Dart trainees take hospitality skills abroad through international exchange
07 October 2026
Two graduates of the Dart Hospitality Training Programme (DHTP) recently travelled to St. Augustine, Florida as part of Dart’s Hospitality Training Exchange Programme, where they gained international experience across hotel operations, tourism attractions, culinary arts and event management.
The exchange, held over two weeks between August and September, gave 2023 DHTP graduate Andre Washington and 2025 DHTP graduate Sauntie Kelly the opportunity to learn from hospitality professionals and educators in a different market while experiencing the destination from the perspective of a visitor.
Washington and Kelly participated in lectures at Flagler College, covering resort management, lodging and attraction management. They also gained hands-on work experience at The Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel, the Pirate & Treasure Museum and BlackFly The Restaurant; and shadowed wedding and event professionals at the Colonial Quarter and Old Town Trolley Tours through a partnership with Historic Tours of Americas.
Beyond the formal training they received, the pair had the opportunity to explore the area, visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse, zipline through Alligator Alley and participate in a walking ghost tour.
“Hospitality is about much more than the service we provide in our hotels and restaurants,” said Dianne Conolly, Dart’s hospitality programme manager. “Giving our trainees the opportunity to travel, learn from another hospitality market and experience a destination as a guest helps them return to Cayman with a broader perspective on what it takes to create a memorable experience for visitors – it helps them understand how their individual role fits into the overall experience of a guest’s holiday.”
The Dart Hospitality Training Exchange Programme was launched in 2023 to provide Caymanian employees who demonstrate excellence in their roles with opportunities for cross training overseas.
“It’s an investment in their personal growth, confidence and future careers,” added Conolly. “It also allows them the opportunity to be ambassadors of their home country while learning how another destination approaches tourism and guest experiences.”
The programme was initially developed around synergies between Dart’s hospitality properties in Anguilla and the Cayman Islands and has since expanded to include Flagler College.
In a reciprocal exchange, two hospitality students from Flagler College also visited Grand Cayman over the summer and gained practical experience through hands-on training at Bonny Moon Beach Club, Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach, Hotel Indigo® Grand Cayman and Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa.
“This exchange programme hits all the marks we strive for at Flagler College – experiential learning, hospitality across cultures and authentic relationship building,” expressed Zachary Cole, assistant professor and program director of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Flagler College.
The Dart Hospitality Training Exchange Programme forms part of Dart’s broader commitment to developing local talent and investing in people by providing pathways for professional growth.
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