STATIA GET’S READY FOR TASTE OF THE CULTURES ON MAY 26

STATIA GET’S READY FOR TASTE OF THE CULTURES ON MAY 26

In photo: Charlie lopes, Staff member STDF

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius (May 18, 2016) -- St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation (STDF) and the St. Eustatius Business Association (STEBA) will host the first Statia Taste of the Cultures event on Thursday, May 26, at the dock in Lower Town, starting at 6:00pm. A parade of flags, choreographed by St. Eustatius Historical Gem Dancers, will start off the event.

The taste of the Cultures is billed as a community experience, a cross-cultural event, exhibiting multiple nationalities. Ten groups will participate in the first event representing, among others, Curaçao, Aruba, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Barbados, and Statia with an international twist.

“We want to create an atmosphere where all cultures on the island can unite, for united we are stronger,” said Winston Fleming, STEBA President.

“From tasting snacks and having a cold drink from various cultures to engaging in conversations with like-minded people from all walks of life, is the concept behind the event,” said Teena Lopes, STDF Public Relations Officer.

“With the birth of this event, visitors, as well as locals, will have the opportunity to taste the flavours of various cultures.” “Statia, a tiny island with a population of around 4000, has over 40 different nationalities. How best to enjoy each other, then bringing these various cultures together with food, art and traditions, to learn from each other and above all, taste each other’s national dishes,” said Maya Leon Pandt, Product Development and Human Resources Manager.

This food-filled fun day is part of STDF’s monthly tourism awareness programme. Its purpose is to increase/build tourism alertness on the island and at the same time, highlight different aspects of tourism that exists locally. Taste of the cultures is expected to take place on the last Thursday of the month.

“This will be an eye-catching extravaganza for all to enjoy. We encourage folks to come along with the kids and treat their taste buds,” said Fleming.

STATIA TASTE OF THE CULTURES - First addition

TOURISM FOUNDATION ATTENDS HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE ON ANTIGUA

 Product Development and Human Resources Manager Maya Leon-Pandt and Office Assistant Sharmin Turner prior to departure.

TOURISM FOUNDATION ATTENDS HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE ON ANTIGUA

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius (May 11, 2016) --St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation (STDF) will be attending the eight Tourism Human Resources (HR) Conference, which will be held May 11- 13 at Jolly Beach Resort and Spa in Antigua. The theme of the conference is “Making Excellence a Habit; Service, Loyalty, and Profitability in Caribbean Tourism.

The conference is to bring together tourism practitioners from both the public and private sectors, human-resource professionals, tourism educators/trainers and consultants, as well as tourism and hospitality students of tertiary institutions, to share strategies and best practices on areas and issues affecting the tourism and hospitality sectors, to provide updated information on various aspects of tourism’s development, to enhance skills and to allow opportunities for professional networking.

Product Development and Human Resources Manager Maya Leon-Pandt and Office Assistant Sharmin Turner at the Opening ceremony this morning.

STDF Product Development and Human Resources Manager Maya Leon-Pandt and Office Assistant Sharmin Turner will attend the three-day conference. “I attended the HR Conference before and it has a wealth of information on employee relations especially in the hospitality field. Useful information that applies to everyday working life,” said Pandt.

Attendees can learn from speakers of international and regional acclaim, who will provide information on the development of a sustainable tourism industry to position the Caribbean as a desirable, year-round warm-weather destination. STDF’s public relations officer Teena Lopes said a key part of the conference is the forum where tourism and hospitality students have an opportunity to showcase, in an interactive way, their knowledge of the importance of tourism to the Caribbean.

According to the information listed on the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) site, onecaribbean.org, This year’s programme will include two interactive and practical master classes facilitated by “very knowledgeable and dynamic” experts. One master class will seek to enhance participants’ understanding and awareness of how the process of continuous improvement can contribute towards the pursuit of service and business excellence while the second master class will delve into the topic of how to increase customer and brand loyalty.