Jamaica Gleaner

22 graduate Sandals Corporate University with diploma in hospitalit­y leadership

- Carl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer

TWENTY-TWO EMPLOYEES of Sandals Resorts, drawn from the company’s hotels across the Caribbean, graduated from the Sandals Corporate University (SCU) after completing the diploma in Hospitalit­y Leadership programme recently.

In his keynote address, Sandals’ executive chairman, Adam Stewart, hailed the graduates for participat­ing in the programme.

Stewart spoke of Sandals Resort’s impact on the Caribbean, noting that it has become the region’s largest employer with over 18,000 workers from within the Caribbean. He disclosed that Sandals’ newest hotel – Sandals St Vincent and the Grenadines – will open on March 27.

The opening comes less than two years since that of Sandals Curacao in June 2022, and less than a year since Sandals Dunns River opened in May 2023.

Senior personnel from SCU were on hand for the special occasion, including Dr N oriel Jacobs-Gray, Regional Learning and Developmen­t Manager; Dr Luz Longsworth, SCU Senior Corporate Director; Wayne Cummings, chairman SCU Advisory Board; Dean Christophe­r Muller, founder and principal, Accelerati­ng Leaders; and Dean Michael Cheng, dean and chaplain, School of Hospitalit­y and Tourism, Florida Internatio­nal University.

Valedictor­ian, Melissa BrownFletc­her spoke of the ripple effect of the training and urged her colleagues to make a change in the tourist industry.

“Let’s be catalysts” BrownFletc­her urged.

The graduates were drawn from Sandals Dunn’s River, Sandals Ocho Rios, Sandals Resorts Internatio­nal, Sandals Bahamas, Sandals Royal Curacao, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast, Beaches Turks and Caicos (which boasted seven graduates), Beaches Ocho Rios, and Beaches Royal Bahamas.

 ?? ?? Gebhard Rainer, Chief Executive Officer, Sandals Resorts Internatio­nal presents Joy Bernhard, Learning and Developmen­t Manager at Sandals Ochi, with her diploma
Gebhard Rainer, Chief Executive Officer, Sandals Resorts Internatio­nal presents Joy Bernhard, Learning and Developmen­t Manager at Sandals Ochi, with her diploma
 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? The 2024 batch of graduates from Sandals Corporate University who recently completed their Diploma in Hospitalit­y Leadership programme, along with SCU personnel.
CONTRIBUTE­D The 2024 batch of graduates from Sandals Corporate University who recently completed their Diploma in Hospitalit­y Leadership programme, along with SCU personnel.
 ?? ?? Shawn DaCosta (left), Chief Operating Officer at Sandals Resorts, presents Shawn Thomas, assistant food and beverage manager at Beaches Ocho Rios with his diploma.
Shawn DaCosta (left), Chief Operating Officer at Sandals Resorts, presents Shawn Thomas, assistant food and beverage manager at Beaches Ocho Rios with his diploma.
 ?? ?? Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart delivering the keynote address.
Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart delivering the keynote address.

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