NASSAU, BAHAMAS June 10, 2024—In an effort to connect airport concessionaires with a pool of quality job candidates, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) and the Department of Labour recently collaborated to host a job fair. The event was held at the National Training Agency on Gladstone Road.
More than 15 employers, including major retail and food & beverage companies operating from Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), were present and conducted on-the-spot interviews. The job fair saw an impressive turnout, with some 555 job seekers registering ahead of the event.
Vernice Walkine, President & CEO at NAD said the fair came about to address a pressing need for airport stakeholders to have access to quality employment candidates. Addressing the gaps in employment at LPIA is even more critical as the airport begins an exciting journey to becoming a 5-star facility.
“It’s important for us at LPIA to ensure that we have good employees because the airport is really all about improving the passenger experience, ensuring that we provide good customer service and we’re looking for good persons to help us achieve that,” Walkine said.
During the five-hour event, the Department of Labour’s team worked closely with NAD to ensure that all candidates had the proper documents and moved seamlessly through the process.
Matthew Knowles, Manager of My Ocean at LPIA commended NAD and the Department of Labour for facilitating the event and recognizing the important role airport workers play in the overall tourism product. “LPIA is the first impression that a tourist has of The Bahamas and its last impression. That’s very important.”
Knowles continued: “We are ahead of the curve in the tourism industry, there’s no question about that and LPIA is a reflection of that. As Bahamians we know what we are doing, especially in tourism and servicing the visitors to this country.”
Simone Thurston, Manager of the Public Employment Services Unit, Department of Labour thanked the team at NAD for partnering on the initiative. Her department also used the opportunity to augment their database in the event candidates are unsuccessful in securing employment at LPIA.
Given the positive feedback and successful outcome of the job fair, NAD and the Department of Labour are exploring opportunities for future collaborations. Plans are already underway for additional job fairs and recruitment events to continue supporting the employment needs of the airport and its partners.
# # #
Video link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fUGCRZU8a1HVfMXnb7sTidjM1kxZRE2U?usp=sharing
Speakers:
- Vernice Walkine, President & CEO, NAD
- Charlotte Knowles-Thompson, Marketing Coordinator, NAD
- Simone Thurston, Manager of the Public Employment Services Unit, Department of
Labour - Dion Miller, Food and Beverage Operations Manager, John Bull Group of Companies
- Matthew Knowles, Manager, My Ocean
Photos attached.
Photo Caption 1: LPIA Concessionaires participate in Job Fair to fill roles at airport outlets
Photo Caption 2: LPIA and the Department of Labour Connect Airport Tenants With 500+ Job Seekers
Photo Caption 3: Department of Labour teams up with LPIA to welcome more than 500 job fair candidates
Photo Caption 4: Hundreds turnout for LPIA concessionaires job fair held at the National Training Agency
Photo Caption 5: Job seekers connect with potential employers at LPIA Job Fair