BTM Inc., Royal Caribbean group host national job fair

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. hosted day a three-day national recruitment drive in partnership with Royal Caribbean Group this month. The event took place June 14 through June 16 at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex.

“We are very encouraged by the number of applicants who turned out for the partnership recruitment event hosted by Royal Caribbean Group and the government of Barbados,” said Wendy McDonald, regional vice president, government relations for the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean Group. “We have met some very qualified and excited candidates, and we look forward to welcoming them to help us deliver the best vacation experiences to our guests.”

The job fair was organized as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties in April at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami; its purpose is to generate opportunities for high-quality employment in Barbados’ local tourism industry. With positions including a number of disciplines, Royal Caribbean Group will staff several ships homeporting in the Caribbean during the winter cruise season.

“The best ambassadors for the destination of Barbados are Barbadians and as part of our tourism marketing strategy, we want to ensure that Barbadians, who are known for their excellence in hospitality and service, have the opportunity to represent the destination, not only on the cruise ships, but wherever they go in the world.” said Senator Lisa Cummins, Minister of Tourism and International Transport for Barbados. “Through this initiative, Barbadians will benefit from the best opportunities for personal and professional growth and development while at the same time being the best ambassadors for destination Barbados.”

Cruise development is a major focus for Barbados, especially as the country moves to establish a strong cruise presence in Miami and foster closer relationships with cruise partners like Royal Caribbean Group. An expanded office in Miami will give Barbados greater access to the cruise center of the world and enable greater collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Barbados’ external agencies in North America.