Elegant Hotels Group again opened its doors to university students this year to ensure that they complete a main requirement of their study programmes.
The group’s human resources director Ian Gooding-Edghill explained that the students, who are pursuing studies in hospitality and tourism management at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and at the Centre For Hotel And Tourism Management in Nassau, Bahamas, spent the past ten weeks with the group, completing the internship segment of their studies.
“We have been accommodating students from these institutions in this manner for many years now as we see this aspect of any study programme as extremely important because it gives students the opportunity to put what they have learnt in theory into practice.
“This training not only gives many of the students a better understanding of how the industry works but, for some, it also gives them a clearer vision as to the area or areas they want to focus on,” Gooding-Edghill explained.
He noted that this year the group extended the programme to a student from the hospitality school in Trinidad.
He said the nine students were attached to all properties within the group – The House, Colony Club Hotel, Tamarind, Crystal Cove Hotel and Turtle Beach Resort and across all departments.
One student, Akira Carter, spoke on behalf of her peers when she said that the programme was extremely valuable.
“This was a good introduction to working life for us. We were able to work in almost all departments within the properties, which gave us experience we cannot gain in the classroom.
“I loved my time here. The management and staff were very interested in my expectations and made sure that my time was well spent. I was also able to work at all levels, including supervisory and management, and this made the whole experience even more enjoyable.”
Trinidadian student Nikeisha Legall noted that the experience was also worthwhile for her, especially as it was in another country.
“Barbados is a beautiful island and it was great to be able to come here and see first-hand how tourism works.
“The staff members and managers were all very helpful and accommodating and I was able to gain knowledge that can now be applied to my studies.” (PR)
