CHTA Education Foundation Selection Committee Huddled in Grenada

The CHTA Education Foundation (CHTAEF) Selection Committee were kindly hosted by True Blue Bay Resort, Grenada for three-days intensive review of the 52 applications for scholarship assistance received from 15 Caribbean countries. Congratulations were in order to Montserrat for making their first application.

The CHTAEF received 33 applications for assistance with academic tuition costs, with The Bahamas and Jamaica each submitting five applications; the balance being spread through Antigua & Barbuda, the British & U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad.

These applications were for Bachelors or Masters degrees in International Hospitality, Travel & Tourism Management, Innovation & Tourism Management, Hotel & Lodging Management, Sports, Entertainment & Event Management, Culinary Arts and Food Service Management at University of the West Indies and a variety of international institutions.

The Selection Committee reviewed 19 applications for Professional Development Courses and Work Experience Visits, with a whopping 17 of these coming from Barbados. Barbados topped their own record set last year for the most entries from one country in this category. Curacao and Jamaica also submitted applications.

Applicants are seeking tuition support for short courses at Cornell, Culinary Institute of America, Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute and the Barbados Community College Hospitality Institute in the Culinary Arts, Strategic Leadership, Revenue Management, Yield Management and Food & Beverage Operations & Management. The Work Experience visits will be from Barbados to the Marriott Hotel & Resorts in Curacao & San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“We have had a tough week as the standard of applications has been high and our pot of scholarship dollars would not stretch to award everyone,” commented Selection Committee Chair, Louise John.

“We have seen a marked increase in the number of Academic applications this year, many seeking to convert their Associates Degrees earned at regional institutions to Bachelors at universities in America. This is a cost-effective way to achieve a Bachelors Degree as regional institutions’ fees are far less than those of overseas universities and colleges. We urge future applicants to consider this option and the CHTAEF does support Associates Degree tuition funding in addition to Bachelors and the occasional Masters,” noted John.

“We are disappointed that the number of Professional Development applications is down from previous years. These scholarships are golden opportunities for anyone working in tourism and hospitality, at any level, to raise their skills and knowledge. The Selection Committee will create a new page on our website this fall to give an idea of the breadth of disciplines we would support along with suggested institutions, as we very much hope to see a marked increase in this area next year,” she added.

The CHTAEF will be contacting all 2010 applicants on or before May 7, 2010 – applicants should not contact CHTAEF before this date. The website will be updated to honor this year’s scholars before mid-May. Looking forward, the 2011 Application Forms will be online from mid-November 2010 and will be accepted between January 3 and March 25, 2011. There are no extensions to the deadline date.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Education Foundation (CHTAEF) was established in 1987 as a stand-alone non-profit / tax-exempt organization, through which scholarships and special assistance would be made available for the education of Caribbean hotel industry personnel and students pursuing careers in tourism.

As part of its mission, the Education Foundation provides people throughout the Caribbean region with an awareness of the industry’s varied career opportunities, as well as technical and professional development. Since 1987, the Education Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and grants to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to the hospitality and tourism industry.