Georgetown: The Carnegie School of Home Economics held a one-day workshop for local service providers in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector, under the theme “Creating the Winning Team”.
This year, the Carnegie School of Home Economics celebrates 81 years of existence.
The workshop was designed to orient the Tourism and Hospitality Sector to the significant shifts that have taken place in tourism worldwide, and to prepare them to fill the current gaps in customer service that exists in the local industry. Participants were exposed to a series of sessions which included re-branding/re-tooling with the aim of overcoming challenges,
21stCentury front line training, body language skills-a new tool in hospitality, promoting ‘the team’ versus ‘the group’, fine dining, and hospitality language – breaking the language.
Facilitator, Mrs. Phillipa Morrish, President of Etiquette Training International, New York said that tourists are paying more attention to how services are provided as opposed to what services are provided. She further noted that as the expectations of tourists change, so must the service industry, “It is not so much what we have to offer but how we off it”.
Principal of the Carnegie School of Home Economics, Ms. Penelope Harris in her opening remarks stated that today’s workshop was as a result of consistent calls made by the businesses community – particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sector – seeking trained personnel and requesting training for their staff. She said: “It is our desire to meet the needs of the community.” Ms. Harris added that Carnegie aims to provide training in the courses that are in great demand, such as: Front Desk Operations, Housekeeping, Resort Management, Hospitality Management, and Health and Social Care. “We are proud of our heritage of promoting healthy lifestyle practices and good nutrition, and we will continue to develop that as a unique brand of local hospitality,” she said.
During the month of May, the Carnegie School of Home Economics is expected to collaborate with the Food and Agricultural Organisation of Guyana to host a workshop on breadfruit products. Carnegie has also plans to host another workshop that will specifically focus on food production skills.
Meanwhile, according to the Chairman of the Carnegie Board of Governors, Mr. John Seeram, this year marks the commencement of the establishment of the Hospitality Institute of which the Carnegie School of Economics will play a major role. He added: “The Carnegie School of Home Economics has a significant contribution in the area of technical and vocational education delivery.”
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