Shaping future tourism leaders: BHTA internship leaves lasting impact

The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) has again demonstrated its commitment to equip tourism students with the practical skills and industry exposure necessary to prepare them for the tourism sector, through its annual internship programme.

This year, two International Tourism Management Bachelor’s Degree students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Lana Murrell and Randy Vega, participated in the programme and described the stint as a thorough 12 weeks of valuable hands-on experience.

Murrell, who has trained and worked in the industry as a chef for over 12 years, explained that the internship has assisted in reshaping her focus.

She said, “I will never fully give up being a chef because I love it, but I have come to realise that food and beverage is just a drop in this big pool called tourism, and I do not want to limit myself. There is so much more to this huge interconnecting industry than meets the eye, and my internship at the BHTA has definitely highlighted this,” she said.

“It was not a sit behind a desk and sort files experience at all. We were able to learn diverse operational roles, and I am now performing tasks that I did not think I had the capacity to do three months ago. Lending assistance on many BHTA programmes over the past few weeks has been truly developmental for me. It has given me a better understanding of the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in the tourism sector.

“It has also given me a true appreciation of the important role of linkages and partnerships in this industry. For example, working on the Association’s Chefs4Dev Programme highlighted the connection and cooperation between farmers, the hotels, the restaurants and chefs — which is critical to increasing and promoting the use of local products. Everybody must be committed and involved.”

The BHTA Internship Programme also surpassed expectations for Vega, a UWI student from Belize, who explained that he chose Barbados because he wanted to study in one of the leading tourist destinations in the Caribbean.

He said, “I wanted to gain knowledge academically and also experience the destination first-hand, while living here. The BHTA internship has taken it to another level — it has improved my time management and multitasking skills, especially under pressure, and I can now communicate more effectively in a professional setting. It has also been extremely insightful as I did not realise the amount of logistics and project execution necessary to keep the industry going.”

Vega, whose dream is to open and operate his own resort in Belize, added that he will never forget the opportunity the internship provided. “Beyond the rewarding experience gained from working on many of the amazing BHTA initiatives, such as the Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament and the 73rd Annual General Meeting, as well as participating in major events such as Connect Barbados, I will forever cherish the mentorship of the many industry professionals — the BHTA members who were always willing to share their knowledge and experience with me.

“That willingness to assist at every level — team members, managers, owners — has been inspiring. Added to that, Barbados’ high level of service excellence and hospitality has left a lasting impression. Barbadians have been very welcoming and have a way of making sure that you feel at home. It is that formula of blending warm hospitality with local culture, while promoting sustainable tourism, that I intend to take back to Belize with me.”

BHTA CEO Ryan Forde said the internship programme remains his favourite BHTA initiative, explaining: “Too often leaders forget that they can also learn from younger, enthusiastic individuals, but for us at the BHTA, the internship programme provides a refreshed energy and innovative ideas. All of our team members were once interns, so sharing our knowledge and experience with interns annually, while also learning from them, makes this a most exciting time for us.

“Lana and Randy immediately jumped into assisting with our diverse projects, such as our Tourism Fund brand guidelines; our Chefs4Dev programme, a partnership with the agriculture sector; our charitable Adopt-A-School project and our countless industry and member performance audits. They also got a front row seat to the BHTA’s lobbying efforts.

“It was truly an intensive summer for them, and their enthusiastic, ‘Yes, I want to participate’ attitude was key. Wherever their paths lead, both Lana and Randy will be assets. Our industry is in safe hands if we continue to provide opportunities for young people who are passionate about our industry and, if we as leaders remain committed to tutoring them and also learning from them.”

(PR)