Against the backdrop of Jamaica’s robust tourism sector, a landmark education initiative from Sandals Resorts is bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world professional experience for hundreds of secondary school students across the island. The company’s two properties, Sandals Dunn’s River and Sandals Royal Plantation, recently opened their doors to student groups from seven Jamaican high schools, giving young learners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale luxury resorts operate every day.
The immersive tours are the core of the brand’s long-running Tourism in Schools programme, an initiative designed specifically to introduce secondary students to the breadth of career paths available in hospitality while supporting them to complete their required School-Based Assessment (SBA) capstone projects. Unlike traditional classroom learning, the on-site visits put students directly in contact with working departments and frontline resort teams, turning textbook concepts into tangible, practical knowledge.
During their visits, students traveled through every core division of the resorts, from housekeeping and guest room operations to food and beverage service. A key focus of the tour was the companies’ industry-leading sustainability work, which gave students a first-hand look at how modern tourism balances guest experience with environmental stewardship. They got an up-close view of the resorts’ recycled water treatment systems, energy-saving conservation practices, and learned about the rigorous process of earning and maintaining EarthCheck certification — the global gold standard for scientific verification of sustainable travel and tourism operations.
Kevin Clarke, General Manager of Sandals Dunn’s River, emphasized that the program fills a critical gap in tourism education for Jamaican youth. “Most students have only ever learned about hospitality through textbooks and lectures,” Clarke explained. “Seeing daily operations unfold in person, talking directly to our team members who work in these roles every day, that’s what gives them real insight into how dynamic and rewarding a career in this industry can be.” He added that the excitement and curiosity the students bring to the visits reinforces his confidence in the future of Jamaica’s tourism sector. “Their energy reminds us every time that the future of Jamaican tourism is in excellent hands,” he said.
Roxanne Brown, the property’s Learning and Development Manager, noted that the program is structured to connect academic curricula directly to on-the-ground professional realities. “A lot of students don’t realize just how many different roles make a resort run,” Brown explained. “From entry-level housekeeping and culinary positions to senior management and specialized sustainability roles, there is a career path for every interest and skill set here. Beyond that, these visits help students understand just how central tourism is to Jamaica’s national economy, and how much opportunity the growing sector holds for them.”
Seven schools from across the country have participated in the program in the most recent cycle: Clarendon College, Foga Road High School, Central High School, Jamaica College, Iona High School, Muschett High School and Cornwall College. Participating teachers have praised the initiative for shifting students’ perspectives on the hospitality industry, saying the on-site experience cements classroom lessons in a way that lectures never can.
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with young learners staying engaged throughout the tours and asking thoughtful questions about career pathways, daily operational challenges, and the core skills needed to build a successful career in tourism. Many students shared that seeing their textbook lessons come to life in a working resort was deeply inspiring, and the chance to gather on-the-ground data and experience for their SBA projects in an authentic setting is an opportunity they could not get in the classroom alone.
Today, the Tourism in Schools programme continues to grow in popularity and impact, leaving participating students more informed, motivated, and excited about the wide range of professional opportunities waiting for them in Jamaica’s ever-expanding tourism industry.