How a Caribbean Travel Auction Is Helping Young People Build Hospitality Careers

They’re bidding on vacations—but what they’re really doing is building futures.

Across the Caribbean, a special kind of auction is quietly making a big difference. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) has kicked off its Spring Caribbean Travel Auction, with luxury hotel stays up for grabs—and every winning bid helping young hospitality professionals take their next step forward.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) has launched its annual Spring Caribbean Travel Auction, and while the spotlight may be on luxurious getaways and island escapes, the heart of this initiative lies in its mission: investing in the future of Caribbean hospitality.

More than 40 hotels and resorts from across the region—ranging from beachfront boutiques to five-star retreats—have donated over $145,000 worth of stays and experiences. The auction, open until May 15, gives travelers the chance to win stays in destinations like Aruba, St. Lucia, Curaçao, the British Virgin Islands, and beyond.

But for the CHTAEF, these vacations are just the beginning.

All proceeds from the auction go directly to educational and professional development programs for Caribbean hospitality professionals. The Foundation’s mission is clear: to help talented individuals across the region build lasting, impactful careers in hospitality.

One of the key beneficiaries of the auction is the new Caribbean Professional Development Program, a partnership with Switzerland’s Les Roches—one of the world’s top hospitality management schools. The initiative allows rising professionals to continue working while pursuing high-level training, setting them on a path to leadership roles in just a few years.

Another major initiative supported by the auction is the Caribbean Employee Empowerment Program. Focused on practical, on-island training, it’s designed for staff and supervisors aiming to sharpen their skills and improve guest experiences. Since 2019, the program has reached more than 2,500 workers across the region—from Antigua to Grenada.

And for many young professionals just starting out, the Foundation’s scholarship program opens doors to world-class institutions such as Cornell, Johnson & Wales, and the University of the West Indies. These scholarships have helped students pursue degrees in culinary arts, hotel management, and tourism development—many of whom return home to take on key roles in their communities.

The stories behind the numbers are what drive this effort: a hotel clerk in Barbados rising to a management role, a culinary student from Dominica training in New York, a supervisor in St. Lucia leading guest service training after completing a CHTAEF course.

The travel auction may end on May 15, but the impact will last much longer.

“Hotels from across our vibrant region have stepped forward with generous contributions to our Caribbean Travel Auction again this year,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, Chairwoman of CHTAEF. “This pivotal fundraiser, augmented by the unwavering support of our strategic partners and sponsors, fuels programs that profoundly impact the lives and careers of our Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals.”