Antigua and Barbuda has invested significantly in its tourism industry, the main driver of its economic growth and expansion for decades.
The industry has become increasingly competitive with many countries across the Caribbean bidding to gain the leading edge in a sector that has provided a livelihood for many households across the twin island nation.
In an effort to ensure that the country’s tourism continue continues to fulfil its potential and experience the type of growth that would sustain the country’s economic fortunes, the government prioritised the training and development of the human resource element of the industry.
In 2009, a contract was signed for the expansion of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Training Institute, a primary source for many years of the talented and skilled human resource needed to ensure the tourism industry remained the major contributor to economic development.
The project was funded by the European Union to the tune of EUR2.64 million and in a very broad sense represented an investment in improving the quality of service across the sector and increase the levels of income for the diverse group of Antiguans and Barbudans making a living from the industry.
The upgrade and expansion project for the Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Training Institute, which is located at Dutchman’s Bay on Antigua’s scenic north east coast, not only endeavoured to expand the physical plant of the training facility but poured resources into curriculum development by way of training staff in managerial and pedagogical skills. New staff were also recruited to boost the effort of providing the very best training to the future workers in the hospitality industry in Antigua and Barbuda.
The project ultimately helped to shape and complete the government’s vision of making the facility the premier hotel and tourism training institute in the entire OECS.
The project, following a period of through and widespread consultation with a wide cross section of stakeholders and various experts in the construction and hotel industry, work proceeded in carrying out the undertaking over three phases.
