Cayhil – The Director of the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association – Ms. Zaandam –  visited the NIPA Hospitality Sector on Thursday April 9th, 2015 during their practical lunch. The lunch was prepared and served by the students under the expert guidance of Mr. Alex Adoptie, Culinary instructor and Ms. Renate De Weever, Cullinary Coordinator.

The visit of Ms. Zaandam is part of the SHTA’s initiative to highlight educational institutions and programs related to the Hospitality industry.  “Hospitality is not an industry and profession to be taken lightly. It is also not a profession that is suitable for everyone. In order to be able to provide the best service to our guest visiting and residents of our island, it is imperative that personnel is educated accordingly. Institutions such as the NIPA can greatly contribute towards elevating and maintaining the standard of service on St. Maarten”, said Ms. Zaandam. Earlier this year the SHTA signed an  MOU with USM, where the pledge was made to continue to support Hospitality Education.

During the lunch the director received a tour of the facilities and was able to speak with the students. As a former Restaurant Techniques teacher Ms. Zaandam provided feedback on the service and offered words of encouragement to the students. The Director and the SHTA would like to thank the NIPA Hospitality department for a very enjoyable lunch experience. “I look forward to seeing these students excel. I commend their teachers for their patience and dedication towards education the future of Hospitality in Country St. Maarten’, said Zaandam.

The SHTA is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners, and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information please contact our offices at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com and www.visitstmaarten.com.