SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, ﾖ The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has awarded 22 academic scholarships and professional development grants, totaling an unprecedented $60,100, to promising Caribbean students who work in the hotel and tourism sector, through the Caribbean Hotel Foundation (CHF), one of the largest scholarship programs in the hospitality industry.
In addition, CHF offered for the very first time a $10,000 corporate scholarship, thanks to a new strategic alliance with Virgin Holidays. “The number and quality of applications has increased significantly in 2004, and we are proud to have answered to the need by offering more scholarships than ever,” said Alex Titcombe, Director of CHA’s Product Development Department, which oversees the work of CHF.
“This was possible thanks to the generous donations of CHA members, American Express; but also to the Foundation’s new dynamic and dedicated leadership, which has been working very hard to boost CHF’s sources of revenue,” he said.
Bahamas’ Anika Barton is among the scholarship recipients. A brilliant student at the Florida International University, she started to work in the hospitality industry in 1999 as a Front Office Assistant at Orange Hill Beach Inn, and completed an internship at the Great Abaco Beach Resort, which familiarized her with all departments of the hotel. She received a scholarship toward the completion of her Bachelor of Hospitality & Tourism Management, which will hopefully assist her in realizing her dream of becoming a hotel’s General Manager in her home country.
In addition, Virgin Holidays opened the door to corporate scholarships and offered, through CHF, a $10,000 academic scholarship to the deserving young Trinidadian Ms. Vani Maharaj. Thanks to the generosity of Virgin Holidays, Ms. Maharaj will be attending one of the top culinary schools in North America, the Johnson & Wales University in Florida, to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts. Ms. Maharaj ambitions to become an Executive Chef and venture in the media: one of her dreams is to host shows, competitions and write books related to the culinary arts and gastronomy.
Robert Sherman, Chairman of the CHF, commented enthusiastically that “there is nothing more noble, more necessary nor, more rewarding than assisting our Caribbean brothers and sisters advancement in the region’s number one industry: tourism.” CHA is striving to create more alliances of this kind, in order to be able to provide more young Caribbean people with the education they need to take the lead of the tourism industry in their own countries.
“Virgin Holidays stepping up to the plate by offering the very first corporate scholarship, will undoubtly open the floodgates for other enlightened companies in our industry. Three cheers for Virgin Holidays!” Sherman exclaimed.
This scholarship will be available again next year for all academic applicants.
Every year, CHF offers academic scholarships to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry and the potential for future success. Scholarships for professional development; for CCHT seminars; further education grants for teachers; and journalism scholarships are also available.
Application forms for the 2005 scholarship program will be available from November 2004 onthe CHF website, www.caribbeanhotelfoundation.org.
Since its establishment in 1987, the Foundation has awarded close to US$1 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry and the potential for future success. Scholarships are offered for full-and part-time students ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Funds for these scholarships and grants are generated by Golf Tournaments, the Auction held during the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference (CHIC), and through the generous support of American Express and CHA hoteliers.
