Will you find your dream job at career fair?

New year, new career — Bermudians are being encouraged to pursue a profession in the hospitality industry.

A careers fair aims to match people’s skills and talents with the variety of jobs on offer, from restaurants and bars, to hotels and entertainment.

Places are filling up fast for the event, the island’s first careers fair dedicated to the hospitality industry.

Hosted by the Bermuda Hospitality Institute, industry employees such as servers, spa bosses and front desk managers will be there to answer questions at a series of panel discussions.

The event is at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Saturday, December 18.

Dynamic

Karla Lacey, BHI CEO, said: “This is the first expo for the entire hospitality industry.

“This event will feature interactive booths and presentations, dynamic speakers and workshops and fascinating demonstrations, as well as the opportunity to get to know potential employers and peers.”

In the morning there will be three panel discussions, plus presentations and interactive sessions.

Industry participants include Wyman Lindsay, restaurant manager at The Reefs; Lauren Purvey, spa and fitness manager at Tucker’s Point Hotel and Spa, Russell Griffith, Cabana bar manager at Fairmont Southampton and Kellisha Edwards, Front Desk manager at Newstead Belmont Hills.

A discussion for high school students entitled What is Service? features spa and restaurant managers, head bartenders and servers.

Ms Lacey said: “We will be opening students’ awareness of the potential careers in the industry. Young Bermudians in the industry will also talk about what exactly service is.”

The interactive session will try to match students’ skills, interests and talents with the various careers available.

A tour of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess will let youths see exactly what each job entails.

A session dubbed Young and Ambitious is for college students and features hotel front desk managers and other staff talking about why they chose a career in tourism.

Ms Lacey said: “There will also be a session to show students how their areas of study can translate to different careers in the industry.”

The Own It panel for working professionals will feature Bermudian hospitality business owners.

Experience

Ms Lacey said: “They will talk about how to turn your passion into a means of income.

“The session will also show how people’s education and experience can align with their career and financial expectations.

“It’s never too late to change your career and we will be giving pointers on how to move from one industry to another at different points in your life.”

The sessions will run from 9am to noon, with breakfast and lunch included.

Pre-registration online is required as only 200 places are available. The sessions are free.

In the afternoon, the expo will be opened up to everyone as a careers fair.

Ms Lacey said: “We will have employers from throughout the industry representing hotels and accommodation, restaurants and dining, entertainment and activities, plus supporting services such as transport and wholesale distribution.”

There is no pre-registration for this event, which also features culinary demonstrations and music from the Chewstick Foundation.

Ms Lacey said: “Gavin (Djata) Smith will be debuting a song which really reflects the hospitality of Bermuda.

“We also have door prizes and it is all free. There is something for all age groups. This is an opportune time because with the state of the economy as it is, people are wondering what their options are.

“Over the past 10 years young people have become disengaged from the hospitality industry, so we are trying to regain that interest.

“Hospitality is the largest employment industry in Bermuda and is an industry which is really open to everyone, no matter what your talents, skills and abilities. We want every Bermudian to know that there is a place for them if they want it.

“This expo aims to show how vibrant and diverse the industry is.”

There are more than 4,600 people working in hospitality across the island.

Ms Lacey urged people interested in attending the expo morning sessions to register online by Monday as they are already “half-full”.

She added: “It’s the last weekend shopping day before Christmas but coming for a couple of hours will be worth your time.

“It could be the best Christmas present you can give yourself — finding out what the island has to offer and your place in it.”

The BHI Hospitality Career Fair and Expo is at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on December 18.  Pre-booked sessions take place between 9am-12pm, with the careers fair open to everyone from 12-2pm. Get more details and register at www.bhi.bm