The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels & Tourism Association (ABHTA) organized a job fair yesterday, to recruit young talent for the upcoming winter tourism season.

The event saw more than two dozen hotels and other tourism-related enterprises actively recruiting from a talent pool that included high school and college graduates, as well as some experienced adults.

Tourism brands such as Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort, Barbuda Cottages/Uncle Roddy’s Bar & Restaurant, Royalton Antigua, Escape at Nonsuch Bay, and Goddard Catering Group offered a wide variety of roles, including Front Desk, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, administrative, and accounting positions.

The officials were pleased with the turnout, including Tourism Authority CEO Colin James, who emphasized the significance of such initiatives for both the recruiting businesses and the budding young professionals.

The job fair was held in commemoration of World Tourism Day, which is celebrated annually on September 27th, to raise awareness within the international community about the importance of tourism and its cultural, economic, political, and social value.

According to James, it was important for jobs outside of what many expect as part of the tourism sector to be on offer to demonstrate to applicants that there are decent career opportunities available in the local industry.

This was the main theme among many of the officials, particularly those with the ABHTA, emphasizing the importance of young people participating in the job fair and the prospect of them becoming part of the next generation of tourism professionals.