer-to-Peer awards for their fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best January 2024

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for January 2024:

From left to right:

Juan Vasquez was most mentioned on the guest survey, plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Madeline Fernandez Gower won Peer-to-Peer awards for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.
Abigail Sanchez won for the most Tripadvisor mentions!

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best December 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for December 2023:

From left to right:

Juan Vasquez was most mentioned on the guest survey, plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Arlisha Florez Rodriguez won Peer-to-Peer awards for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.
Nancy Bolano won for the most Tripadvisor mentions!

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best November 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for November 2023:

From left to right:

Fatmia de Silva and Vincent Croes are our winners for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Juan Vasquez was most mentioned on the guest survey, plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Jhon Gomez won Peer-to-Peer awards for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best October 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for October 2023:

Karen Cousins from our welcoming bartender has the most mentions on Guest surveys plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Harrisson Dirksz from Elements Restaurant is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Oslin Wolf from Housekeeping received the Peer-to-Peer nominations for proactive and dedicated approach; Faced with the deteriorating condition of our lobby floor, Oslin didn't just wait for new equipment. He empathetically recognized the importance of a welcoming space and ingeniously fashioned a brush pad from an old piece of foam.His innovative solution not only spruced up our lobby floor, making it look as if it were newly laid but also demonstrated a deep commitment to sustainability by halving water use and cleaning product consumption. Oslin's actions reflect a profound understanding of the impact of our work environment on our well-being.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews

Bucuti's Best September 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for September 2023:

Karen Cousins from our welcoming bartender has the most mentions on Guest surveys plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Juan Vasquez from Elements Breakfast is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Marguerita Doyley from Tara Lounge Breakfast received the Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews

Bucuti's Best August 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for August 2023:

Yolanda Reyes from our front office has the most mentions on Guest surveys plus Bucuti's Best cards
Juan Vasquez from Elements Breakfast is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Hildward Geerman and Rosendo de Palm from our front office are both winners who received the most Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues. They literally saved a guest's life!

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best July 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for July 2023:

Karen Cousins is our Sand Bar Bartender and our most mentioned on Guest surveys plus Bucuti's Best cards
Juan Vasquez from Elements Breakfast is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Michiko Eman, our Human Resources Director, and Ivonne Brunk, a concierge at reception, are both winners who received the most Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best June 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for June 2023:

From left to right:

Karen Cousins from our Food & Beverage Department is our most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Francisco Santana is our winner who received the most Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best May 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for May 2023:

From left to right:

Ramfis "Rambo" Paniagua from our Food & Beverage Department is our most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards
Karen Cousins from our Food & Beverage Department is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Wilckens Supre is our winner who received the most Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best April 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for April 2023:

From left to right:

Karen Cousins - Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards AND Tripadvisor
Sherik Faria - is our winners who received Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best March 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for March 2023:

From left to right:

Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards AND Tripadvisor
Luis Willems and Ivonee Brunk are our winners who received Peer-to-Peer nominations for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests and for fellow colleagues.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best February 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for February 2023:

From left to right:

Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Vincent Croes - Food and Beverage is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Jasmine Miller - Housekeeping Department won the Peer-to-Peer award for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best January 2023

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for January 2023:

From left to right:

Rambo Paniagua - Food and Beverage is our winner for the most Tripadvisor mentions!
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Marci Reuters, our USA Based reservationist, and Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department both won Peer-to-Peer awards for fantastic above-and-beyond service for our guests.

Winners are chosen from guest and peer submissions and through mentions in reviews.

Bucuti's Best December 2022

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for December 2022:

From left to right:

Rambo Paniagua, Food & Beverage Department for both our Guest Surveys, Bucuti's Best Cards and our Tripadvisor mentions!
Etienne Rigueuse, Housekeeping Department, Most mentioned on our Peer to Peer nominations.

We are very proud of our winners and the outstanding work that earned their awards.

Team Blog

Spotlight Marguerita Doyley Osbourne

Meet Marguerita Doyley Osbourne

One of our brightest smiles in the resort for 17 years, welcoming our guests for breakfast in the Tara Wing lounge. Marguerita enjoys the lasting friendships with guests and learning all about where they are from. "I feel like a world traveler, having visited cities around the globe through my guests’ tales." Thank you Marguerita! You are a ray of sunshine in the Tara Lounge every morning.

Spotlight Celebration: Anel Villafana Molina

Anel Villafana-Molina is one of the first associates you will meet on your first day at the Tara Lounge. For 18 years, Anel has been part of the breakfast team who is present long before the sun rises to ensure your breakfast is fresh and delicious on your vacation.

Anel is often praised by our guests for her genuine care and friendly nature and we are so grateful for her presence and contribution at Bucuti & Tara.

Spotlight Celebration Leoneda Tejeda

For 22 years, Leoneda has contributed to housekeeping excellence and you may have met her in the Tara Wing as she meticulously prepares our suites there each day for guests’ arrival.

Leoneda is dedicated to her guests and her resort team and we are so grateful for her presence at Bucuti & Tara.

Spotlight Celebration: Nancy Bolano

Today we introduce Nancy Bolano. A valued member of our team for over 23 years, you may have met Nancy during your visit because she oversees our ’cook to order’ station where you order your eggs, waffles and other fresh items located within our Elements restaurant at breakfast time. Nancy is known for her authentic, kind smile and dedication to our guests perfect breakfast! We are grateful for Nancy!