The money, in the form of a grant, from the European Union will be used specifically to train 500 workers in the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) CaribCert training programme. *Photo credit: blogs.tampabay.com

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA) is the beneficiary of a US$250,000 cash injection to conduct a series of training programmes for persons employed within the tourism industry.

The money, in the form of a grant, from the European Union will be used specifically to train 500 workers in the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) CaribCert training programme.

GHTA President Russell Fielden said that CaribCert covers a job and task analysis of 45 hotel positions and the system is to certify people in any one of the positions.

“The system is based on standards that describe the skills and knowledge people in an occupation need to know, in order to provide superior service, while providing recognition for the skills and knowledge that they already possess,” Fielden said.

“It was developed by the CHA for Caribbean hospitality workers, so a worker getting certified in one territory can easily gain employment in another regional destination.”

Fielden explained that the system also identifies the skills and knowledge required to reach the next level, by training or further education, adding that a person can be certified when he or she has demonstrated the skills described in the standards for the position.

“Having a CaribCert certification means a person has demonstrated the knowledge and professionalism that employers need and value,” Fielden said.

The training will target all positions within the tourism sector with training programmes expected to officially commence in the first quarter of this year.