InterContinental Hotels Group as part of its professional development program launched a plan to provide its employees in Latin America with the possibility of attending the Panama International Hotel School inaugurated in April of this year. This initiative aims to boost the career in the lodging industry for eight IHG employees, who will travel from different hotels in Latin America to attend the program.
Tom Murray, IHG's COO for the Americas, says it's important for hotel group managers to show employees that they appreciate all their effort. "We are proud to support them in their goals to become hotel leaders of tomorrow, giving them the opportunity to attend Panama's first hospitality school.
The eight IHG students and employees come from Colombia, Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Sao Paulo, who were specially selected by the Executive Committees of their hotels and IHG Latin America's corporate office. The selection criteria were based on their seniority in employment, their job performance and their enthusiasm to progress in the company.
Jorge Ignacio Torres, heads the Security Department of the InterContinental Medellin in Medellin, Colombia, for three years. He will expand his knowledge of hotel operations by attending the Reception Specialization program. Fernando Alessandrelli, from the InterContinental of Buenos Aires, is supervisor of the Club Floor, who with his participation in the Reception Specialization program proposes to expand his responsibility in the area of the Hotel Rooms division. For her part, Carmen G. Marin V., receptionist for three years at the Crowne Plaza Santiago in Santiago, Chile, will apply for the position of Reception Supervisor when she finishes her training at the school.
Yalta B. Rodriguez, who has worked at the InterContinental V Centenario Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic for 15 years, aspires to the Certificate of Hospitality Operations; he currently serves as the hotel's Sales and Banquet Manager. Likewise, Yuri Adames, Accounts Payable Manager who has been working at the InterContinental de Santo for three years, aspires to the position of Assistant Controller when the school's comprehensive Reception program ends. Like most of his colleagues, Chester A. Fuentes M, Night Manager of the Crowne Plaza Managua in Managua, Nicaragua, for two years, aspires to become Reception Manager.
The Brazilians, José E. de Souza, manager of Room Services of the InterContinental Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, who has worked for 12 years in the hotel wants to be in the future the Restaurant Manager since he will attend the specialized program in Food and Beverages of the hotel school, while Daniel E. Botelho, night shift reception supervisor at the Holiday Inn Parque Anhembi in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will attend the school's Reception program .
In addition to the selection of its employees, IHG offered the new educational institution two one-year scholarships for the Panama International Hotel School, intended for students who are citizens of Panama. The new international hotel school will be an integral part of the future of the hospitality industry, not only in Panama, but also throughout Latin America. The institution will be dedicated to education, research and innovation. The campus has state-of-the-art facilities, computer lab, kitchen and demonstration bar, and a fully equipped auditorium.
