FRONT desk agents, bellmen, housekeepers, servers and chefs are usually the first who are mentioned when people talk about employment in the tourism or the hospitality industry. In light of this, a team from Sandals South Coast travelled to Savanna-la-Mar to engage Manning’s School sixth form tourism students in a seminar to introduce them to unconventional career options that exist in the rapidly expanding industry.

The students had a chance to interact with team members from the resort’s engineering, weddings, sales and public relations departments about what is typically expected of them from a day-to-day aspect. A mocktail demonstration by bartender Nicholas Bennett delighted the students and they were more than elated to compete and recreate his signature drink to see who could produce the closest imitation.

According to business and tourism teacher at the institution Allana Moore, the morning’s session with her students was a great boost for their interest in the subject and that having the chance to interact with professionals in the industry was inspiring for them.

“It was a pleasure to host the Sandals South Coast team. The students were truly captivated and this was shown by the many questions they asked and their willingness to participate in the various activities. The information shared is also a part of their curriculum so I am excited to see how they will apply this new knowledge,” she added.

Michelle Jackson, the social media and intranet coordinator for Sandals South Coast and a former student of Manning’s School, said it was an honour to give back to her alma mater and inspire current students to ignore the crowd, take chances and pursue their ambitions.

“I had no idea that I would one day be working in this industry and with this noble brand, but I can truly say I love what I do. My initial studies were in marketing with an accounts background and when the pandemic hit I had to explore new career opportunities. I landed my job at Sandals South Coast and it just goes to show that regardless of what you study, it can often, if not always, be applied to alternate industries if you open yourself to it,” a beaming Jackson shared.

The students shared that the information received from the Sandals team was enriching and offered fresh insights into how expansive the tourism sector is and that there is room for everyone, no matter what their passions may be.