ELEGANT HOTELS GROUP is continuing its tradition of exposing university students pursuing studies in hospitality and tourism management to the industry, through its summer internship programme.
This year, five students of the Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management in Nassau, Bahamas, Chad Applewhaite, Keisha Haywood, Jade Taylor-White, Shanice Holder and Tiara Bristol, spent over ten weeks with the group, completing the internship segment of their studies.
Group human resources director, Ian Gooding-Edghill, explained the programme is a main requirement of the study programme: “We at Elegant deem the internship programme as an extremely important aspect of these studies as it gives students the opportunity to put what they have learnt in theory into practice.
“It gives them a better idea of how the industry works and the opportunity to see the many areas within the hotel plant. This programme is always an eye opening experience for many of the students as they get the chance to see the work which goes on front and back-of-house as they have to do a stint in every department from food and beverage to beach, kitchen, front office, human resources and housekeeping, among others.”
The students were attached to all properties within the Group – The House, Colony Club Hotel, Tamarind, Crystal Cove Hotel and Turtle Beach Resort.
Taylor-White, speaking on behalf of her peers stated: “Our time at Elegant was a learning experience. I found out so many things I didn’t know about the industry before. From the systems used in each department to the way each department depends on the other . . . . It gave me an appreciation for every job within the hotel industry as well as the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and the importance of each job to the end product.”
Adding to this, Bristol noted that the internship was educational: “I have learnt patience, time management and how to deal with different personalities. The internship was not only educational and interesting but it was also enjoyable and the management and staff at each of the properties made us feel welcome and at home.” (PR)
