The recently concluded 52nd Annual Grammy Awards was doubly memorable for two employees of the Barbados Hilton. Kamar Gall and Shanika Haynes were winners of the first Hilton global video contest – winning the chance to mingle with the industry’s brightest stars.
However, Kamar made the night even more memorable by proposing to Shanika, his girlfriend of over two years, on their dazzling night.
In honour of the brand’s 22nd year as a Recording Academy® partner and the official hotel sponsor of the GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 31, Hilton organised a global Team Member sweepstakes celebrating the powerful influence of music.
The “Hilton Rockstar” Team Member give-away encouraged employees to submit music, video and stories depicting the impact of music on their lives. The result was an overwhelming expression of originality from Hilton Team Members around the world.
From this field of many, The Hilton Barbados duo won with an original track called ‘Rock Da Rhythm In Barbados’, and a music video filmed entirely on location at the Hilton Barbados.
“It all started when I found this ukulele,” Kamar, a pool attendant for a little over two years told the Barbados Advocate. After teaching himself to play it, he found himself writing lyrics about the hotel. He enlisted the help of Haynes, a hostess/cashier for five years at Water’s Edge.
Marilyn Soper, the hotel’s general manager had congratulated the pair, noting that the entire team at the hotel was happy and excited for them as they earned the once in a lifetime opportunity.
“When I first saw them performing, I was amazed at their talent and the video was so impressive, we were enthused that they had a chance of winning the competition,” she said.
The Hilton Barbados representatives joined seven other winners and received VIP treatment including round-trip airfare to Los Angeles to attend the GRAMMY Awards and GRAMMY Celebration After Party, along with a complimentary three-night stay at the historic Hilton Checkers.
With all of this it would seem that the night could not be more special. But Kamar had another surprise for Shanika.
Night of Magic
Having worked together for some time, they were introduced by Hilton employees Kenrick and Donna Broome (who are married and Kamar and Shanika’s respective managers). Striking up a friendship and later a romance, Kamar says he knew they would be married.
Getting approval from Shanika’s mother, Diane Haynes and his own mother, Kathy-Ann Wharton, Kamar secretly organised with the Hilton World-wide staff that he would pop the question at the Hilton Grammy pre-party where they performed the winning song.
In front of a few hundred strangers Shanika tearfully said yes.
Other people will also be able to share the memory. This music video will now be played in all the rooms at Hilton Barbados and can be found on You Tube by searching “Hilton Barbados Music Video” or click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iky_5ihObg (KG/PR)
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