Category: BHA News
Taking A Taste Of The Bahamas To Miami
Stern words, and a warning to keep their egos in check, was the first sage advice given to the eight-member team that will represent The Bahamas at the Taste of the Caribbean competition in approximately seven weeks.
“The only thing that I expect and that the Bahamas Hotel Association expects is that you do your best and that you work as a team,” said Frank Comito, executive vice president of the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA).”
He told hot food chefs Richmond Fowler, Shanique Bodie, Mychal Harris, Charon McKenzie and Jamal Small; Pastry Chef Charlicia Green; Junior Chef Kevyn Pratt and Bartender Hugh Jones that the gelling of the team was probably the most important aspect of the Taste of the Caribbean competition they are preparing, for which takes place June 22-26 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami.
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Kaplan University Offers Online Degree Discounts
Kaplan University, one of the world’s leading accredited universities offering online degrees and certificates, in collaboration with the Bahamas Hotel Association, invites members and their employees to learn more about their offerings at orientation sessions scheduled for Tuesday, May 10th.
Kaplan University offers more than 125 online degree programs in fields such as Business Administration (including Career Focus Areas of Human Resources, Event Planning, Food/Hotel Management, Health Club Operations, Small Business Management, and Travel Counseling), Information Technology, Arts and Sciences, Paralegal Studies, and Criminal Justice.
The online programs are ideal for those wishing to pursue a degree around their own schedule, working online in a structured but flexible environment.
Kaplan is offering members of BHA, their employees and employee family members tuition discounts between 35 and 50 percent.
Two orientation sessions are scheduled for May 10th, at 4-6pm and 6-8pm
First Excel Training Workshop Well-Received – Next Session In Eleuthera
The first of what is intended to be a series of Microsoft Excel Training workshops for hotels and tourism-related businesses was held on April 16th with nearly twenty representatives in attendance.
The session was facilitated by Diana Bowe, Training Manager for Kerzner International. Ms. Bowe walked participants thru Excel fundamentals, emphasizing applications to their business settings, and providing hands-on opportunities during the session for them to put to practice what was learned.
The next session will be held on Eleuthera at the South Eleuthera Mission on Saturday, April 30th.
Register now. (180KB PDF)
Mixed Family Island Tourism Reports
FAMILY island resorts are reporting mixed experiences over the first quarter of 2011, with some finding business has declined significantly as others see major boosts of as much as 55 per cent in occupancy.
President of the Out Island Promotion’s Board, Stephen Kappeler, said based on a recent meeting of 10 of the board’s 22 members, it appears that for many family island properties, business was “flat to last year for January and February, March was up quite a bit and April is pacing well too”.
Neither he or the Bahamas Hotel Association could provide hard data about trends in the industry in the family islands at this time. Frank Comito, Executive Vice President of the Bahamas Hotel Association said the BHA is in the process of compiling figures.
Local Community Helps to Develop Hospitality Program
Central Andros High School is rapidly leading the way in hospitality training for students on the island. In September 2010, the school introduced the three-year START/Lodging Management Programme (LMP) offered by the American Hotel and Lodging Association which prepares students for positions in areas such as the front desk, bell services, reservations, housekeeping and food and beverage. On completion of the programme, participating students will earn the distinction of being Certified Rooms Division Specialist.
Hotel Sector Recovery Near
The Central Bank has cited reduced occupancy and average room rates as the cause of the revenue contraction.
If any economic recovery in The Bahamas depends on the tourism industry, the nation may have to wait a little longer, as key tourism indicators are showing a 6.1 percent drop-off in hotel revenues on Nassau and Paradise Island for the first two months of 2011.
The news of the year-on-year revenue fall-off in the hotel sector comes at a time when many are hoping for positive signs that a strong economic recovery is underway after the recession the country fell into in 2007. At least for the vital hotel sector, there are good indications of a turnaround in the immediate future, according to Stuart Bowe, president of the Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA).
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BHA Welcomes New Members
The Bahamas Hotel Association officially welcomes our newest members
Tourism & Culinary Scholarships Available
Thank You to Members Who Supported Last Year’s Fundraising Activities.
Students interested in pursuing studies in tourism and culinary-related fields are invited to submit applications for scholarships being offered to Bahamians to attend the College of The Bahamas Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI), through the Patrick S.G. Bain BHA-BHEA-BHC&AWU Hotel Industry Partners Scholarship Fund.
Applications must be received by April 30th.
Jointly funded by the Bahamas Hotel Association, the Bahamas Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union and the Bahamas Hotel Employers Association, the scholarships are being offered in the name of the respective organizations and in tribute to the late union leader Pat Bain, in recognition of his commitment to education and building business-labour partnerships.