Earlier this year, Premier Ewart Brown launched an initiative called Rejuvenating the Tourism Workforce. It includes workplace visits in the first half of the year.

Last month, In support of this initiative Premier Brown worked with Bermudians Roydell Neverson, Director of Rooms and Andrew Schwaegerl, a management trainee, at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess. The Premier also had a brief orientation with Bermudians Kellianne Smith, Director of Human Resources and Allan Trew, Hotel Manager.

The Premier’s responsibilities today included assisting with the check-in of a guest from California and inspecting a room in preparation for a VIP arrival. The Premier noted:

I’m really enjoying my time getting to witness the Tourism workforce from the front lines. Usually I am on the receiving end of the hotel experience so it is a great learning experience for me to witness it from the service side. I have a lot of respect for our Tourism workforce. If even one person decides to give hospitality a try as a result of this initiative it will be well worth it for me.

To that end, the Premier was touting the Fairmont Leadership Development Program. Premier Brown:

The Leadership Development Program is one of the greatest opportunities for Bermudians interested in hospitality. This program is about more than getting hotel workers in the door, it is also about moving them up the ladder. This is the kind of program that is a great asset for rejuvenating Bermuda’s Tourism workforce.

Director of Human Resources Kellianne Smith details the programme:

We’re soliciting recent college graduates who are serious about careers in hospitality and who are willing to work hard and climb the ladder to the absolute top. Fairmont’s Leadership Development Program is for someone who wants to see the world and who has the passion and desire to hold an executive position within our hotels.

If you're interested in learning more about this innovative programme, contact Kellianne Smith at kelli-ann.smith@fairmont.com with the words “Leadership Development Program” in the subject line.