The Tribune

SANDALS Royal Bahamian has sent 15 graduates of its Hospitality Training Programme out into the workforce.

The resort itself hired 70 per cent of those who completed the six week exercise.

The HTP programme is a chance for individuals to receive hospitality training throughout the various departments at Sandals’ prestigious resort property.

However, their training repertoire was not limited to jobs found around hotels and resorts, but included life skills such as interviewing and etiquette.

“What you have decided to do and get exposed to is really a profession. Never think of it as just training never think of it as just being in a hotel and getting a bit of experience,” Sandals Royal Bahamian’s general manager Patrick Drake told the HTP graduates.

“What we have tried to do over the past few weeks is to guide the minds, guide the hearts and possibly the heads of you who have been successful through the programme. Maybe hospitality is not for you but you will be able to look back and say I learned something.”

Mr Drake congratulated those HTP graduates who were selected to become permanent employees of Sandals and admonished those who would be going on to other jobs to expand their education and find positive role models to emulate.

This opportunity for the graduates comes at a time when the Bahamas tourism industry is facing exponential growth and the government and private sector are gearing up for one of the largest training initiatives ever undertaken in the country.

“All we did was crack a little door for you. You have to continue,” Mr Drake reminded the group.

“Give yourself an advantage. Market yourself. We wish you good luck and much success and we hope that one day you look back and you can say when you are managers and heads of industry that my first real experience was at Sandals Royal Bahamian.”