Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) Conference to Partner with YCI

COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, USA, April 17, 2014 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Burba Hotel Network (BHN) and the Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) conference have announced their support of the International Tourism Partnership’s (ITP) Youth Career Initiative (YCI) in Latin America. BHN has almost three decades of experience developing and producing the world’s most prominent gatherings of the hotel and tourism investment community, and their Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA) event represents the perfect partnership for YCI.

YCI is a 24-week education program that provides disadvantaged young people with life and work skills. YCI is made possible thanks to a unique partnership with the international hotel industry, as participating properties provide the training and work experience opportunities.

Eligible candidates are typically aged between 18-21 years-old, have recently finished high school and are considered to be at-risk of exploitation. Each country program is tailored to suit the local needs of its young people – YCI is used as a tool to tackle or prevent issues such as youth unemployment, social exclusion, poverty, and exploitation.

BHN and HOLA have committed to support the YCI program via an annual donation for three years. The money will help provide more opportunities for young people in Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica, with a view to moving the program into other countries.

Alberto Canovas, Head of YCI said: “Being part of contributing to a young person’s success is rewarding and meaningful, and can be life-changing. BHN’s support will make a difference in a very big way. Previous graduates have told us, ‘I learned how to dream again, how to be somebody in life’ and ‘what a great chance to change my life."

“Today more than ever, businesses around the world are recognizing that a commitment to social responsibility is a critical part of their operational plans and business success, and BHN are doing their bit to help change the futures of dozens of young people.”

Stephen Farrant, ITP Director said: “YCI is a win-win in every way. Hotels develop a future pipeline of employable talent, the lives of young people are changed and local communities benefit. From graduating students to hotel general managers and leadership, many people have witnessed the lasting impact of this program.”

Additionally, YCI has proved to be a very powerful way of motivating, retaining and developing existing hotel staff who relish the opportunity to engage in the program as teachers and mentors. Success rate: 85% of graduates either go into employment or further education.

Research shows that for every direct beneficiary of the program, an average of four others in the family unit benefit indirectly from the resulting social and economic impact of the program.

Jim Burba, at BHN said: “There is not a person that we have spoken to about YCI (inside or outside of the hotel industry) who isn’t impressed with the goals, objectives and success rate of the initiative. The results of our participation in India have been amazing, and we are pleased to be expanding our efforts with YCI into Latin America.”

Added Bob Hayes, co-founder of BHN: “At HOLA, we are committed to support YCI financially and also to shine the spotlight on this important program to help increase the involvement of the hotel investment community. Supporting YCI is philosophically aligned with a key BHN principle of shared success. Our industry will be more successful when programs like YCI succeed, and we’re pleased to be a part of such a valuable program.”

Notes for Editors:
The YCI program is designed to be delivered as part of the regular, day-to-day operations of a full-service hotel, built on the back of existing training and development courses the hotels regularly offer to their staff, and it is supplemented with external courses.

Non-profit and public organizations help to identify and recruit the most deserving candidates from local schools and deprived local communities. They also provide supplementary lectures, while other business sectors are invited to showcase job opportunities that participants could pursue upon graduation, given the transferable skills they learn through YCI.

Bob Hayes
BHN
+1-714-540-9300
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