In commemoration of ‘International Women’s Day’ an awareness programme was organized for the female students of our neighbouring schools, namely St. Anthony’s Girls College, Mawilmada Central College, Samudradevi Balika College, Risikala Aesthetic College and Mahaweli Navodya. The programme was conducted by two guest speakers emphasizing the theme ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality’. We took the opportunity to increase awareness among the attendees of the possibilities available in the hospitality industry; including the fact that it offers equal opportunities for all and the current dearth of workforce in the hotel industry. The speakers emphasized the ‘equal opportunities for women in the hospitality industry’ and also how to ‘unleash inner strengths to transform ourselves to be equal in society’.
Mahaweli Reach Hotel made a presentation on the opportunities that are available in the hospitality industry with many new properties and rooms being added on to cater to the influx of tourist arrivals. Our own staff in the kitchen, housekeeping and restaurant departments shared their experiences with the school children discussing about the challenges at work as females and giving them an insight into the industry with the intention of encouraging them to join the hospitality industry in the future.
We are firmly committed towards educating and developing the younger generation. We believe that it is only by engaging them that our country can move towards a more productive and committed workforce.
We also believe in creating awareness among the youth of our country on the specific benefits of the hospitality industry. With this in mind, presentations were made on hotel operations, food hygiene and health and safety in the hospitality industry to the students from the National Vocational Authority, Moneragala, Paranagama Central College, Jambugahapitiya, Rivisanda Central College, Ussapitiya, and also to the medical students of the Department of Community Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Peradeniya. The students received an insight into tourism & hotel management. We also had a visit from Nepalese delegates arranged by the Provincial Council of the Central Province together with the Regional Economic Development Authority; they were provided an orientation in respect to the main operations of a hotel such as the front office, housekeeping and food and beverages operations including active service operations in the restaurant.