Specialist William Angliss trainer at CAHM – Melissa Jennings
I was a student at William Angliss in 1983 at the start of a tourism boom in Australia. My ambition was to work in the front office of hotels but soon discovered a love of Food and Beverage which became the foundation of my career. I believe that training and working in hospitality is called Vocational because it is a “vocation”; it is a “calling”. The fulfillment of success in this industry is enhanced because it is a “people” industry. At every level I have worked, from frontline to GM, it is interacting with people that make the difference.
I have been greatly impressed by the skill and professionalism of people working in Sri Lankan hotels, in Colombo and throughout the island. It is an exciting time to be involved with Hospitality education during this growth time. We are especially focusing on soft skills of communication, language, leadership and creativity to develop world class professionals who will continue to develop local tal- ents. Discovering the diverse culture and generosity of Sri Lankans has been a highlight since my arrival. Connection to family values and history are reflected in celebrations, food, ceremonies and hospitality. Tea and elephants, warm village life and sophisticated urbane living all exist harmoniously to bring constant joy and surprise. The key to hospitality professionalism is hard work and resilience. The ability to keep going when others around you can’t or won’t. When you find out what you want to do, find the best people who are doing it, talk to them and ask their advice about how best to get there.
Learn about us from the students…
“Hospitality industry is all about making people happy, from your bosses to your colleagues and most importantly your customers”
Dinithi Perera
Holy Family Covent, Colombo 04 What makes you passionate about the industry?
The hospitality industry is indeed a flourishing one which opens doors to numerous career opportunities. The reason why I’m passionate about it is because it is a business which deals with people. What captivates me about hospitality is the opportunity it gives me to work for and with people of different backgrounds. It has nothing to do with spreadsheets or complicated machines instead it is very much people oriented. Hospitality is all about being creative. Be it food, drink or an experience, it is all about coming up with new ways to make everything more enjoyable
for your customer.
What are the main things you learn during your course?
The course that has been designed for us covers basically everything related to hospitality and tourism in a very easy and concise manner. From welcoming a guest to designing menus fit for a fine dining experience to wine tasting are not just thought to us but are demonstrated to us in a practical environment which helps us prepare for the real thing once we go out to the industry.
One of the main things that are taught to us is the importance of team work which is essential in the industry. Therefore lots of group activities are carried out thus making learning more interesting and never boring.
What do you enjoy most about working in the industry?
What I love most about the industry are the people you come across each day. It is a very unpredictable industry to work in which make it very challenging and interesting. The satisfaction that you get for making your guest happy at the end of their stay is something you cannot truly describe. Also the peo- ple you work with make working fun and enjoyable as most of them are girls and boys with similar interests and goals.
Why did you decide to do the course?
The reason why I chose this particular course is because William Angliss Institute is offering it and it is known to be one of the leading culinary Art school in Melbourne Australia now offering the hospitality degree and represented in many parts of the word. Therefore I feel this will help me reach my goals in the future.