(L-R): BINTA PATRICK AND MORIBA NELSON, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM INTERNS, GRENADA
Sue Springer, Executive Director Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association, along with Hamish Watson, CHTA Education Foundation trustee, celebrated in BHTA's own inimitable style at a starlit Celebration Cocktail in historic Fort Charles kindly hosted by the Barbados Hilton. Springer was ‘bursting with pride that 13 awards had been made to 11 Barbadians, one Dominican and one Honduran all residing in Barbados and 10 of them are hands-on hospitality professionals contributing daily to the Barbados Hospitality Product. This is a huge haul for one country and has never been achieved before, which speaks volumes about the quality of our people and their thirst for inspiration, modern techniques and personal growth. With this focus, the national tourism product can only continue to improve & thrive”.
Michael Head, Executive Director of the St Kitts & Nevis Hotel & Tourism Association said “and the news gets better and better! Two-weeks ago we learned Kittian Nicoyan Jones had won the coveted Virgin Holidays Scholarship to study tourism at University of the West Indies; in addition to his whirlwind media tour in Antigua when he came home the SKNHTA facilitated TV, Radio and newspaper interviews for maximum local coverage. We now learn that Nevisian, Mudassar Hanley has received US$6,000 to complete his B Sc in Hospitality Administration at Southern New Hampshire University. This is the first time that St Kitts and Nevis students have been awarded two such high scholarships and we are delighted that we have two bright capable men going forward to learn the business of Hotel and Tourism Management”.
Pancy Cross, Executive Director of the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association celebrated in style with Clive Barnes, Trustee of the CHTA Education Foundation at a cocktail hosted by the Calabash Hotel where three new Grenadian winners were feted alongside Maxine Pierre the Virgin Holidays 2009 scholar who continues to excel in her B Sc Tourism Management Studies at Florida International University. Vanessa Dopwell is an outstanding student on the Associate Hospitality Management degree program at Trinidad & Tobago Hospitality Institute and will be able to complete her studies with financial peace of mind. Binta Patrick, Concierge & Moriba Nelson, Storeroom Clerk of True Blue Bay Resort both head to Mexico for the Yucatan Holidays Responsible Tourism internships this summer. Pancy commented “Grenadians are enjoying increased success in their studies and professional education through the CHTA Education Foundation; I encourage more Grenadians to apply next year through the GHTA”.
Neil Forrester, General Manager of the Antigua Hotel & Tourism Association was “delighted to facilitate the Selection Committee at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa in March and we are now busy preparing for the Antigua & Barbuda Celebration to be hosted by the AHTA in conjunction with Carlisle Bay Resort on May 15, 2009”.
The CHTA Education Foundation encourages national celebration of all awardees by NHTA's and respective national media as these young Caribbean Nationals are truly the ‘pick o' dey Crop' and worthy of national applause having excelled against over 90 regional applicants.