How One Caribbean Hotel Is Supporting a University Dream
From Cayman to the UK
By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor
A nineteen year-old Caribbean student is on her way to university in the United Kingdom, thanks in part to a scholarship from Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
Amy Thompson has spent the past several months learning the ins and outs of the hospitality industry at the popular Cayman Islands hotel, and will receive $8,000 per year to study hospitality management at Britain’s University of Portsmouth over the next four years.
“We’re not a large hotel with a significant budget, but we take the Choice Hotels mantra to heart,” said General Manager Tom Mason. “We want people to feel welcome, wanted and respected. That goes for our associates, business partners, as well as our guests. Managers at Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach encourage employees to aim high and achieve their potential.”
Thompson said that working alongside Mason, as well as the other members of the staff team, has been a great experience for her.
“The knowledge I have gained from working at Comfort Suites Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman is opening doors for my future,” she said. “I do recommend more Caymanians get involved with the tourism industry. It’s the main income here for the Cayman Islands, so why not be a part of something big like that?”
Thompson is also guaranteed employment for one year at Comfort Suites, where she will have the opportunity to hone her career skills.
