Panama, August 1, 2018. Taking advantage of the weekly stop of the Monarch ship in Puerto Colón (Panama), more than 30 students from The Panama International Hotel School have participated in a training day in the areas of customer service and gastronomy promoted by Pullmantur Cruises, Diageo and Global Brands.
The participants are members of Learning for Life, a program developed by Diageo and intended to provide valuable life skills and training to people with limited resources in four employment areas that include: bartending, service industry, sales techniques and entrepreneurship.
During the session, Renato Debeuc, Hotel Director of the Monarch, explained to the students how the Hotel Department is organized on board the Monarch, the different positions and responsibilities, and the importance of providing excellent guest service. In fact, the cruise line has received the Excellence Award for Best Crew for the ninth consecutive year. They also had the opportunity to learn more about how the kitchen area is structured on board, both from a personnel and logistical perspective.
The students also attended a culinary demonstration led by Executive Chef Estanislao L. Canapi and Pastry Chef Borgura Uppalaiah. They also enjoyed a cocktail demonstration by Félix Cuevas, winner of WorldClass Panama 2015, who participated in the Learning for Life program and is currently an instructor at The Panama International Hotel School.
Pullmantur Cruises President & CEO Richard J. Vogel says it is “very rewarding to be able to bring our business closer and present our strengths in gastronomy and customer service to future industry professionals and those who are currently training in Panama.”
“I trust that this day on board has helped these young people to delve a little deeper into this wonderful world and also to broaden their professional horizons, considering the possibility of developing their career within the exciting cruise industry, which will increasingly need professionals due to the current expansion,” Vogel adds.
For his part, Patrick Flook, Diageo's Sustainability and Responsibility Manager for the Caribbean and Central America,mentions that "Diageo's contribution to the communities where we operate seeks to achieve a positive sustainable impact wherever we are." Through Learning for Life, "we create opportunities for high-potential young adults by filling vacancies within the food and beverage industry's value chain, reducing the gap between the skills and competencies of young people required by employers; the program provides us with tools not only for our careers but also for life," he affirms.
This action is a significant step in engaging renowned companies by generating field visits for Learning for Life students, a program that has supported more than 100,000 people from 35 countries, so that they can learn about the importance of responsibility, the qualities and skills required in competitive and high-level work environments in order to pursue national and international experiences.
