Hospitality, tourism scholarships open
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation is accepting scholarship applications until Thursday, March 30, 2017.
Scholarships, which are largely financed by corporate donations, are open to Caribbean students and industry professionals pursuing higher education or professional development in the hospitality and tourism field.
In a joint statement, CHTAEF Chairman Richard Kahn and Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Karolin Troubetzkoy stated: “We are extremely grateful for the support we received from hotels over the past year for the education foundation. We wish to particularly single out corporate partners Interval International and Virgin Holidays for their unstinting commitment to Caribbean education.”
Applications, which are available from local hotel associations throughout the Caribbean or via www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/about-the-foundation/apply-for-scholarship, must be submitted with the approval of the applicant’s local hotel association in order to be considered.
Past recipients have attended accredited colleges and universities throughout the United States, the Caribbean and around the world, with a concentration on tourism and hospitality-related studies. The foundation also has partner arrangements with a number of schools, including Johnson & Wales University, Monroe College and Florida International University, where students may be eligible to receive additional scholarship support based on their award through the foundation. Scholarships are also available for industry professionals, including those pursuing internationally recognised certifications.
Reapplying scholarship recipients need to provide a copy of their most recent transcripts to verify their academic progress. The school transcripts can be e-mailed to foundation@caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.
In 2016, CHTAEF awarded 28 scholarships for a total of US$130,352 in funding.
“CHTAEF provides academic, professional development, tourism and hospitality teachers, work experience placements and internship awards to Caribbean nationals who demonstrate a strong commitment to the industry. Scholarships range, on average, from US$500 to $5,000 and are exclusively used towards tuition costs,” the organisation said.
The fund was established in 1987 as a stand-alone (501c3) no-profit, tax-exempt organisation, through which scholarships and special assistance would be made available for the education of Caribbean hotel industry personnel and students pursuing careers in hospitality and tourism. Since then, it has awarded more than US$2 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hotel and tourism industry.
