Over the years there has been much talk of making the Cayman Islands a centre for hospitality training.
The latest to mention the prospect is Cline Glidden, who confirmed the Ministry of Tourism and the University College of the Cayman Islands had joined forces.
“[We] are establishing a hospitality school here on Island with the goal of bringing even more highly trained individuals into the culinary tourism sector,” he said.
“The hospitality school will commence early in 2012 and I encourage all young Caymanians who have an interest in the culinary arts to enrol.”
Many initiatives have been introduced over the years to entice Caymanians into the hospitality industry, including the Ministry’s Tourism Apprentice Training Programme, which was introduced in 2007.
There have also been tourism scholarships awarded. The private sector is also proactive in attracting locals.
Some establishments actively outreach to the local community, including the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the Reef and Dolphin Cove.
Discussions of support
Trina Christian of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association said the organisation, which comprises more than 200 tourism-related businesses, has had discussions about how the industry can help.
“We have resurrected our education and training committee, which is headed up by Enrique Tassende of the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort and Marc Langevin of Ritz-Carlton,” she said.
“We believe that increased opportunities for work experience in a tourism career and local training would benefit the industry as a whole.
If this is a way to get students more hands-on experience and instil a work ethic it could increase the conversion rate.
The question is, how can tourism influence kids and give them a taste of it?” She said it would be beneficial to identify students who may not be traditionally academic or suited to careers in finance, for example, and make them aware of opportunities elsewhere.
Premier McKeeva Bush told the Legislative Assembly in September the training school will be in operation in 2012.
It would eventually include bachelor’s degrees and the decision has already been taken to utilise the facilities at Treasure Island Resort to give the students practical training.
Mr. Bush said an advisory council of 10 to 12 members would be appointed to help the school’s strategy development.
These would be drawn from the Ministries of Tourism and Education, the Department of Tourism, the UCCI, Chamber of Commerce, Immigration Department, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, the financial services industry and a representative from Cayman Brac.
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