These trainers began their preparations for the CHT exam by participating in a customized �Train the Trainer� seminar offered through the JHTA�s Human Resources Development project. The goal of the JHTA-HRD project is to increase the professionalism of the Jamaican hospitality industry through professional education and certification. Paul Jacobs, EI�s director, professional certification, and Annette Hernandez, allied programs training consultant, presented the �Train the Trainer� seminar to staff members of the JHTA-HRD unit and trainers from resorts in Jamaica and St. Lucia. 

�This workshop came at a very important period in the project�s development,� said J. Anthony Hall, JHTA-HRD project director. �Most of our HRD officers have since been able to deliver training sessions with more confidence, professionalism, and subject knowledge.� 

The four-day �Train the Trainer� seminar provided an in-depth look at training. Topics included planning and delivering training, communication skills, interactive teaching methods, support media, and conducting one-on-one training. Participants had the opportunity to practice delivering training presentations, which were evaluated by the seminar facilitators and the other participants. 

�The seminar was very important to me as it provided me with new and dynamic ways to conduct training,� said Cecile Hyatt-Reynolds, training manager at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. �It has assisted me in my career path as I have transferred from a position in the front office to the training department in search of new challenges.� 

�Most of the participants in this workshop were relatively new trainers, so it was a good opportunity to explore the issue of adult learning and the training process, as well as to get practice in training delivery,� said Shona Heron, a JHTA-HRD staff member who participated in the seminar. �This workshop was an important professional development activity for trainers in the hospitality industry.� 

Jacobs pointed out that the seminar emphasized the important role of training, particularly its impact on daily operations. He also noted that trainers who are able to effectively transfer knowledge to employees benefit their company and ultimately, the entire hospitality industry. 

�The commitment by the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association was only the beginning of a global trend in investing in those who influence front-line employees by improving their ability to pass on vital job skills,� said Jacobs. �The next step is to validate their skills through professional certification. The Certified Hospitality Trainer confirms each trainer�s ability and knowledge, enhancing his or her image as a hospitality professional.� 

When the Certified Hospitality Trainer program is finalized in the spring of 2001, these Jamaican training professionals will be the first to take the CHT exam. 

�The JHTA-HRD project has as a central focus the need for certification in the Jamaican hospitality industry to provide a more professional and progressive approach to careers in the sector,� explained JHTA staff member Suzanne Thomas. �The CHT is then an important outcome of the project for the participants of the �Train the Trainer� seminar, who will become examples of �walking the talk� with their certification.� 

The Certified Hospitality Trainer will be the newest addition to the Educational Institute�s extensive line of hospitality training resources. Other products include the Certified Hospitality Department Trainer (CHDT), introduced earlier this year; Train the Trainer videos and seminars; a Distance Learning course in hospitality training; and a new training textbook scheduled for publication in early 2001. 

For nearly 50 years, the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association has been the premier source for quality hospitality education, training, and professional certification, serving the needs and advancing the excellence of hospitality schools