Regional Training Program Message from Karolin Troubetzkoy, CHTAEF Chairperson Dear Marketplace Attendees, Welcome to The Bahamas! As the Chairperson of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF), it is my pleasure to share with you the Foundation’s highlights of 2019. In 2019, we awarded 20 scholarships to students from 10 different destinations: Anguilla, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our scholars are gaining hospitality knowledge, training and skills at some of the most prestigious institutions around the globe, including Les Roches, Johnson & Wales University, College of Mount Saint Vincent, Cornell University, The Culinary Institute of America, Edinburgh Napier University, Lynn University, Monroe College, University of Aruba, University of the Virgin Islands, University of the West Indies, and Vatel Hotel & Tourism Business School. But what made 2019 truly notable was our on-island training courses through which we reached more than 750 hospitality professionals in Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Maarten, and Tobago. The feedback from our colleagues who participated in these trainings was phenomenal, and we are excited that we are able to deliver more training to other islands in 2020. The on-island training was made possible through the generous contributions of our long-time sponsors Virgin Holidays and Interval International. For more than a decade, these organizations have helped us transform the lives and careers of Caribbean hospitality professionals not only through individual scholarships, but now also through our on-island activities. We are deeply indebted to Virgin Holidays and Interval International for their commitment to the CHTAEF and to Caribbean hospitality education and training. Donations from CHTA hotel members also contributed greatly to our success in 2019. CHTAEF thanks those properties that donate getaway packages for the New York Times Travel Show’s annual auction, which serves as the foundation for our yearly operational funding. Working collaboratively with our member partners fuels our enthusiasm and creativity, and we look forward to continuing the good work we have begun. If you have not yet participated by donating a hotel stay or becoming a sponsor, we would love to discuss with you how you can join your colleagues in building Caribbean success and unity by promoting and supporting travel to the region. To learn more about the Foundation, email foundation@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com or karolin@ caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Have a productive Caribbean Travel Marketplace and enjoy all The Bahamas has to offer! Sincerely, Karolin Troubetzkoy Chairperson CHTA Education Foundation
Dorian Relief Efforts In early September 2019, Hurricane Dorian delivered a devastating blow to two of the major islands in The Bahamas, Grand Bahama and Abaco. Around the globe, people were extremely saddened by the loss of life, homes destroyed and landscape damaged. In the spirit of our One Caribbean Family, the CHTAEF embarked on a special fundraising drive to assist in the relief efforts, with our focus on training and educational needs, from school children to hospitality workers. We were able to raise US 35,000 independently from the CHTA who also undertook a major fundraising activity.
Thank You, Virgin Holidays The CHTAEF together with our sponsor Virgin Holidays brought HEARTFELT GUEST CARE TO WELCOME THE WORLD to Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Tobago and St.Kitts & Nevis. HEARTFELT GUEST CARE TO WELCOME THE WORLD was developed by Talkabout-Earth Solutions in response to Virgin Holidays desire to train & educate hospitality professionals in their partner properties that tolerance, understanding and acceptance are critical to excellence in hospitality.
We thank our National Hotel Associations and Tourist Boards on the above mentioned islands for supporting the training not only in facilitating the event but also making financial contributions to the training days in many instances. This allowed us to exend the training days whenever possible. In Saint Lucia, we received support from their Tourism Enhancement Fund. RESULTS: TOTALLY AMAZING!
The Development Day highlighted the changing demographics and trends of today’s traveler and from your excellent and enthusiastic feedback, will help you provide uplifted customer service to all guests, regardless of their age, race, sexual orientation, religion or ability.
Barbados
Saint Lucia
Grenada
St.Kitts & Nevis
Tobago Thank You, Interval International
Sint Maarten St. Martin In December 2018, Interval Intl partnered with the CHTAEF to deliver our first on-island training in Aruba. Over 75 professionals were trained in housekeeping and leadership. In October 2019, 86 hospitality professionals in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin participated in training days sponsored by Interval Intl. The specially designed training modules included HEALTHY PEOPLE MANAGEMENT (key criteria for healthy and productive relationships with colleagues which enrich their working experience, improve productivity and shine through to the guest’s experience); ENGINEERING WITH EMPATHY (focused on customerfacing engineering and maintenance supervisors and team members to gain a better understanding of a guest’s vacation mindset, and reading visual clues to ensure empathetic interaction to all situations); FRONT DESK EQ V AI session for customer-facing front office supervisors and team members (key learning points ready for immediate practice on-property) and HAPPY HOUSEKEEPERS! (participants discover the positive impact they have on the guest experience and the hotel’s overall reputation). OUTCOME: SIMPLY FABULOUS!
Thank you to our sponsors
CHTAEF Board of Trustees KAROLIN TROUBETZKOY CHTAEF CHAIRPERSON
TRACY BELL CHTAEF ADMINISTRATOR
Nadine Rankin
Nathan Stower
Neil Kolton
Neil Forrester
Richard Doumeng
Brian Frontin
Mike Hampton
Omar Robinson
Amrita Bhalla
Ernest Dwight
Guilda Gumbs-Samuel
Magnus Alnebeck
THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 TRAINING PARTNERS SUZANNE SHILLINGFORDBROOKS & LOUISE JOHN OF TALKABOUT & EARTH SOLUTIONS
About the CHTA Education Foundation (CHTAEF) The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) was established 30 years ago as a stand-alone 501(c)3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, through which scholarships and special assistance are available for the education of Caribbean hotel industry personnel and students pursuing careers in hospitality and tourism. The Education Foundation has awarded more than US$2 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry. For more information, visit www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/about-the-foundation, call +1 305 443-3030 or email foundation@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.