Focus educa tion on
RUTHLYN MATTHIAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANTIGUA & BARBUDA HOSPITALITY TRAINING INSTITUTE (ABHTI)
The Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute (ABHTI) is considered the premier hospitality institution in the Eastern Caribbean and prides itself on training individuals for excellence in the country’s most important economic sectors; tourism and hospitality. Offering associate degrees in subjects such as resort management, culinary arts, food and beverage management, a variety of shorter courses are also available. We spoke with Executive Director, Ruthlyn Matthias, to find out more about the institute.
Tourism dominates the economy in Antigua & Barbuda. Can you give us a brief introduction about ABHTI and its role in this important industry? ABHTI has the challenging but rewarding role of contributing to the country’s human capital in its most important sector. The institute provides academic training and practical instruction for the promotion and encouragement of ethical and professional standards in the hospitality and tourism industry, and thus caters to the changing needs and advances in the sector. We continue to build on the great insight
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of our industry pioneers and as such we are able to provide industryfocused training to youths (or even the older demographics) who are eager to become movers and shakers in the tourism industry. ABHTI is considered the premier hospitality training institution in the Eastern Caribbean. What would you consider the forte of your school? Our forte lies in several areas. Firstly, in creating the spirit to excel. We create opportunities for faculty and students to pursue excellence. They get opportunities to exhibit or
showcase skills in local and regional competitions, conferences etc. This helps foster the spirit of maintaining excellence in the hospitality sector. Sustainability is also key. The institute has built on an early start in hospitality training as it was the only training facility of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean for a very long time. The mandate has always existed to improve on its offerings with a focus on maintaining the vision of the ABHTI as the premier hospitality training institute in the Caribbean region and beyond. Another area of strength is that of industry-driven offerings in luxury
