THAG speaks to “urgent need” for more Guyanese people to become trained for hospitality jobs
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Guyanese jobseekers are being urged to consider working in the country’s hospitality sector, which has an “urgent need” for workers.
Further, a local tourism executive is raising awareness that hospitality is not just working in tourism but can also mean careers in a wide range of fields, from hotel work to administration, management, food and beverage and more.
There are a wide range of career options within the hospitality field. (Photo by Jeff Siepman on Unsplash)
According to Guyana’s government, “With Guyana’s tourism sector rapidly expanding, there is an urgent demand for people to pursue the many career opportunities available in the hospitality industry…
“Guyana will soon witness several branded hotels opening up for business, and they will be in dire need of sufficient staff to meet the anticipated demands.”
Adding to that, Executive Director of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Oslyn Kirton emphasized the enormous potential that a career in hospitality can offer Guyanese workers.
She said, “We do not just need servers; we need front of office staff, we need back of office staff, we need chefs, we need prep cooks and engineers.”
However, Kirton also acknowledged that there needs to be more of an effort to inform people about what a career in hospitality is actually all about.
“People think of tourism or service as ‘I didn’t do too well in school; this is the only thing I could get’,” she said.
“No, that’s not the only thing you could get.
“There are parts of this world where people come out of high school with a 3.6 GPA and go to a catering school.
“They go to learn to be a server — they do that because it’s a career; it’s not just a job.”
More training for hospitality jobs in Guyana
There are also many opportunities for promotions within tourism/hospitality. (Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash)
In line with the efforts to raise awareness about the potential of tourism and hospitality jobs in Guyana, even as recruitment efforts continue, THAG is reportedly looking into launching a training programme in the future.
Kirton noted, “We have to educate our citizens that there is a future in service.
“You can start as a waiter…and end as a maître d’.
“A maître d’ is what they see as the person in charge of the hotel…and there is a lot of money in that.
“Even as a waitress, if you have the right attitude and you give proper service, you make a lot of money.”
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