“We all know that nonresident workers fill most of the jobs in this industry,” Hyatt Regency human resources director and Northern Marianas Trades Institute instructor Josephine Mesta said.
She said nonresident workers are equipped with experience and skills.
“We also know that we lack the experience and skills they have. That’s why we have them helping us in the development of our islands,” she told NMTI students during their promotion ceremony last week.
Mesta said nonresident workers will have to go home someday.
“Are we prepared and equipped to run the CNMI?” she asked.
She noted that the Hyatt is now helping train NMTI students for future jobs in the hotel industry.
“Being instructors for the hospitality and culinary courses at NMTI was one we decided to be involved in because that’s our business, and we think we’re good at it,” she said.
Twenty-one NMTI students were recently promoted for completing courses in culinary arts while 14 in the hospitality and tourism program level I course were likewise promoted.
Mesta said students who enrolled in the introduction to hospitality course learned what is expected of a hotel employee in food and beverage.
“We anticipate extending the culinary program to our kitchens, so students can get hands-on training and will be able to have the basic knowledge when they apply for entry level positions,” she said.
She added that Hyatt will continue working with NMTI and will ask the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands to recognize the institute’s culinary arts and hospitality and tourism programs.
