Sandy Cay, West Grand Bahama

Raylene “Shelly” Gardiner is the second child of O’Neil & Susan Gardiner. As a child, Raylene enjoyed interacting with tourist and was inspired to pursue a career in the hospitality industry as a student of Freeport High School (now Bishop Michael Eldon School). Her professional career in the hospitality industry began in 1992 upon successful graduating from The Bahamas Hotel Training College with an Associate’s Degree in Hospitality Management.

Following her graduation, she returned to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, where she worked in various establishments and gained experience in not only the hospitality industry but also customer service, and financial services industry.

Raylene was employed at Old Bahama Bay Resort from December 2005 to July 2009 where she held various positions ranging from Assistant Front Office Manager, Front Office Manager and Acting Rooms Director. While working for Old Bahama Bay she became a Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT) and a Certified Hospitality Departmental Trainer (CHDT) with the American Hotel Lodging Association.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Professional Master’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism. A renaissance woman, Raylene has expanded her areas of expertise to the real estate industry, for which she currently holds a real estate license from The Bahamas Real Estate Association.

Currently, she is a part-time Associate Trainer for The Ministry of Tourism (Bahama Host Program), a part-time facilitator at The University of West Indies Open Campus (Hospitality Division) and is employed by West End Resorts Ltd. on Grand Bahama Island, as a Part-Time Association Manager, Independent Consultant for The Home Owners Association at Old Bahama Bay Resort.

Raylene loves exercising, reading and traveling and has a passion for the Tourism Industry.