HMTI hosts inaugural Industry Connect Day in St. Vincent

The Hospitality and Maritime Training Institute (HMTI), part of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), held its first ‘Industry Connect Day’ on October 21, 2026. Branded as ‘HMTI Unlocked: Season 1’, the event aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional industry expectations.

Professionals from the hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, and food and beverage management sectors engaged with students through interactive discussions and practical demonstrations. The initiative is intended to become a recurring event held once every semester to provide students with insights into career paths and the daily realities of these fast-moving industries.

Ms. Stacy Balcombe, Head of the Institute, issued a call to Vincentian professionals working both regionally and internationally to mentor students. She emphasized that even brief engagements could significantly impact the future of the next generation of workers. Participating partners included Holiday Inn Express and Suites, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hotel and Tourism Association, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority.