With scholarships available and the highly anticipated reopening of the Fairmont Southampton next year, Bermuda’s hospitality industry is full of potential.
Stephen Todd, CEO of the Bermuda Hotel Association, hopes people will seize the opportunity. One way to prepare for the upcoming job openings is through the Bermuda Hotel Association Adrian Hassell Memorial Scholarship. An annual award, it is valued at up to $25,000 and is granted at the discretion of the scholarship committee to one or more applicants pursuing an undergraduate degree in hospitality or hotel management.
Open to candidates of all ages, the scholarship requires a minimum 3.0 GPA and acceptance into an accredited university.
More than 100 new positions will be available across the industry next year. While the Fairmont Southampton is expected to rehire many of its former employees, their transition will leave vacancies at hotels and restaurants where they have worked since the resort was shuttered by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Mr Todd explained.
“So, while one hotel benefits from an influx of experienced staff, there will naturally be vacancies at the properties where those individuals have been working since the Fairmont closed,” he said. “That’s something we are actively working to manage and balance.”
JOBS FOR BERMUDIANS
Although guest workers will help fill some roles, the BHA’s priority is to see more Bermudians step into hospitality careers. To encourage this, the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club will soon host a job fair aimed at both entry-level applicants and experienced professionals.
For those who may not have previously considered a career in hospitality, training and development opportunities are widely available.
“Our role is primarily an administrative role, working on behalf of all of our association member properties,” Mr Todd said.
“We collaborate closely with the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Employers’ Council, the international business community, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Ministry of Economy and Labour, as well as our partners, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and also our social partner, the Bermuda Industrial Union.”
HONE YOUR SKILLS
Bermuda has 41 registered guest houses and hotels, with 27 BHA members representing more than 90 per cent of the island’s available rooms. Mr Todd emphasised that hospitality careers go far beyond the most visible frontline roles.
“What we provide is obviously training on property through the respective talent and culture departments of a given hotel,” he said.
“So there’s the opportunity to be trained on the industry and hone your skills on a particular position there.
“Also, we work very closely with the Department of Workforce Development, and we do expand on the programmes that the Bermuda College offers as a means of providing a foundation for individuals who then look to gain employment at a given property.”
WORK AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND
Despite these opportunities, a common misconception persists that hotel work is seasonal with limited career growth. Mr Todd was clear in setting the record straight.
“That’s not the case in the vast majority of positions,” he said.
While front desk agents, bellmen, servers, housekeepers and bartenders play crucial roles in hospitality, many other career paths exist.
“Obviously we require electricians, plumbers, HVAC for heating and air conditioning; we have actuarial positions, we have accounting positions, we have human resources positions, sales and marketing — the list goes on and on.
“So the perception that it’s only the short list of positions is an incorrect one.”
Although Bermuda’s tourist season runs from April through September, Mr Todd encouraged anyone interested in the industry to get started now.
“We ideally want to get individuals involved and on board as soon as possible. They don’t have to wait until April 1, as an example, to join us. We’re looking to recruit individuals now, especially if there’s a training component required, because we want to ensure that they’ve got the necessary skills and opportunities to perform at the required level prior to them joining a property when it is very busy accommodating guests.”
GET YOURSELF HIRED
He suggested that people reach out to the Department of Workforce and Development to see what positions are available.
“Whenever we’re looking to fill positions, we advertise for them. And the requirement is that if we’re unable to fill them with a suitable applicant locally, we have to demonstrate to the Department of Immigration that we’ve exhausted our efforts in attracting and retaining individuals locally before we can apply for a work permit.
“So our focus is to identify and hire Bermudians and spouses of Bermudians as quickly as possible and as soon as possible as a first priority to build the positions.”
Only when hoteliers can demonstrate that has not been successful, are they allowed to hire from overseas.
“What everyone needs to recognise as well is that we’re in a globally competitive environment,” Mr Todd added.
“It’s not as easy as it may have been in past years to identify and to recruit individuals from other countries, because this is a global shortage that the industry is facing.
“A government overseas might not necessarily be receptive to having their nationals work overseas. They may have similar challenges themselves and wish to retain that talent within their country.”
