jan-2018

10 11 OPENING LINES S parked by the need to assist Caribbean tour- ism industryworkers impacted by last fall’s hurricanes,the CaribbeanHotel andTourism Association (CHTA) has created a“jobs bank” tomatch candidates with tourism-related employ- ment opportunities. The jobs bank,whichwas launched last month,has alreadyassisted a number of individuals fromhurri- cane impacted destinations find newemployment opportunities in the region and the United States.The initiative ismade possible by the CaribbeanTourism RecoveryFund,a partnership between CHTAand the TourismCares organization. CHTA’s CEOand director general FrankComito explained the newplatform is open to all CHTA member hotel industryprofessionals at all levels across the hospitality sector.While the focus is on as- sisting the temporarilyor permanentlyunemployed from the affected destinations,it is a Caribbean-wide initiative. “While the jobs bankhas been created to serve an immediate and urgent need,our intention is for it to become the permanent go-to resource for career opportunities at every level in Caribbean hospitality —from line cook to general manager,”stated Comito as he urged hotels throughout the region and else- where to post vacancies. He explained that,in the near term,it is CHTA’s hope that those displaced employees from the region’s sixdestinationsmost impacted by the hur- ricanes will be able to take advantage of the time to keep their skills fresh and that employers will utilize NEWJOBS BANK AIMS TOMATCHWORKERSWITHOPPORTUNITIES the service.“We are confident that those employers, who contract with an impacted employee for the season or while their home hotel is under refurbish- ment,will realize tremendous value in their exper- tisewhile helping tomitigate the hardship employ- ees are experiencing,”he said. Comito predicted that in the not too distant future, destinations in the region that were im- pacted by the recent hurricanes will emergewith a new,fresh,and exciting tourismproduct matched by amotivated,energized,and highlyprofessional work- force.He said CHTA,the local industryand the local hotel and tourismassociations will roll out training initiatives in themonths ahead to help sharpen the skills of Caribbean hospitality professionals. The tourism chief affirmed that most of the Caribbean was not impacted by the recent hurri- canes and is, in fact, experiencing a strong tourism season and outlook, providing an incentive for hoteliers to draw on qualified professionals from within the region. CHTA continues to advocate for the unfettered movement of qualified tourism industry pro- fessionals throughout the entire region. Comito pointed to facilities in the Organization of East- ern Caribbean States where nationals are able to move and work freely, and in the US territories, where most residents of the United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, for example, can work within each jurisdiction and the United States without a visa or workpermit requirements. Through the online jobs bank,CHTAhas simplified the process for both employers and employees to post and respond to vacancies.