“You all can go up, you can all have a career in the tourism industry, it is a good industry to be in, and it is the pillar of the Seychelles economy. And it is on my shoulder, on Mr. Steiner’s, on the human resource director’s; it is on our shoulders that the economy of Seychelles lies. So let us work together because when you succeed, Hilton succeeds, and I succeed as well.”
Alain St.Ange, Minister for Tourism and Culture, said this when he was addressing the first annual certificate ceremony recipients at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa yesterday afternoon. He was referring to the fruits that can be reaped when an individual decides to seize training opportunities offered by the organization he is employed with.
Also present at the ceremony were Anne Lafortune, the Principal Secretary for Tourism; Claus Steiner, Cluster General Manager of Hilton Seychelles; and Kate Murphy, responsible for learning and talent development at Hilton Worldwide. Also present was Doreen D’Souza, the Human Resource and Training Manager, who had conducted training of the employees.
A mixed group consisting of 30 local and foreign team members from the three Hilton hotels in Seychelles received their certificates after having successfully completed training in three different courses. The trainees came from Double Tree Resort & Spa by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda, Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, and Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa.
Courses on offer were a departmental trainers’ course, management development level one, and management development level two. Teaching and learning were conducted through different modes: online learning courses; in-class delivery; and theoretical and practical activities; along with case studies, projects, and assignments to be completed.
Among some of the topics covered were how to improve customer service, achieving results, finance, guest satisfaction, decision-making, and productivity.
After having congratulated the group, the tourism minister further highlighted the importance of training.
“Anyone who wishes to progress needs to accept training as a lifelong, ongoing commitment, because the original certificate you receive will only get you so far. Nobody is too old to say I cannot be trained.”
The minister also commended the Hilton hotel group for putting an effort into training young people, pushing them to greater heights.
“As a ministry, we value hotel companies that put in the effort to provide training for employees who aspire to climb the career ladder. This is showing the way to other companies, who should look at this fine example and ask themselves, what are we doing to help our young Seychellois employees make it in the tourism industry?
“The inclusion of Seychellois workers is indeed significant as they will find themselves in an industry that they can call theirs.”
Mr. Claus Steiner, Cluster General Manager of Hilton Seychelles, also made a short speech in which he congratulated his employees and praised them for the sacrifices they have made to get where they are.
“Today is a very special and exciting day; you should be proud. It marks the effort and extra hours you have put in for almost half a year in order to complete your courses. With the new knowledge in hand, you are now in a position to create other leaders and help them to be just as successful. There are certain areas for improvement for the overall service, which you are now in a better position to look after in the months and years to come.”
Kate Murphy made mention of Doreen’s achievements as one of the only three Indian Ocean master trainers of the Hilton brand. She commended Doreen for leading by example, and she mentioned that Doreen will soon be certified for completing the International youth foundation program called passport to success.
Mrs. Murphy urged the trainees to continue making the most of opportunities presented to them, to be the best they can be, and to achieve personal as well as professional aspirations.
“Thank you for your commitment in helping us deliver the light and warmth of the hospitality around the world.”
On behalf of her colleagues, Petrina Boniface thanked Hilton worldwide for helping them in their development.
The trainees proudly walked out with certificates in hand, to the appropriate tune of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best.”
