The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) is continuing to invest in developing young tourism talent through its Annual Internship Programme which this year welcomed two University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus students, Jaleah Alexander and Jahzarah Wiggan.
Both interns, who are pursuing Bachelor of Arts Degrees in International Tourism Management, explained that the hands-on internship gave them a greater understanding of the many facets of the tourism industry and demonstrated how their studies translate into the world of work.
Nineteen-year-old Alexander, whose goal is to eventually own and operate her own accommodation property, said the internship exceeded her expectations: “My time at the BHTA has been extremely enjoyable and rewarding. It was not the typical internship as we were heavily involved in the Association’s activities from the very beginning to the end.
“Additionally, we also gained first-hand knowledge on the day-to-day operations of many of the BHTA members typically associated with tourism, in areas such as accommodation, restaurants and attractions. This gave a clearer understanding ofwhat it really takes to succeed in the industry and will definitely come in handy when I get to the stage of owning my own property.”
Wiggan, noted that the internship also broadened her knowledge of Barbados’ tourism product while exposing her to areas of the industry that the BHTA is directly involved in but that she was not previously aware of.
“Seeing the industry from different sides such as lobbying, data research and project management, has been eye-opening. It has definitely cemented my love for tourism even more, as well as my desire to work in some area of marketing the sector,” the 21-year-old said.
BHTA CEO, Senator Ryan Forde, explained that the three-month internship programme places two university students within the BHTA Secretariat each year, giving them the opportunity to become actively involved in the Association’s work and gain practical knowledge of the wide range of functions that support the tourism sector.
“Rather than simply observing or being assigned routine administrative tasks, we integrate our interns into our team so that they can gain experience in all areas. From our projects, to meetings, events, research and communications, they get to try their hands at everything.
Forde noted that the success of this approach is reflected not only in the feedback from participants, but also in the number of former interns who have gone on to become employees of the Association.
“Over the years our interns have consistently told us that one of the things they value most about the programme is that they are given the opportunity to contribute, take on responsibilities andunderstand how the Association operates, rather than simply being on the sidelines observing. One of the young ladies has a goal of becoming an owner while the other wishes to be the face of our marketing efforts to drive more business to the destination, our members and to improve our economy.
“This exemplifies what we want to see more of. More diverse ownership and diverse mentality to becoming leaders. I believe our job is half done and the next half is helping them complete their degrees and then join the rest of us in the industry and grow.
“Added to that, and perhaps the aspect I am most pleased about,is the fact that today, three of our team members at the Secretariat are former interns who have progressed into vital roles within the Association. That, for me, is one of the clearest indicators that the programme is indeed providing young people with meaningful exposure, developing their skills and helping to prepare them for careers in this very important industry,” Forde said.
