Top 1%: Marco Island Marriott worker among 10 best out of 600,000 worldwide employees

A Marco Island hotel worker has received an honor that very few ever will.

Marriott International this month recognized Dolly Punwasi and nine other employees among more than 600,000 workers at the company's 31 worldwide brands that includes 8,500 hotels in 138 countries.

The Naples woman, a breakfast server at J.W. Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort’s Maia restaurant, is Marriott's only Florida employee to receive the rare honor in 2023. The 10 workers represent less than 1 percent ― or roughly 0.000017 percent of the company's total workforce.

“I’m so honored to get this award. I feel so blessed," Punwasi told the Daily News.

What is the Marriott International award

Once a year since 1987, Marriott International ― whose 31 worldwide brands encompass is everything from The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to Courtyard and Four Points ― recognizes 10 employees for its annual J. Willard Marriott Awards of Excellence, an honor based on achievement, character, dedication, effort and perseverance.

Punwasi grew up in Guyana and in 1999 moved to Naples, where she and her husband raised three children.

She attended an awards ceremony Oct. 16 in Washington, D.C., part of an all-expenses paid trip, to receive her award and meet the other nine recipients. They work at Marriott properties in Nashville, Phoenix, Chicago, Poland, Mexico, China, Fiji and Alexandria, Virginia.

Starting as the hotel’s coffee shop, Punwasi has worked at the Marco icon since 2012 through myriad positions and challenges including a renovation, two hurricanes (Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022) and the pandemic.

“But we got through it,” she said.

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How Dolly Punwasi found out she won

In July, the resort's senior management called a rare all-staff meeting and set up a television. She initially wondered if maybe someone was in trouble.

Instead, corporate HQ announced Dolly as one of 10 winners.

"I didn’t realize how huge this is until a friend who works at The Ritz-Carlton heard about it and asked me, "Do you even know how special this is? It takes a lot to get this award?" Punwasi said.

In a media statement, company President and CEO Anthony Capuano said: “The award winners represent the best of the best of our company. All of us at Marriott are inspired by the difference they are making not only in the workplace but in their communities.”

The best part of Dolly's working day at her “home away from home” is seeing her colleagues first thing in the morning. She considers them family, noting how their support allows her to excel.

“I couldn’t have won the award without the help of my co-workers," she said. "We take care of and help each other.”

Punwasi also attributed her success to being fully committed to her job the second she’s on the property.

“She is an incredible human being. It’s a pleasure and an honor to work alongside her,” said Vernell Symonette, the restaurant’s general manager.

“I want to make sure our guests have the best possible experience while they’re here, whether they’re first-timers or families visiting us five times a year," Punwasi said.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Marco Island Marriott breakfast server named among company's 10 best