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 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.

Bucuti's Best November 2022

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

From left to right:

Ivonne Brunk, Front office and Leonardo Fingal - Maintenance, who won with Peer to Peer nominations
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department - a winner with the most Tripadvisor mentions

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

Bucuti's Best October 2022

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

From left to right:

Reservations Team Vashni Wix who won with Peer to Peer nominations
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Mirna Maduro - a winner with the most Tripadvisor mentions

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

Bucuti's Best September 2022

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for September 2022:
From left to right:

Angela Pochettino - a winner with Peer to Peer votes
Janice Smart - Food & Beverage most mentioned on TripAdvisor
Juan Vasquez, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.

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

Bucuti's Best August 2022

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

From left to right:

Juan won two categories this month!!

Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez is tied as the Tripadvisor and Survey and Bucuti Best Card winner!
Elements F&B: Ramfis RAMBO Paniagua is also a Tripadvisor winner
Maintenance team member: Luis Willems is our Peer to Peer winner

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

Bucuti's Best July 2022

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

From left to right:

Front Office: Arlyne Thode is our Peer to Peer winner

Juan won two categories this month!!

Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez is our Tripadvisor and Survey and Bucuti Best Card winner!

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

Bucuti's Best June 2022

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

From left to right:

Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez was mentioned most in our TripAdvisor surveys
Reservations Team Vashni Wix was one of two who won with Peer to Peer nominations
Ilaisa Tromp in our F&B team won for Peer to Peer as well with a nomination on her first day at work.
Elements F&B Carlos Zuleta received the most survey and Bucuti Best in house card mentions

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

Bucuti's Best May 2022

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for May 2022:
From left to right:

Nakarid Ochoa Food & Beverage most mentioned on TripAdvisor
Vincent Croes, Food & Beverage tied most mentioned on TripAdvisor
Vincent Croes also a winner with Peer to Peer votes
Karen Cousins, Food & Beverage Department, Most mentioned on Guest survey plus Bucuti's Best cards.
Alphonso Tennant, Housekeeping and F&B, Tied for Most mentioned on Peer to Peer votes.

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

Bucuti's Best April 2022

We take pride in congratulating our Bucuti’s Best Winners for April 2022:
From left to right:

Elements F&B: Karen Cousins
Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez

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

Bucuti's Best March 2022

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

From left to right:

Concierge Angela Pochettino
Cost Controller, Gibriel Almonte
Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez
Elements F&B Rambo Paniagua

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

Bucuti's Best February 2022

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

From left to right:

Concierge Arlyne Thode

Juan won two categories this month!!

Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez
Elements F&B Rambo Paniagua

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

Bucuti's Best January 2022

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

From left to right:

Concierge Angela Pochettino

Juan won two categories this month!!

Elements F&B: Juan Vasquez

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

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!