SANDALS Ochi Beach Resort’s Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Neil McLeish has spearheaded a transformative week-long training session, shaping the skills and passion of 15 enthusiastic newcomers in food and beverage services.

This dedicated group, many entering the tourism industry for the first time, was immersed in a blend of practical training and soft skills development.

Renee Walters, one of the excited trainees, stated, “Dreaming of working with this company has now become a reality. The opportunities and growth here make me confident about a bright future through hard work. I am truly grateful for this opportunity and will make the best of it.”

Neil commended the team’s youthfulness, passion, and rapid learning. Through random role-playing scenarios and hands-on experiences shadowing senior staff, they navigated mistakes, corrected one another, and evolved.

Neil said, “This is an ambitious cohort, eager to make a significant impact in tourism, and we’re actively nurturing them to pursue their aspirations.”

Another trainee, Sadique Powell, said, ‘So far I’ve learned a lot. Mr Neil is a great man who knows a lot about tourism. In his teaching he explained and demonstrated techniques for us to understand clearly. The customer service topic was not just about meeting and greeting the guests, it also included knowledge of the services the resort and our country have to offer for conversational purposes. I learned a lot of techniques and the correct way of performing each task. I am really happy to be here and I am very excited to go and serve the guests.”

Highlighting its commitment, Sandals Ochi consistently trains new team members through its robust Hospitality Training Programme.

General Manager Carol Bourke underscores, “We take pride in cultivating such talent and dedication. Our objective is to empower these individuals, fostering excellence within our hotel and the broader hospitality industry.”