New Pool of Young Bahamian Hospitality Professionals Trained.
The Bahamian tourism product has received an enormous boost with an increase in its pool of hospitality professionals with almost 400 new full time employment at Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Off Shore Island, opening a new world of opportunities for the island’s premier industry. By the end of Sandals’ formal employment stages, which is still underway, the resort will look to hold a manning of some 620 people, at least 194 of these being rehired.
This comes as Sandals continues to reenergize its Cable Beach operations that began with its four-day job fair in August and to which almost 1000 young Bahamians applied.
Among the departments that absorbed the newest talents include food and beverage, housekeeping, concierge, front office, and entertainment. Most of these individuals are frontline team talents with direct operational and guest interaction.
Hotel Manager for Sandals Royal Bahamian, Jackson Weech, who was on hand for the recruiting and training processes, said the new young talent at the resort have all brought with them a tremendous amount of drive that has almost redefined every corner of the resort.
“The energy and genuineness in these young people is infectious. Looking at my fellow Bahamians enjoying what they do and really embracing what is truly our tourism product has even given me a renewed love for my job and my islands,” Weech said.
He noted a spirited 5-week training period that continues even today for most team talents. Approximately 115 managers and supervisors have already begun to further amplify their professional platform with training at other Sandals Resorts throughout the Caribbean. This, Weech said, not only exposes the Bahamian hospitality professionals to the Sandals brand, but rather further opens their perspective of Caribbean tourism at large.
“The training and experience they will gather and bring back to The Bahamas and Sandals Royal Bahamian is invaluable. Academics itself gets you one thing, but practical training and experience really strengthens you as a professional, especially in an industry like this,” Weech said.
Further to this, General Manager Gary Williams has revealed that Sandals Royal Bahamian is poised to relaunch its Corporate University (SCU) campus, standing beside sister Resorts throughout the Caribbean. The campus will allow for greater “change included’ education and training advantages for Bahamians with annual access to global university scholarships. Over US$900,000 has been awarded in scholarships since the inception of the SCU.
Further to that, blossoming Bahamian hospitality professionals will also have the opportunity to dip their hands in the coveted Sandals Management Trainee Program (MTP) that affords up to two years intense but rewarding management training and exposure.
