Sandals, Police Youth Club stage Career Day Expo

MONTEGO BAY:

Professionals in the hospitality industry and training and job-placement entities came out in support of 'Hospitality from all Angles', a career day expo organised by Sandals Resorts and the Montego Bay Police Youth Club last Thursday.

The event was held at the Montego Bay Boys and Girls' Club and was intended to expose young people in the parish to the various job offerings available in the hospitality industry, as well as provide insight into the current job market.

"The career day expo is a good venture," said Annmarie Gordon of the Jamaica Tourist Board. "Reaching out to the community at large and bringing tourism to the people is very important. There are over 400 job opportunities in the tourism industry, yet when we tell our young people this, they are amazed."

Sherita Pinnock, a member of the Montego Bay Boys and Girls' Club, said the event was a good initiative as it provided her with more information about the industry, of which she hopes to be a part. Pinnock was one of 60 persons who signed up for the Sandals Hospitality Training Programme during the event.

"There are many persons who want to move ahead but just aren't sure of the path to take. Events such as these provide us with an opportunity to learn from those who have made it in the industry and become better informed in our career choices," she said.

Other attendees had an opportunity to interact with and gather information from other key partners, including the Tourism Product Development Company, the Social Development Commission, HEART Trust/NTA, the St James 4-H Clubs, the National Youth Service, Chukka Caribbean, and Sandals Resorts.

Sandals' Regional Public Relations Manager Khadine Daley said a collaboration of this nature among tourism entities and training institutions was of great importance as many young people aspired to work in the hospitality industry but lacked exposure to the variety of jobs and necessary skill sets and training required to get the jobs.

"With a network of over 300 young people in St James, the Divisional Council of Police Youth Clubs provide an important avenue for engagement in the Second City," said Daley.