Two Grenadians Receive Scholarships From CHTA Education Foundation

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Pictured (l-r): Clive Barnes, CHTAEF Trustee; Mahara Strachen, GHTA; scholarship recipient Nichole Mc Sween, True Blue Bay Resort; scholarship recipient Shannell Parris; Pancy Cross, GHTA Executive Director

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Aug. 17, 2010) - The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Education Foundation recently awarded scholarships to two deserving Grenadian recipients. Shannell Parris, now in her final year at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, as well as Nichole Mc Sween, currently employed at the True Blue Bay Resort with plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, were presented with certificates of scholarships at a ceremony held at the Calabash Hotel & Villas.

Shannell Parris is a strong believer in sustainable tourism, and feels that Caribbean countries have a duty to become more aware of the impact of tourism on their island’s economy and development. She is also of the opinion that the islands should put steps in place to ensure that they are environmentally friendly, and every effort must be made to protect the very environment on which we are increasingly more dependent.

Parris would ultimately like to see Grenada ‘branded’ as an island persons choosing their vacation destination would have as a ‘must visit’ on their list. She was awarded US$2,100 which she feels will ease her financial burden while she completes her final year of studies.

Additionally, US$2,500 was awarded to Nichole Mc Sween who expressed her gratitude to the Foundation and stated that the funds would enable her to get started on the road to a worthwhile career in the tourism industry.

Mc Sween’s employers believe that she exemplifies exceptional interpersonal skills and dedication in her position as receptionist there. Her aim is to develop her own hospitality and tourism youth mentoring program to benefit Grenadian youth in the Tourism Industry.

Pancy Cross, Executive Director of the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, welcomed the awardees and congratulated them on their achievement before calling on Clive Barnes, manager of the Calabash Hotel & Villas and a member of the Board of Trustees of the CHTAEF, to shed light on the history and commendable accomplishments of the foundation over their years of existence.

Barnes was high in praise for the hoteliers, and other members of the tourism business community, who over the years have contributed toward the annual auction held to raise funds which, when added to funds contributed by the Foundation’s sponsors Virgin Holidays, Yucatan Holidays, FirstCaribbean International Bank, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Johnson & Wales University, Schiller International University, Florida International University and the University of Memphis, ensures that assistance is available to persons wishing to further their education in order to make a meaningful contribution to the tourism industry throughout the Caribbean.

Barnes added that to-date, a total of US$1.15 million in scholarships and grants, have been awarded to Caribbean nationals choosing to pursue, or upgrade, their skills in the region’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry.

He urged Caribbean nationals and in particular, Grenadians, to look toward developing their awareness of the industry’s vast and dynamic career opportunities, and to acquiring the technical and professional development skills needed to ensure that the standard of the industry surpasses that which is available in competing destinations. Grenadians he felt, would be well advised to capitalize on this excellent educational opportunity and should log on to the Foundation’s website for more details.

In 2010, the CHTAEF awarded a total of US$145,000 in 44 scholarships after receiving 52 applications covering 15 Caribbean countries. The CHTAEF offers scholarships for professional development courses, full time academic courses in Hospitality Management, and grants for teachers in the Tourism Industry in both undergraduate and graduate programs.

For more information on CHTAEF visit www.chtaeducationfoundation.com.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members' needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA was founded in 1962; it is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism. Today, tourism is widely recognized as a pivotal industry in the economy of the region - and CHTA functions as the common denominator for this industry in a region of diverse nationalities, languages and styles, identifying mutual problems and marshalling the resources of the active and allied members to devise solutions. CHTA represents all facets of the hospitality industry with more than 725 member hotels and 525 allied members.

For more information, visit http://www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com. Follow CHTA on Facebook www.Facebook.com/CaribbeanHotelandTourismAssociation and Twitter www.Twitter.com/CHTAFeeds.