Small hotels receive computer training
An overseas volunteer was recently in the island, under the auspices of the Small Tourism Enterprise Project (STEP) programme to carry out training in computer technology at a number of small hotels across the country.
Five small hotels benefited from training in the use of computer technology to enhance their businesses. This brings to over 50, the number of hotels locally, which have benefited from various assistance provided through the STEP programme since 2001.
STEP is a joint programme by the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It is co-ordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and its agencies, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).
The programme was designed to create assistance and support for small tourism enterprises in a wide range of areas, including marketing, technology, management, upgrading of physical product, coaching and training, environmental management, and community-based tourism development.
Al Oveissi is the NETCORP volunteer who was brought to the island for a five-week stint to train the staff of the small hotels in Negril, the South Coast, Ocho Rios and Kingston. Training was offered in the areas of website development as well as the use of certain computer software and hardware such as Microsoft systems development. The hotels that benefited from the sessions include the Villa Bella, Medallion Hall, Merrills, Marina Beach Resort and Footprints.
At the conclusion of his stint, Oveissi met with Carrole Guntley, director-general in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism; Jennifer Griffith, tourism planner and STEP co-ordinator; and other members of her team. The response to the training was positive, Oveissi said, adding that most of the entities were interested in website development to assist in the marketing of their properties, particularly creating links with tour operators as well as other areas of computer training that would enhance their operational efficiency. Small hotels under STEP are classified as having 75 rooms and under.
A STEP resource centre, the ninth in the region, was recently opened in Ocho Rios to provide easy access to resources such as training videos, manual, toolkits and has facilities in place for internet access. The centre is staffed with a STEP information officer who is always available to provide assistance for small operators in sectors such as accommodations, attractions, craft and other areas.
Guntley emphasised that the small hotel sector is an important part of the overall industry, adding that the STEP programme is integral in the effort to assist the properties to address some of the issues, which have been affecting their marketability. She said that STEP is a valuable project to be utilised by small tourism enterprises in their development, urging them to take full advantage of facilities at the resource centre in Ocho Rios.
The STEP programme is complementing a number of other initiatives put in place by the Government and the private sector to assist small properties to become profitable.
Last year, the Ministry of Industry and Tourism introduced a grant assistance programme to assist with the upgrading of small properties so they can meet minimum standards. Some $5 million was allocated to the programme and 16 small hotels, villas and guesthouses received assistance.