their roles as being similar to that of a parent.

But Mrs. Teri Seymour, who arrived at the Sonesta Beach Hotel in February, and says that is the sort of model people in every business need.

And she believes the camaraderie and goodwill she has helped foster could pay off if industrial tensions were to erupt.

"One of my objectives is to create a positive, healthy environment, instead of a negative one,'' she said. "The Sonesta team would hold together better than others might.'' Last week, Mrs. Seymour arranged a "Wellness Week'' programme for Sonesta's staff.

Through the programme, staff members were offered a choice of two speakers on each of the five days it ran. The speakers gave up their time voluntarily for the scheme.

Mrs. Seymour singled out STAR founder Mr. Russ Ford in particular, who gave up his day off to deliver the talk, "AIDS - Bermuda Style''.

Other topics included substance abuse, cancer prevention, first aid, nutrition and fitness, stress management and others.

Mrs. Seymour said she heard a lot about Wellness programmes, which are "very big in the US', while attending a Sonesta Corporation conference of Human Resources Directors in Boston this May. Theirs, she said, differed from hers in that they were mainly practical schemes, offering such things as free blood pressure or cholesterol tests.

She said the project was put together with the help of Sonesta bellman, Mr.

Glenn Woods, and described it as an example of management and staff working together in "a cooperative effort for everyone's benefit''.

Staff activities at the Southampton hotel are not over after this week. Mrs.

Seymour said a 12-hour barbecue, so that all shifts may be included, is planned and a cruise for the staff is set to follow the weekend after that.

A second Wellness Week is pencilled in for early next year.

Mrs. Teri Seymour.