HANMI recipe: A mix of work, training

The Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands has urged the CNMI government to develop the island’s overall educational system by providing meaningful work-based learning opportunities.

In a position paper, the association recommended to put more emphasis on vocational, trade and apprenticeship programs which would prepare the local community three to five years from now for a gradual transition in the private workforce.

While at the same time improving academic programs, HANMI said attitudes, work ethics and commitment among the local workforce needs further development.

Developing programs to hire and train more local people is a priority of the hotel association, said Ron Sablan, president of HANMI. It has organized the Society for Human Resources Management which allows managers to discuss employment issues, share training programs and learn about applicable laws and regulations affecting employment.

HANMI is also a member of the American Hotel & Motel Association which allows it to have access to nationally-produced training materials now being used in the businesses.

As an early orientation for young children to the hotel industry, HANMI has created Camp Manhoben which operates during the summer months as a community benefit project for the past two years.

HANMI has also created the Adopt-a-School program and are working on developing a new scholarship/internship program called Hoteliers 2000. In addition, the association participates in community job fairs and on the job training programs through the Job Training Partnership Act.

Most HANMI members, HANMI said, also encourage secondary education by paying local employees’ tuition expenses after completing job related courses.

“HANMI believes that education and training are the necessary tools needed for the local workforce to be equipped at facing the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said HANMI.

As the community grows, HANMI emphasized the need to ensure that roads, utility systems, parks and other public facilities are maintained and upgraded for residents and visitors. It added that care must be taken in these efforts to protect the natural and historical assets of the CNMI.

HANMI supports the extensions of the airport runways at Rota and Tinian to adequately accommodate direct flights. Such improvements must be made for the CNMI to continue to be a competitive and attractive destination.

The association noted the improvements already undertaken in reducing delays in the foreign arrival section by increasing the number of custom’s officers on duty at peak hours.

Other areas which HANMI believe must be improved include training for airport personnel, signage to ease visitor movement such as Hafa Adai and Welcome signs from plane to customs, visitor information program, handling of lost baggage procedures, handling of curbside arrivals and departures and local pipe-in music.

“Currently, passengers arriving at our airports are not always in a welcoming environment that demonstrates an island sense of place. Steps must be taken to create brighter and more colorful baggage areas,” said HANMI.