Celebrating two years of Lospitalite: A journey of excellence |30 January 2024
As we commemorate the second anniversary of Lospitalite, it's time to reflect on the incredible journey that began on January 28, 2022. In its inaugural year, Lospitalite, the Seychelles hospitality programme, has achieved remarkable milestones, cementing its place as a beacon of excellence in the tourism industry.
The journey kicked off with meetings introducing registered businesses to the Lospitalite programme and inviting partners to embark on this transformative expedition. The commitment was evident, and in March, the first customer care training commenced with the immigration department, setting the tone for what would be a year of growth and collaboration.
One of the key highlights was the launch of tourism clubs in various schools. By the end of March 2022, the Lospitalite committee, led by the principal secretary for Tourism Sherin Francis and director general for destination planning and development Paul Lebon, witnessed the launch of the Anse Etoile primary tourism club. The engagement with schools continued in April, with Mont Fleuri primary school proudly launching its tourism club, showcasing the programme's impact on the younger generation.
May marked the resurgence of the training sessions, with the first group of tourism department staff receiving their Lospitalite training. The momentum continued, and by the end of May, over sixty staff members proudly became Lospitalite certified, receiving their certificates in a ceremony held at the Olympic House at Roche Caïman.
Programme's reach expands
The programme's reach expanded beyond schools and government departments. Notably, Lospitalite welcomed Craig Francourt from CTF Consultancy as a trainer, bringing a wealth of experience in capacity-building, youth engagement, and PR & Communications. The vibrant and engaging sessions left the Tourism Seychelles team well-motivated.
In 2022, a series of customer care trainings were conducted, which included organisations such as the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority.
The Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) also had its moment in the spotlight. Its Lospitalite customer care training was held at Maison Collet, with the director general for destination planning and pevelopment, Mr Lebon, and the former commissioner of SRC, Veronique Herminie, in attendance to show their support.
Meanwhile, over on Praslin, the journey to building a solid foundation for exceptional customer service continued with 13 representatives from self-caterings and guesthouses, small hotels, and car hires in attendance, eager to soak up all the knowledge and expertise that Terry Lablache had to offer.
Lospitalitedid not just stay confined to training sessions; it engaged with the community. The Lospitalite team also hosted interactive games at the Orion Mall, spreading the spirit of hospitality beyond the usual training environments.
The programme continued to grow, with partnerships formalised with various establishments, including L’Escale Resort & Spa Seychelles, Air Seychelles, and Anantara Maia Seychelles.
The involvement with schools continued, with various clubs launched, events being organised, and partnerships formed. The programme's impact on education and youth engagement was further emphasised as students showcased their talents through fashion shows, dances, and other activities.
As the year unfolded, Lospitalite became a symbol of service excellence, culminating in the first Lospitaliteawards ceremony in October 2022 at Kempinski Seychelles Resort, Baie Lazare, marking a momentous occasion to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in hospitality.
Partnerships with renowned establishments like Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino, Four Seasons Seychelles, and Anantara Maia Seychelles showcased the programme's ability to foster collaborations between the hospitality industry and educational institutions.
And then came the new year for Lospitalite. This new journey began with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment, as highlighted in the activities that unfolded throughout the year.
On January 31, 2023, the Lospitalite team convened for its first meeting of the year, expressing gratitude to the tourism businesses that embraced Lospitalite tourism clubs. Held at the picturesque L'Escale Resort Marina & Spa, Seychelles, the session featured tourism principal secretary Sherin Francis, conveying appreciation for the continuous support from the Ministry of Education and tourism businesses.
The year commenced with the first Lospitalite customer service training on Praslin on February 6, 2023. This successful session marked the beginning of a year filled with impactful training initiatives. On Mahe, the Lospitalite family welcomed the International School Seychelles and its adoptive partner, Hilton Seychelles Labriz, broadening the programme's reach and impact.
First anniversary of establishment of Lospitalite tourism clubs in state and private schools
Lospitalite Lafyerte Sesel celebrated a major milestone in February– the very first anniversary of the establishment of the Lospitalite tourism clubs in all state and private schools. All partners gathered together in a grand ceremony at the ICCS to commemorate the event, recognising the tireless efforts of all those who contributed to making this dream a reality.
During the ceremony, both Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, and Sherin Francis, principal secretary for Tourism, acknowledged the hard work and dedication of all stakeholders involved who are paving the way for a brighter future for the industry. Minister Radegonde was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the young club members, stating that the new generation of students will breathe new life into the industry and foster a more service-oriented and hospitable environment.
Alongside the jubilation of the one-year anniversary of the Lospitalite tourism clubs, a double celebration unfolded as the Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin, announced the launch of a brand new category in this year’s Service Excellence Award – the Lospitalite Tourism Club Award. The award would recognise and reward the school that makes the best effort to promote a culture of hospitality and sustainability among the pupils.
During the unveiling of the new award category, Dr Valentin stressed the importance of incorporating hospitality and sustainability into the curriculum. With this new award category, the Lospitalite tourism clubs have even more reason to strive for excellence and inspire Seychellois youth to pursue a career in this dynamic and rewarding sector.
As the year progressed, numerous achievements and partnerships unfolded. Notably, by the end of February, the second group of SCAA staff had completed the Lospitalite customer care training, a testament to the programme's commitment to excellence. The expansion of the Lospitalite family continued with the launch of the La Misère school's tourism club in March, facilitated by ist adoptive partner, Cat Cocos.
Essence of community service
Acknowledging the dedication of industry leaders, Constance Lemuria's general manager, Bruno Le Gac, once more showed unwavering support to the Grande Anse tourism club through another hands-on activity. The essence of community service was vividly displayed by the Anse Royale primary tourism club in mid-March, as they actively hosted the school dining hall during breakfast and lunch breaks.
Environmental responsibility took centrestage by the end of the month, with the launch of the first beach cleanup activity of the year, a collaborative effort with the Ocean Project, IFS Seychelles, and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). The impact was substantial, with more than 106kg of waste collected, showcasing the community's commitment to sustainability.
April brought creative endeavours from Mont Fleuri secondary school, where students crafted brochures for tourists during a sponsored workshop. This hands-on experience was followed by an unforgettable session of moutya, embodying the vibrant Seychellois culture. Meanwhile, La Digue Island Lodge took an active role, conducting two Lospitalite training sessions for its staff, highlighting the programme's adaptability to diverse establishments.
At the beginning of May, the Lospitalite programme extended its reach to Praslin, organising a Back to Basics customer care training with tourism businesses.
The spirit of collaboration and environmental stewardship was reignited with the Anse Royale primary Lospitalite tourism club organising a beach cleaning activity in April, in honour of Earth Day. The dedication was palpable, aiming to restore the pristine beauty of Fairyland beach, Anse Royale, and Anse Baleine beach.
Around the same time, Persévérance secondary cchool, victorious in the previous Lospitalite quiz competition, secured a starfish excursion with Creole Travel Services. Anse Royale primary's Lospitalite club embarked on the first of four visits to the Four Seasons Resort, engaging in ocean education and conservation with WiseOceans.
June marked the launch of several new Lospitalite tourism clubs, including Baie Ste Anne Praslin's tourism club, hosted by Le Duc de Praslin in collaboration with Hotel L'Archipel Seychelles. The countdown to the Lospitalite Excellence Service Awards in September began, promising a celebration of exceptional service in the Seychelles tourism industry.
As July unraveled, the programme's impact extended to diverse sectors. The Lospitalite team provided customer care training to the Seychelles police forces, enhancing their interactions with the community. The beach squad received certificates for completing a series of Lospitalite customer care training in the presence of esteemed guests, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde.
With sustainability remaining a priority, the last edition of the beach clean-up series on Mahe took place in July, a collaboration with organisations such as IFS Seychelles and The Ocean Project Seychelles.
Later in August, Hilton Northolme Seychelles introduced a programme allowing students from its adoptive Lospitalite tourism club to experience various departments every Saturday. This initiative aimed to unlock hidden talents and passions among the young participants.
The Lospitalite team continued to share its expertise through customer care training sessions. Notable among these was the training for the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) staff, contributing to a culture of excellence in service provision.
As the year progressed, the programme diversified its training sessions, including a half-day training session in collaboration with Travizory. This approach ensured a comprehensive approach to customer care across various industries.
The programme's dedication to recognising excellence reached its peak with the launch of the Lospitalite Lafyert Sesel Service Excellence Awards for 2023. This prestigious event, announced earlier in June, expanded its nominations to include businesses offering exceptional service across all sectors of the economy.
Keeping the momentum going for Lospitalite, November witnessed an educational tour by Anse Royale secondary school at the Jamelah Apartments, Au Cap, celebrating its success in the Lospitalite Tourism Club Awards. The tour included insights into tourism careers, discussions with the Minister for Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, and hands-on exploration of the Jamelah Apartments' operations.
As the year drew to a close, the Lospitalite team conducted the last customer care training for 2023 in December, with active participation from small tourism businesses. The year concluded with a comprehensive review and planning session, involving key stakeholders such as PS Sherin Francis, DG Paul Lebon, and DG Bernard Arnephy.
The journey continues with new partnerships, exciting events, and ongoing commitment. Today, as we celebrate Lospitalite's second anniversary, we acknowledge the dedication of the entire team, the enthusiastic participants, and the numerous partners who have made this programme a resounding success.
Looking ahead, the year promises even more growth, excellence, and collaboration. Lospitalite has not just become a programme; it has become a movement, a testament to Seychelles' commitment to nurturing a culture of hospitality and service excellence.
Here's to another year of success and shared achievements in fostering a culture of hospitality and service excellence in Seychelles!