Hamilton Princess Certifies Six Trainee Servers
Six trainee servers have successfully completed a Food & Beverage Trainee Programme at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, including Deontae Armstrong, Precious Hayward, Tatyana Heyliger Blackwood, Se’ Ri Joell, Khalil Simmons, and Aaliyah Simons.
A spokesperson said, “Six trainee servers have successfully completed an intensive Food & Beverage Trainee Programme at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, receiving certificates and the promise of future work with the hotel.
“The eight week course for junior servers is an intensive and accelerated Food & Beverage Training Programme in world class restaurant hospitality to Bermudians interested in a career with the hotel and is led by Les Ruddock, Outlet Manager at 1609.
“Most of the training was carried out at the hotel’s popular 1609 restaurant and the students were trained in every aspect of high-end service, including table set-ups and clearing, etiquette, VIP management and much more. In addition to shadowing more experienced colleagues, the student servers also studied different cuisines, courses, spirits, wines and cocktails, undertaking numerous quizzes throughout the course.
“The six servers who successfully completed the programme are:
- Deontae Armstrong, a student at Bermuda College, studying Hospitality Management.
- Precious Hayward, a student of Acadia University and a recipient of Green Family Scholarship.
- Tatyana Heyliger Blackwood, a student at York University in Canada where she is dividing her focus between Liberal Arts and Economics & Finance.
- Se’ Ri Joell, a student at Bermuda College, studying Hospitality Management.
- Khalil Simmons, a student at Bermuda College, studying Hospitality Management.
- Aaliyah Simons, a student at Seneca College where she is studying Hospitality Hotel and Restaurant Management and is a member of the varsity soccer team.
“The three students who are currently studying Hospitality Management at Bermuda College will continue to work with the hotel on a part-time basis, structured around their studies. Those studying overseas will have server roles open to them on their return to the island after studies and during holidays.”
Shawn Lekki, Director of Food & Beverage at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, said, “We are thrilled to have been able to put together this special programme for our young servers and give them an incredible foundation for their futures in hospitality.
“With this certification, our servers have taken our accelerated and intensive eight week course in upscale dining service, giving them insight and experience that might otherwise take years to develop. We look forward to working with these young servers for many years to come and can’t wait to see what they do.”
The spokesperson said, “This training initiative comes as part of Hamilton Princess & Beach Club’s continuing commitment to creating career development and educational opportunities for Bermudians.”
A personal shout out to Precious Hayward who gave me and my friends such outstanding service, we had no idea she was in training until she told us, total natural!