Professional Development Opportunity

The CHTA Education Foundation (CHTAEF) has partnered with the prestigious Les Roches Global Hospitality Education to bring a new professional development program for Caribbean hospitality professionals which we would like to encourage you to share with your hotel members.

The program is designed to propel hospitality supervisors and managers to hotel manager or general manager positions within 2-3 years. The online, interactive academic program is designed to be pursued alongside current job commitments, allowing them to accelerate their careers without interrupting them.

Scholarship covers for over 75% of program cost for accepted Caribbean nationals. Candidates or their supporting hotel must fund the remaining US$5,000 program cost. The scholarship is open to any candidates from CHTA Member hotels.

The deadline for applications is August 15, 2021 and the program will begin on September 19, 2021.

The online application can be accessed here:
Kai Manje Restaurant by Ti Kaye Resort earns prestigious Wine Spectator Award for 2021
Kai Manje Restaurant in Saint Lucia recognized for the 8th time by Wine Spectator for an exceptional wine and culinary program

The management and staff of the Ti Kaye Resort and Spa in June 2021 receive news of their restaurant’s 8th Wine Spectator award – “The Best of Award Of Excellence” title for 2021. This prestigious award brings the total number of titles in the “Best Of” Category to six (6) with the first title received in 2015. Kai Manje restaurant stands out in Saint Lucia and the Windward Islands as the only restaurant to receive this esteemed accolade and in the Caribbean, one in a handful.

The Best of Award of Excellence Award title means that wine lists from winning restaurants display excellent breadth across multiple winegrowing regions and/or significant vertical depth of top producers, along with superior presentation. Typically offering 350 or more selections, these restaurants are destinations for serious wine lovers, showing a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team.

Although Kia Manje decided to skip the competition in 2018, they used their off year wisely by revamping their offerings. The restaurant welcomed a new Executive Chef, Mario Martial in 2019, who embraced the authentic creole cuisine that Kai Manje and Ti Kaye is known for and added his youthful flair. When the restaurant reopened in November 2020, after a 7-month closure due to Covid-19, Managing Director Nick Pinnock introduced over 20 hand-picked wines to the wine list as the new “house selection”. These wines paired with a fresh menu contributed greatly to their 2021 win.

There are plans to expand the wine program at Kai Manje and a few members of staff have been selected to receive Wine & Spirit Education Trust wine training. This move will enable a wider swathe of the team to pair and suggest wines at dinner and enhancing the dining experience. Guest of restaurant also get an opportunity to explore the world of wine through a bi-weekly wine tasting held in the underground wine cellar...https://youtu.be/c7Bv_ZizzJs
Ernest Hilaire: "We Will Take A New Look at Tourism"

Newly appointed Tourism Minister, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, has disclosed that under the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration, a new look will be taken at this country’s vital tourism industry.

Hilaire was assigned responsibility for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information when the new Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in last week.

He described the areas for which he has been assigned responsibility as being really critical to the SLP’s plan to transform Saint Lucia and put people first.

“I think you will see a certain direction in keeping with our approach of always putting people first and causing people-centred development, so in tourism we will take a new look at tourism. We will want to promote community participation, people participation – ensuring that tourism is more than just figures, but is also about the earnings for the people of Saint Lucia,” Hilaire told reporters...Read More
COVID-19: Pierre Says Saint Lucia In Precarious Position

Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre has asserted in a Facebook post that Saint Lucia is in a precarious position in the current COVID-19 pandemic, with its health facilities and frontline workers under tremendous strain.

“I urge you my Saint Lucians to follow the COVID-19 protocols and to get vaccinated; the science has shown that it is the only way we will win this war against the virus. We are exploring the possibility of obtaining different vaccines to give our people options. The possible introduction of the Delta Variant on island is frightening,” Pierre wrote...Read More
Cuba allows small and medium-sized private businesses

Cuba's communist government has legalised small and medium-sized private businesses in the wake of mass anti-government protests last month. Under the new rules, enterprises with up to 100 employees will be allowed. President President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba was taking firm steps to update its economic model.

Critics say the government's plans have been accelerated because of July's protests, when thousands turned out to complain of economic ruin. Demonstrators condemned the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and demanded political change...Read More