Twenty Grade Six students from the Orealia Kelly Primary School, at Stoney Ground, had a delightful experience when they checked in at CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa, one of Anguilla’s premiere hotels, for a 24-hour luxury stay on Friday, June 22.
The students, accompanied by four teachers, were accommodated as part of the Hello Tourist Awareness Programme in the Primary Schools. They were welcomed by General Manager, Stephane Zaharia. He told The Anguillian that it was a programme which the Resort had adopted since the beginning of the year. He said he had spoken with the students in January about the importance of the tourism industry to Anguilla’s economy, including the employment opportunities it provides for young people.
“I explained to them that they don’t necessarily need to be housekeepers or stewards – which are very respectable positions and which we need – but they also can aspire to management positions and other opportunities in that level.
“By talking to them … they have understood that if they do well at studying in school, they will be able to continue their studies in the hospitality industry, return toAnguillaand do very well, if they are career achievers.
“We are welcoming twenty students to the hotel so they can know how it feels being guests and tourists on the island; and how visitors are treated for the benefit of Anguilla. This is a 24-hour experience for them from the moment they checked in to the moment they checked out. It is very exciting for them. They are very well behaved and we are looking forward to future general managers and executive members from that group of students to join the business of the Resort.”
The students were accompanied by Teachers Chantelle Carbon, Ruth Meade, Marcia Gumbs and Neil Gumbs.
The Hello Tourist Programme started many years ago in Anguilla but eventually came to an end. This is the first year of its revival, following the return of Mrs.Candis Niles as Director of Tourism.
