News > COB Helps to Develop New Bahamahost Programme
COB Helps to Develop New Bahamahost Programme The College of The Bahamas has helped to develop the new Bahamahost programme under which participants will be more heavily trained in delivering exceptional customer service as a necessary part of maintaining The Bahamas' competitive tourism advantage. The newly rebranded signature programme of the Ministry of Tourism was launched today, more than three decades after it was established by former Tourism Minister the late Sir Clement T. Maynard. When it was implemented in 1978, Bahamahost was designed to meet existing needs. At the time, that meant primarily educating participants about the history and civics of The Bahamas so that they, in turn, could inform visitors. According to the Minister of Tourism & Aviation, Sen. the Hon. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, back then, the competition in tourism was much less. But times have changed and current needs have forced an adaptation of the programme for it to remain relevant and responsive.  "The Islands of The Bahamas are some of a few destinations globally that have true, near real time assessment of what our customers are saying about us. This information is captured on our immigration cards and the critical data output gives us the valuable information we need to ensure that we are always on target or close to the mark." According to research from the Ministry of Tourism, at least 10 percent of the tourists who visit The Bahamas leave feeling dissatisfied because of poor customer service. The curriculum for Bahamahost has undergone a significant shift to focus on training participants to connect with the customer in delivery high quality service. The College of The Bahamas provided consultancy services in the development of the new programme, leading a team of education, tourism, and human resources professionals in the comprehensive and intensive effort. This involved the design and implementation of a delivery system for the curriculum and conducting orientation sessions to introduce trainers to the programme. "We saw this as a very special opportunity for our experienced faculty and staff members to continue to provide the leadership and guidance that we know we are capable of providing in a vitally important area," said College President Janyne M. Hodder. "This helps us to continue to support the economic, social and cultural empowerment of our citizens to compete in a global and integrated economy." For six months – between May and November – the Director of Industry Training at the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute and project director Valderine Hamilton, led a working committee of College of The Bahamas, tourism industry, education and human resources professionals in a comprehensive and intensive effort.  In its more than 30 years of existence, almost 30,000 individuals have graduated from Bahamahost. These individuals, in many cases, are the first and primary points of contact for the tourists who come here and their service and attitudes factor heavily in the perceptions visitors form about this country as a tourism destination. "The College is proud to have been involved in the development of a new Bahamahost programme and looks forward to the vast benefits that I know this country will reap as a result," said President Hodder.
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