Mckeown hospitality training institute opens

Kumasi, Sept 24, GNA - Mckeown Hospitality Training Institute that will offer courses in hotel management, marketing, airline ticketing and reservation was on Friday opened at Oduom, a suburb of Kumasi. The opening of the school also marked the matriculation of the first batch of 50 students to undergo six months training. Elder Kwaku Adu Aninkora, Chief Executive Officer of the institute, said he conceived the idea of establishing the institute in 2003. He said he could, however, not put his dream into reality until this year and that the setting up of the school was in line with the government's vision of upgrading the skills and staff in the hospitality industry.

Elder Aninkora said service delivery in the country, especially in the hospitality industry, was far below international standard and that a visit to hotels and restaurants would confirm this assertion.

"In our part of the country, most hotels and restaurants employ people with little or no knowledge of what is expected of them. Little or no training is given them, they only learn a few tricks from their colleagues."

The Rev Mike Etru of the Church of Pentecost told the students to come out with flying colours, being the pioneers of the institute. Barima Kwasi Offe Okogyeasuo II, the Paramount Chief of the Kokofu Traditional Area, told the students to demonstrate, after their course, that they had learnt something by the changes they would bring into the hospitality industry.