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Caribbean Tourism Integrated Standards ProjectOverview and Background of the C.T.I.S.PThe small hotels sector in the Caribbean has always experienced difficulties in accessing skills training for their operations at an appropriate price and quality level. The opportunities have typically been available only through training courses designed primarily for larger hotel operations such as those of the Caribbean Hospitality Training Institute (the so-called Freeman group standards), those of external agencies such as the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and training developed within each particular jurisdiction or their own hotel industry. This has not encouraged small hoteliers to adopt training as a normal and necessary operational activity on a day to day basis. Recognizing this gap, CPEC, in collaboration with the OAS, came together to attempt to overcome this constraint for the small hotels community by developing skills training materials specifically tailored to their needs. The ApproachThe approach taken by the two partners was directed specifically at establishing international, market-driven skills training materials and a certification program that had the advantage of:
The OAS and CPEC enlisted the Caribbean Hotel Association/Caribbean Hospitality Training Institute (CHA/CHTI) to participate as Implementation Coordinator for the sub-project and approached the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) through its Educational Institute (EI) to adapt their skills training program for larger properties to the particular needs of small hotels in the Caribbean. Based on a license negotiated by the OAS with AHLA, the consortium worked with AHLA's EI representatives to develop an adapted set of four line rooms and four food and beverage programs along with certification provided by EI to successful participants in the training program. CTISP - Phase 1 proceeded to train over 60 Certified Hospitality Department Trainers (CHDT) and successfully piloted the Skills for Success training program in Grenada and Barbados. The training materials have been adopted by all hotel associations in the OECS, Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Suriname. The Barbados Community College Hospitality Institute is championing the materials in the Caribbean Tourism Learning System Sub-project. The high quality of materials produced leads to internationally recognized certification, thereby allowing certified candidates to gain qualifications that are accepted regionally and internationally. The world-wide reputation of the AHLA in hospitality training has increased the integrity and acceptance of the materials. The internationally recognized certification offered by the OAS-CPEC CTISP Sub-Project has made the program more attractive to employees and employers in the sector. The line level skills courses designed with standards-based materials have attracted experienced hospitality staff as well as new entrants to the industry. It is expected that the demand for these materials will continue to grow in the short to medium term. Please Contact us for more information about the project. © 2003 - Creative Technology & Communications
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