The second round of overnight stays for the Hello Tourist 2023 Program, took place over the period June 25- June 29, 2023. The Hello Tourist program (HTP) is a special tourism awareness initiative geared to Grade Six students aged 11-12 to foster greater understanding of the world of Tourism and the importance of the Service Experience to the guest. The children’s learning about tourism in the class setting is bolstered by real life interactions with hospitality managers and visits to a partner hotel where they can observe back and front of house operations, meet guests and develop a deeper understanding of the island’s tourism product, and the role they will play as the future members of the workforce serving this vitally important industry.
Additionally, the students have undertaken projects aimed at highlighting the importance of the Environment as well as Entrepreneurial opportunities open to them that can complement the tourism industry. To this end, the students have been challenged to use their natural artistic skills and talents to create a project that reflects some aspect of Anguilla’s tourism or cultural appeal, and which can be displayed and potentially sold in one of the island’s souvenir shops or art galleries. The students have also worked together as a group to create an environmentally friendly project that aims to beautify or conserve the natural environment.
Prizes for the winners in the individual categories have also been sponsored by the Department of Education, and Shop and Take. Gift Certificates for the three winners were also obtained from Coconuts Restaurant at the Anguilla Great House, Ocean Echo Restaurant, and Las Olas Restaurant.
The students were also given an opportunity to enjoy positive experiences and see desired attitudes in action, as they underwent a full tourism experience as an overnight guest and an Excursionist or Day-tripper to the island.
Orealia Kelly Primary School was hosted for their Overnight Stay from June 25 – 26 by Carimar Beach Club. The 20 students selected for this reward, enjoyed afternoon beach time on Meads Bay after being welcomed by Management and staff, who presented each student with a sports back pack filled with information on the property and a wide selection of goodies for the students to enjoy during the course of their stay. Later that evening, the students got dressed up and were picked up and transported off property and treated to dinner at the Ocean Echo Restaurant.
On Day 2 of their stay, the students awoke early and took the opportunity to enjoy an early morning swim before being treated to a delicious breakfast catered for them by Alfonso’s Caribbean Restaurant and served on their porches overlooking the beautiful beachscape. After breakfast, the students embarked on a tour of the Olde Valley via the Rev. C. L. Carty Road overlooking the historic Katouche Valley. After a brief stop at the iconic Wallblake House for pictures, the tour headed back to West End, where the students engaged in a brief hike to the picturesque Arch Natural Site, before heading to a site inspection of the Charming Escapes property, Anguilla Great House, followed by lunch at Coconuts Restaurant.
In a wonderful display of Quality Customer Care, at the request of the staff, the Management agreed to allow the students to use their pool after lunch as the beach was experiencing considerable pollution from an influx of sargassum seaweed. After a delicious meal, the students therefore took some time to complete their Evaluation Forms and express their gratitude before jumping into the pool to enjoy the water before returning to their Sponsor Hotel for check out. The consensus was “a wonderful experience, a beautiful property, great food, and warm and friendly service from everyone they encountered.”
Morris Vanterpool Primary School was hosted for their Overnight Stay from June 27-28 by their Sponsor Hotel, The Anguilla Great House Beach Resort. The entire class of 16 students enjoyed afternoon pool time after being welcomed by Management and staff. Later that evening, the students got dressed up and were picked up and transported off property and treated to dinner at the Ocean Echo Restaurant. On day 2 of their stay, the students awoke early and took the opportunity to enjoy an early morning swim before being treated to a delicious breakfast compliments their host hotel. After breakfast, the students embarked on a tour of the Olde Valley via the Rev. C. L. Carty Road overlooking the historic Katouche Valley.
After a brief stop at the iconic Wallblake House for pictures, the tour headed to Brimigen, where the students engaged in a hike to the picturesque Goat Cave Natural Site, before heading to a site inspection of the Charming Escapes property, Shoal Bay Villas, followed by lunch at Las Olas Restaurant. After a delicious meal, the students took some time to complete their Evaluation Forms before heading back to their Sponsor Hotel for more pool time and then check out. The children expressed that it was “a great experience, a beautiful property, great food, and warm and friendly staff who made them feel welcomed, but the stay should have been longer.”
The third group accommodated in this cycle was the Valley Primary School’s Grade 6S. They were unable to coordinate the timing of their stay with their sponsor hotel, Malliouhana, due to the hotel being fully booked at the time of the students’ availability. However, Anguilla Great House graciously stepped in to provide the necessary accommodation and the 20 students selected for this overnight were hosted from the 28-29 June. The students enjoyed afternoon pool time after being welcomed by the Management and staff. Later that evening, the students got dressed up and were picked up and transported off property and treated to dinner at the Ocean Echo Restaurant.
On Day 2 of their stay, the students awoke early and took the opportunity to enjoy an early morning swim before being treated to a delicious breakfast complimenting their host hotel. After breakfast, the students embarked on a tour of the Olde Valley via the Rev. C. L. Carty Road overlooking the historic Katouche Valley. After a brief stop at the iconic Wallblake House for pictures, the tour headed to Long Bay, where the students engaged in a tour of the historic Bedney’s and Rogers’ Wells, before the tour was disrupted by a heavy downpour of rain.
The students therefore returned to their Sponsor Hotel and spent some time relaxing in their rooms before coming down to lunch at the Olde Caribe Restaurant. After a delicious meal, the students took some time to complete their Evaluation Forms before successfully petitioning their teachers for more pool time and then relaxing in their rooms until check out. The children felt that in spite of the rain, “it had been a memorable experience, a lovely property, delicious food, a great pool, and warm and friendly staff who made them feel welcomed. However, everyone agreed that the stay could have been a day longer.”
The Department of Education takes this opportunity to applaud its many sponsors for their decision to support this key program through the sponsorship of meals for the students as part of the program.
Sponsors include The Anguilla Tourist Board, Aquam Water Services, Juluca Cares, Advance Caribbean, Richards Architecture and Design Services (RADS) WebsterLaw, Preston Hughes Transportation Services and Parts Haven. The support of these partners makes this program possible. Our heartfelt thanks are also expressed to the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) for its endorsement of this program, under whose umbrella fall the sponsor hotels for the adopting schools.
