Government and the tourism industry will hold an event aimed at connecting unemployed Caymanians with job opportunities in the industry amid a backdrop of calls to increase local employment.
Details of the event, organised by Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman (WORC) and the Ministry of Caymanian Employment and Immigration with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, are still being finalised, but it is understood to be taking place on the weekend of 6 Sept. at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort.
The event will feature interactive sessions highlighting core areas in the hospitality industry such as front desk and housekeeping, restaurants and bars, watersports and diving and sales and events. Participants will gain practical insight into the different departments within each sector, salary expectations and potential career paths.
Networking event
The program will conclude with a networking mixer, giving attendees the chance to meet directly with tourism employers and explore opportunities that best match their interests and skills.
Grand Cayman’s newest hotels, the Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa and George Town’s ONE | GT are both taking part in the event and have a significant number of positions they need to fill before opening.
Tourism Association president Sharlene Brenkus said, “In recent months, we have been in active dialogue with the Ministry of Caymanian Employment and Immigration to encourage collaboration and strengthen the connection between government and the private sector…. As part of this effort, CITA has proposed co-hosting a tourism orientation event in September to connect unemployed Caymanians with the wide variety of opportunities within the industry.”
She added: “CITA and its members remain dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for Caymanians who wish to pursue careers in tourism and remains steadfast in its mission to collaborate with government partners, address the key challenges facing the tourism industry and ensure the Cayman Islands continues to thrive as a premier global destination.”
ONE | GT’s commercial director Bram Theeven said the hotel, which is scheduled to open at the end of the year, is looking foward to attending the event and is keen to employ Caymanians across all parts of the business.
“We already have Caymanians in key positions in the hotel, such as our director of HR and our director of sales and marketing,” he said, “and we want to continue that because I think it helps build a stronger community and encourages people who are hoping to have a career path in hospitality,” he said. “We want to be part of that.”
As a newly-opening luxury hotel operator, many positions will require previous experience, he said, but he said ONE | GT was keen to train people who wanted to be in in the industry.
“You’ve got to show that you have a willingness and ability to learn and a passion to learn,” he said. “Once we see that in people, then that’s who you want to keep on training, to bring them to the next level.”
Sustainable growth
Meanwhile the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce has joined the debate sparked by government minister Michael Myles who talked of resetting the balance between expats and Caymanians.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Wil Pineau said: “We welcome the Government’s stated intention to reset the balance and look forward to continued dialogue and collaboration to ensure that Caymanians are equipped, empowered, and given priority in employment while supporting the sustainable growth of our islands.”
He added that the Chamber of Commerce “has consistently supported efforts to ensure that Caymanians are placed first at all times in the workplace” and that it also welcomed “supported improvements to public education… so that students are placed on a path that leads directly to rewarding and sustainable employment.”
He added: “At the same time, with Cayman’s current rate of growth, there will always be a need for employers to obtain work permits when every effort has been made to hire qualified Caymanians and legal residents first. Striking the right balance is essential to ensure that businesses can continue to grow while Caymanians are fully integrated into the workforce.”