Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart speaks on necessary subject on the Global Tourism Resilience Conference.
Speaking on the inaugural Global Tourism Resilience Conference on the University of the West Indies (UWI) this weekend, Sandals Resorts International Executive Chairman Adam Stewart referred to as on locations and members of the hospitality group to put money into younger folks as a result of the way forward for tourism relies upon upon it.
“We have faced and triumphed over what was arguably the most challenging moment the global travel and hospitality industry has ever faced, but as we look to the future, it is not pandemic but apathy that we must address. We must make young people excited to learn, grow and succeed in the travel business. The future of tourism depends on it,” mentioned Stewart.
According to Stewart, a resilient tourism trade is one which acknowledges the connections between a rising tourism sector and the general financial system, in addition to the significance of upskilling, making ready the subsequent technology of Caribbean folks to carry crucial management positions.
“We must hold the hands of the younger generation and start thinking beyond the expectations of our own.”
“Gen Z thinks differently, and we must change our language to bring them in; we must inspire them to come into the greatest industry or else they won’t come — they will choose something else,” mentioned Stewart. “In Jamaica, where tourism has been the country’s fastest-growing industries for several decades according to the country’s Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, an expanding tourism industry lifts all sectors of the economy. Agriculture grows with us, manufacturing grows with us, entertainment grows with us, everything grows with us.”
Stewart cited the efforts of Sandals to foster the subsequent technology of hospitality expertise, together with the creation of Sandals Corporate University (SCU), based greater than a decade in the past to supply Caribbean-based Sandals group members with alternatives to enhance and develop occupational expertise and earn undergraduate and post-graduate levels; and the Stewart household’s latest announcement, the signing of a memorandum between Florida International University and The University of West Indies establishing the longer term Gordon “Butch” Stewart International School of Hospitality & Tourism in Jamaica.
“At Sandals, 98 p.c of our 18,500 staff are Caribbean nationals holding the very best jobs, on the highest stage.:
“I am confident that we can attract young talent to the field, because we’re doing it.”
“But it comes with foresight, it comes with financial commitment, it comes with framework, it comes with preparing,” he mentioned.
Held February 15-17, the inaugural Global Tourism Resilience Conference was designed to deliver the worldwide tourism group collectively to debate funding alternatives, debate options to at this time’s most urgent challenges and enhance cooperation for larger international resilience. Founded within the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic when the need to anticipate, put together for, handle and reply to disruptions that negatively influence the journey and tourism house got here to the forefront, the Global Tourism Resilience Conference was introduced by Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism and Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC).
