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numbers to recording complaints and how they were resolved,” he says. “I’m right in there already and I feel like it’s adding to what I learned in school.” While Tah-mi says he picks things up quickly at work, his greatest challenge right now is balancing his home life with the recent birth of his son. 2XU VFKHGXOHV GRQȃW ̰W WRJHWKHU YHU\ ZHOO ULJKW QRZ VR LWȃV DERXW ̰QGLQJ WLPH to spend with him,” he says. “But that’s also part of my motivation, I have to provide for him.” While at work Tami says he is focused on “climbing the ladder” which he acknowledges may take some time, but he can see avenues for him to progress: “I’m just getting myself ready to take advantage of those opportunities.” Jaquan Burrows’ talent for the hospitality industry was recognised and encouraged early. “When I was 13, I got a summer job at the Port Royal Golf Club through the Government summer job programme,” he recalls. “I was working in the Pro Shop and Caddy Shop and Mr. Greg Maybury (Port Royal manager at the time) 20
encouraged me to further my studies in hospitality — he wanted to see me go further.” Mr. Maybury’s hopes for Jaquan have come to fruition with Jaquan studying Hospitality and Management at Holland College on Prince Edward Island in Canada, and now enrolled in the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s Leadership Development Programme in the Rooms Division. Jaquan also attributes his present success to a lesson he learned from his mom – following up. “Hamilton Princess posted various jobs and I was looking at a way of working my way up, getting experience,” he recalls. “So, I applied and when I didn’t hear back my mom encouraged me to follow up. I didn’t want to seem pushy, but I am so glad I did.” In fact, when Jaquan called back, Roydell Neverson, the Director of Rooms, invited him to apply for the Leadership Programme because she thought he ZRXOG EH D ȅSHUIHFW ̰WȆ Now in the programme, Jaquan is learning all aspects of the hotel’s
RSHUDWLRQV LQFOXGLQJ ZKDWȃV RɓHQ referred to as “back of house” functions like housekeeping, laundry and managing room inventory. As the name suggests, this is the part of the business guests are not supposed to see, but that are multi-faceted and critical to the experience of each visitor. “It’s about making sure that everything is up to standard,” he says. Jaquan will also spend eight months working on the “front of house” operations, that includes the front desk, scheduling, payroll, and assigning work each day. He says so far the programme has shown him the importance of showing initiative: “You don’t have to wait to be told what to do. Just jump in and help out or make suggestions if you see something that could work better.” Ultimately, Jaquan says he could see himself as a general manager one day, or even working to promote tourism in Bermuda as a whole. “I enjoy being in leadership positions, taking charge and showing initiative. Its problem solving, I enjoy that and just being there to help others.” Your Future 2022