The Heart College of Hospitality Services
History & Development
The
Runaway Bay HEART Academy commenced operations in November 1986. This
institution was established with the objective of satisfying the demand for
skilled workers in the hospitality industry. The first batch of eighty (80)
trainees commuted daily to the Academy from various communities in the parish
of St. Ann. Another group of one hundred and twenty (120) trainees started
their courses in March 1987, and this constituted the first residential batch.
The training programs at that time consisted of six (6) months of theoretical training and six (6) months of practical experience in a hotel, where trainees were allowed to serve guests and carry out other customer service base duties. The original complement of courses was Front Office Operations, Food & Beverage Service, Housekeeping, Food Preparation, Hotel Maintenance and Landscaping, which were augmented by the introduction of the Villa Training course in 1987. Professionalism continued to shine throughout 1989 as for the first time in Jamaica’s history; a local team was invited to represent the country at the “Taste of Canada Competition”. The team of five (5) graduates and one trainee displayed the delights of local cuisines with finesse. In the process, they earned the admiration of viewers, rave reviews and seven awards. In January 1992, the academy signed an “Articulation, Training and Transfer of Credits” agreement with Hocking Technical College of Ohio. This agreement ensured that credits by HEART graduates were recognized as satisfying prerequisites for advanced study.
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Highlights of the Official Launch
On Thursday, February 20th, 2014, the Heart College of Hospitality Services was officially launched. Graduates and students teamed up to showcase their talent for this landmark event.
GRADUATES FROM THE HEART COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY (FORMERLY THE RUNAWAY BAY HEART ACADEMY) WHO HAVE GONE ON TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN CULINARY CIRCLES BOTH HERE & ABROAD WERE ON HAND TO GIVE BACK!
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Runaway Bay HEART Training Instituional partnerships with other overseas college including:
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Workplace partnerships in the initials stages were established with:
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The Institution expanded its training program in 1993, with the launch of the Commis Chef programme. This programme was born out of a survey conducted which revealed that the number of local chefs was inadequate. The programme which includes one (1) day of classroom delivery at the institution and on the job training in the kitchen, throughout various local hotel chains, has graduated over six hundred (600) individuals since its inception, several of whom are now chefs at the Executive Chef and Sous Chef levels throughout the local hospitality industry. The collaboration with our industry partners continues to be significant in our training and trainees/students at all levels are placed in various hotels in order to satisfy the needs of training.
The change of name was effected in 1995, to reflect the expanded training opportunities offered, at various levels for skills. The new name: Runaway Bay HEART Hotel & Training Institute. Over the last decade, Runaway Bay HEART Hotel & Training Institute has made great strides. Our training hotel has grown from twenty (20) rooms to fifty –six (56) in 2000 and operates as a full service hotel offering great Jamaican hospitality service. Its conferencing capabilities offer state of the art facilities that accommodate up to 200 persons banquet style. |
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In 2002, Runaway Bay HEART Hotel & Training Institute became the first hotel with a training Institute to be awarded green globe certification in environmental management. In 2005 the hotel and institute was awarded the Caribbean Tourism Organization award for sustainable tourism
Currently otheir enrolment is in excess of one (1,000) thousand trainees annually, accessing training at various levels. In 2003, a partnership agreement was signed with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), through which advanced training in Culinary Sciences could be accessed locally. The first cohort of Executive Chefs graduated in November 2007 from the programme, with Certified Executive Chef designation which is equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Culinary Management. Today all successful graduates of the programme are gainfully employed locally and internationally.
Over the years, Runaway Bay HEART Training Institute has evolved and is recognized as the premier hospitality training institution on the island and perhaps in the region. Our graduates are sought after both locally and on the international market. In 2005 and 2007, two of our graduates represented Jamaica in the World Skills Culinary Competition, in Helsinki, and Japan respectively.
The twentieth anniversary of the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel & Training Institute initiated a review of programmes, to more accurately reflect the demand of industry and how to respond to these demands. In this regard, our programmes are continually redesigned to meet these expectations, and new courses at advanced levels have been introduced to cater to the growing demand for highly skilled workers at various levels. As the evolution of the institution continues, with its charge to be more relevant and responsive to labour market needs specifically for the Hospitality Sector, a name change has been initiated to fit its new strategic direction – The HEART College of Hospitality Services.
Currently otheir enrolment is in excess of one (1,000) thousand trainees annually, accessing training at various levels. In 2003, a partnership agreement was signed with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), through which advanced training in Culinary Sciences could be accessed locally. The first cohort of Executive Chefs graduated in November 2007 from the programme, with Certified Executive Chef designation which is equivalent to an undergraduate degree in Culinary Management. Today all successful graduates of the programme are gainfully employed locally and internationally.
Over the years, Runaway Bay HEART Training Institute has evolved and is recognized as the premier hospitality training institution on the island and perhaps in the region. Our graduates are sought after both locally and on the international market. In 2005 and 2007, two of our graduates represented Jamaica in the World Skills Culinary Competition, in Helsinki, and Japan respectively.
The twentieth anniversary of the Runaway Bay HEART Hotel & Training Institute initiated a review of programmes, to more accurately reflect the demand of industry and how to respond to these demands. In this regard, our programmes are continually redesigned to meet these expectations, and new courses at advanced levels have been introduced to cater to the growing demand for highly skilled workers at various levels. As the evolution of the institution continues, with its charge to be more relevant and responsive to labour market needs specifically for the Hospitality Sector, a name change has been initiated to fit its new strategic direction – The HEART College of Hospitality Services.