HANMI, WIA tie up to hike local employment

At a meeting of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Workforce Investment Agency pledged to work closely with hoteliers as part of efforts to integrate the local workforce into tourism industry careers through job referrals, customized training programs, subsidized on-the-job training, and other support from the agency.

WIA executive director Jesse Stein was invited to be the guest speaker for HANMIs general membership meeting held on Aug. 11 at the Hotel Nikko Saipan.

“We want to work closely with business organizations like HANMI. We have prepared individuals to work in mainstream employment. We have ways to help you invest in the local workforce,” Stein told hoteliers and HANMI’s allied members during the meeting. “It all boils down to partnership with the industry. Just let us know what you need,” he said.

HANMI chairwoman and Century Hotel general manager Lynn A. Knight noted that WIA has already been successful in referring local candidates to several hotels, and offers assistance with entry level and other positions.

“Many of our hotels are participating in WIA’s summer programs and we want to encourage our members to be fully aware of what other support is available, such as employment referrals throughout the year.

“Especially as our major tourist market is expected to decline with the pullout of JAL, hoteliers are looking for any and all ways to be efficient and connect with the community. We welcome the support we can receive from organizations like WIA that make it easier for us to hire and train local residents,” said Knight.

Stein said WIA received $700,000 from the Employment Training and Administration office of the U.S. Department of Labor in July to be used in various programs. New funding is also expected in October, he said.

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands is a non-profit organization that was formed in 1985 to provide a forum for the sharing of ideas and common issues for the CNMI’s hotel industry.

Also during the meeting, it was noted that the group will celebrate HANMIs 20th anniversary on Sept. 10 with a reasonably priced dinner-concert featuring ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and his musical trio.

Shimabukuro, who is currently touring Japan, is a fourth-generation Japanese-American who currently resides in Hawaii. The event will be held at World Resort Saipan. Tickets for the dinner will go on sale shortly, according to the Association. For more information, call (670) 233-3773. (PR)