The Governments of Jersey and Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday formalised a partnership designed to support the Islands’ hospitality sectors.
The three-year partnership will provide opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan hospitality industry staff to work in Jersey during the Island’s peak summer season. This will provide career development opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan hospitality professionals, as well as provide much-needed recruitment opportunities for Jersey companies.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, Senator Lyndon Farnham on behalf of Jersey, and Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism and Investment.
Under the MoU, there will also be opportunities for educator and training exchanges between the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute and Jersey’s Highlands College. This partnership aims to further support local careers in the hospitality sector.
The MoU is the culmination of joint work between the Government of Jersey’s Economy and External Relations Department, local partners the Jersey Hospitality Association and the Chamber of Commerce, working alongside the High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda in London, the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association and the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.
Senator Farnham said: “Our ambition is for this to be a long-term partnership which will provide employment and professional development opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda hospitality professionals during their low season and, at the same time, offer recruitment opportunities for Jersey companies.”
Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Fernandez said, “We are excited to be signing onto this partnership that will create and support rewarding employment and training opportunities in such an important economic sector for both Antigua and Barbuda, and Jersey. We are certainly encouraging those trained in hospitality to apply. This is a platform to show-off your work and demonstrate the quality of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism product.”
On Wednesday an online portal was launched through which Jersey hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses will be able to advertise vacancies to Antigua and Barbuda staff.
On March 21, a webinar will be hosted by the Jersey Hospitality Association and the Chamber of Commerce, and Antigua and Barbuda partners, the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute and the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association to promote the opportunity.
