Hospitality professionals across the Turks and Caicos Islands are now better equipped to deliver world-class service, following their successful completion of the Professional Development Programme for Hospitality Professionals, Caribbean Supercharged Service, Knowledge and Leadership series.

Sponsored by the Sandals Foundation, the flagship hospitality and service training programme is managed by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). This year’s sessions were hosted by the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) in partnership with the Brighter Futures Centre, Providenciales, from October 13-19.

Sessions focused on encouraging mutual team member support, working in customer-facing roles such as the Welcome Desk or Concierge positions and continuously achieving consistency with service quality.

The Sandals Foundation is a longstanding partner Supercharged training series and have invested over US$10,000 this year, sponsoring chefs, cooks, stewards, warehouses and purchasing staff from seven resorts as well as two high schools to undertake the globally recognized Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point certification.

Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke extended kudos to the participants and said: “Investing in the future of the Caribbean tourism product means investing in the growth and development of every professional within the industry. From the transport or tour operators to the bartenders, culinary, steward, entertainment teams. For people who work outside of a resort, but whose roles make a significant impact on the experience of guests – each participant in this wide network of travel must continue to learn how to meet and exceed the needs of an evolving guest.”Some of the professionals who benefited were representatives from Grace Bay Car rentals, a heavy-machinery rental company, paint retailer, eight resorts, a luxury villa management enterprise and three junior chefs sponsored by TCHTA.

For her part, The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation’s Chairwoman Karolin Troubetzkoy encouraged participants to maximize their news skills in their future career endeavors.

“Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s workshops. Thank you for being fully engaged and making the most of your opportunity. It has been the Education Foundation’s honor to work closely with our sponsor Sandals Foundation and partner with TCHTA again to create Caribbean supercharged positivity within each of you,” she said.