And 26 Caribbean students, including four Barbadians, have been the benefactors.

The funds, raised through the Caribbean Hotel Association Education Foundation (CHAEF), were made available through grants by tourism related organisations within the Caribbean and further afield.

Some 126 applications were received from Caribbean nationals with a wide variety of educational interests and industry backgrounds.

Among the group of winners were high school graduates in pursuit of associate and bachelor degrees, hotel industry staff interested in professional development opportunities, and tourism and hospitality university graduates looking forward to advanced degrees and certifications.

Antigua-based hotelier Robert Sherman, chairman of CHAEF, told the media attending the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Conference in Miami, that he was thrilled to see the continued efforts to reach the largest number of Caribbean destinations and to see the fund bearing fruit.

In addition to Barbados, those countries which benefited from scholarship funding this year were Antigua, Aruba, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The CHAEF scholarships ranged from $2 000 to $10 000 to applicants who demonstrated a strong commitment to the industry and the potential for future success.

Since its formation in 1987, the foundation has spent $2 million in scholarships and grants.