CARIBBEAN CONSULTING GROUP:: ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN DURING THE QUARTER

1. Needs assessment and development of technical assistance and training plan for the tourism sector

1.1- Development of training and technical assistance plan

In order to have more information about training and technical assistance needs of the tourism sector a meeting was organized with members of Association Touristique du Sud-Est d’Haiti (ATHSE) and a focus group with hotels owners.

1.1.1- Meeting with Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haiti (ATSEH)

• The meeting with Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haiti (ATSEH) has been held on July 15, 2009 at MarChE Jacmel office.
• Three members of the board of directors including its president, CBC’s CEO and MarChE’s regional coordinator have participated to this meeting.
• Its objective was to discuss about training and technical assistance needs of tourism operators and the associations capacity building needs.
• This association has been created in 2002.
• It does not have a strategic plan but has developed an annual action plan.
• It has received the financial support of European Union for the development of a project promoting tourism as a tool for social cohesion in the region.
• It has also benefited from technical assistance of SACO, Canadian Volunteer Corps for the reinforcement of managerial capacities of its members.
• ATSEH organizes two annual special events: a summer festival “Vagues et Lumières” promoting cultural talents and Noel des Artisans exhibiting artisans works.
• ATSEH is looking for assistance for the organization of these special events and others, the development of a tourism promotion program, creation of a website, development of a strategic plan and specific training of its members in hotel management and customer services. A MOU has been signed between ATSEH and CNFA.

1.1.2- Focus group with hotels operators

• The focus group with hotel owners was organized on July 16, 2009, at Cap Lamandou Hotel.
• Nine (9) hotel owners, two (2) representatives of the regional office of the Ministry of Tourism and a tour guide have participated to this focus group.
• Its objective was to collect information on specific hotel management functions and assess needs, satisfactions, motivation and attitudes of hotels operators in term of their enterprise management.
• It was facilitated by CBC’s CEO assisted by the Regional Coordinator.
• A guide was developed for this focus group targeting key management functions related to enterprise development: General management/administration, marketing and sales, human resources, accounting, finances, personal productivity and inter enterprise cooperation.
• For two hours and a half, discussions were held around specific questions related to these themes: management experiences of participants, skills needed to operate the hotel business and assistance needs; employees skills and qualifications, professional training, work organization, motivation, training needs; products and services, characteristics of customers, competitive edge, promotion and marketing strategies, country and region image; accounting system sources of financing, financial situation, business profitability; personal characteristics, human relations, conflict resolution, leadership; joint effort for promotion, equipments and materials supply.
• It was very difficult to focus on entrepreneurs and enterprises strengths and weaknesses in the targeted functions.
• Participants would rather complain on general business climate and external obstacles to the development of their enterprise and sector in the region.
• Only Cap Lamandou has a strategic plan.
• Other hotels do not have any action plan and business plan.
• They operate on a daily basis and do not develop any cooperation among themselves.
• The owner and the manager of Cyvadier Hotel and Lamandou have an academic background in hospitality.
• They operate under their own capital and do not want to work with the banking system because of high interest rates.
• Most owners and managers participating to the focus group lack the basic management skills to operate a business efficiently, train their staff and develop their marketing strategy.
• There is no inter enterprises cooperation among sector’s operators and with other local firms for specific services.

1.2- Training and technical assistance plan for tourism operators

Pursuant to the meeting with ATSEH and the focus group with hotel operators, CBC has decided to develop a training and technical assistance plan focusing on:

• Adaptation of training modules in Best Management Practices for the hotel sector.
• Series of four training on Best Management Practices adapted to the hotel sector: Management, Human Resources Management, Marketing and Sales, Financial Management.
• Diagnosis and strategic plans for small and medium sizes hotels (Diagnosis tools development and strategic plan sessions with hotels owners and staff)
• Development of ITC tools for hotel management and accounting, financial plan for small and medium sizes hotels
• Development of experiences sharing relationships with Port-au-Prince/Pétion-Ville hotels owners and managers (Villa Creole, Karibe Hotel and Visa Logde are already committed to share their management experiences)
• On-site guidance to small and medium hotels in key management functions
• Strategic plan for Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haïti (ATSEH)
• Marketing plan for Association Touristique du Sud-est d’Haïti (ATSEH)
• Quarterly causeries with specialized speakers

GROUPE CROISSANCE CBC CALENDAR MARCHE RESOURCE

 

@2009 MarChE