to establish a Hospitality Experience Center for Curaçao
WILLEMSTAD- August 4, 2022 – Recently ROC Mondriaan, a leading educational institution in the field of hospitality and tourism, the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) and the Curaçao Hospitality & Tourism Association (CHATA) met to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the three parties. Mr. Hans Schutte, ROC Mondriaan Chairman Executive Board, CHATA Managing Director, Mrs. Maria-Helena Seferina-Rojas and CTB Counterpart Statutory Director, Mr. Muryad de Bruin, gathered at the ROC Mondriaan office in The Hague for this important moment. This MoU defines a sustainable cooperation between the parties in the form of a hospitality experience center. The hospitality experience center, a foundation registered at the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce as the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre (CHTTC) entails a training institute for students and professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry. The establishment of a Hospitality Experience Center, using the expertise of all parties, will improve the alignment of hospitality and tourism education with the sector as well as improve the higher level of service that is given to tourists.
CHTTC facilitates SBO programs in the field of hospitality and tourism. The practical part of the programs will take place in the experience center (a training hotel in Curaçao). CHTTC will work closely with various educational institutions including Maris Stella SBO, Nilda Pinto SBO and the University of Curaçao Dr. Moises Da Costa Gomez (UoC), the government, the business community (including hotels) and other partners.
During the upcoming months, the local training hotel will undergo a complete renovation to start receiving guests. Education focusing on practical guidance, as well as theoretical classes will be provided by professionals together with local teachers from the SBOs and the UoC. The programs and training will help shape and prepare youngsters and adults in Curaçao and the region and offer them a prospect career within the hospitality and tourism sector. Also, the tourism sector will benefit from highly qualified hospitality and tourism professionals.
Special thanks go to the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao for their involvement since the start of the conversations, the Ministry of Education (OWCS) for their continuous support to ensure a good connection between education and the labor market and the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) for facilitating the setup of the foundation through the CTB.
