As part of an ongoing strategy to deliver best in class vacation experiences, the Management of Blue Diamond Hotels and Resorts and Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort and Casino has partnered with The College of The Bahamas to establish the resort as a working campus and a preferred location for internships. Therefore, The College of The Bahamas Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) has scheduled Supervisory and Guest Services training for 38 Supervisors to commence at the Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort and Casino, Monday, April 27^nd, 2015.

Gabriel Varela, Resort General Manager stated that, “our short term, medium term and long term strategy, is to invest in the natural talents of our Bahamian employees, in order to achieve our goal to become a recognized regional industry leader.”

The resort entered into a three-year agreement with The College of The Bahamas in December 2014, thereby appointing the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute to be the sole Service Provider for the 700 employees of the resort. Presently ranked as the leading all-inclusive resort in Grand Bahama by TripAdvisor, the Memories Grand Bahama Beach Hotel and Casino officially opened in March 2014.

“The arrangement” said College of The Bahamas Council President, Dr. Rodney D. Smith, “will facilitate Blue Diamond Hotels & Resort employee access to the certified Culinary, Hospitality and Business Programs offered by the College, and determine College of The Bahamas student placement for practical professional internships at the Memories Grand Bahama Beach Resort, for the upcoming Fall Semester.”

In the medium term Memories Grand Bahama employees as well as those interning students, will gain international exposure at resorts at other locations within the Blue Diamond chain (e.g., St. Lucia and Jamaica), and participate in Spanish language immersion programs in the Blue Diamond Resorts located in the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Mexico).

Over time the formalized partnership with The College of The Bahamas is intended to establish sustainable industry driven educational programs that impact positively on the economy of The Bahamas and its role as a regional leader in the tourism industry.

Accordingly, Dr. Sophia A. Rolle, Executive Director of CHMI, said, “The College of The Bahamas shared the resort’s commitment to a long-term partnership. Over the years, we have been able to attract the brightest minds in The Bahamas to facilitate industry related courses on demand. Being able to service the needs at the Memories Grand Bahama Resort is expected to be no different”. Initially, 148 employees will be trained in the areas of Supervisory, Train-the-Trainer and Guests Services Gold: (Supervisory - 38 employees; Train-the-Trainer -10 employees; and 100 Guests Services Gold).

Outlining the student internship opportunities Mary L. Culmer, Director of Human Resources for Memories Grand Bahama concluded, “Six (6) Students will be accommodated at the Memories Resort (Freeport, Mexico or Dominican Republic). Students will live and work on property for the specified time period outlined in the Internship Manual, and while on property, the students will be monitored and supervised by the appropriate departmental supervisors who will ensure that competencies and skills are being met according to industry standards.”

The Supervisory Training program will be conducted at the beachfront resort, from April 27^th, through May 2^nd, 2015.

About the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute

The Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) has offered hospitality, tourism and culinary arts training for more than 40 years in The Bahamas. CHMI currently has two Bachelor of Science Programmes in the area of Hospitality Management and Tourism Management respectively. We offer the Associates of Arts Degree in Hospitality Operations and the Applied Associate of Arts Degrees in Culinary Arts and the Apprentice Cook Programmes. CHMI is happy to announce brand new programme offerings this fall. CHMI anticipates partnering with the internationally acclaimed Laureate Education Universities to offer a one semester Culinary Bridge Certificate Programme and a one semester Hospitality Bridge Certificate Programme, both designed to fill the gap between those transitioning from high school to university, as well, industry persons who are desirous of picking up some industry-specific certification while they are working.

About Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts

Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts is an innovative hotel management company that specializes in delivering high quality vacation experiences in tropical beachfront settings throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. Since its inception in 2011, Blue Diamond has grown to represent over 10,000 rooms in 6 countries. Offering personalized services and all-inclusive features to suit diverse customer needs, the Blue Diamond resort portfolio includes four other distinct brands; Memories Resorts, modernRoyalton All-In Luxury™ Resorts, as well as the adults-onlyCHIC by RoyaltonandGrand Lido Resorts.