WILLEMSTAD – Thirty students have officially started hospitality training programs at Vivente SBO in Curaçao, offering a practical solution to the ongoing staff shortage in the island’s hotel and restaurant sector.

The students spend four days a week working as full-fledged employees in hotels or restaurants, while every Monday they attend classes at Vivente SBO, located at the Marnix College in Cas Cora.

This dual approach provides restaurants and hotels with immediate extra staff while helping the students develop into qualified hospitality professionals.

Three Specialized Programs

Participants can choose from three different programs:

Junior Chef de Partie (15 months)

Junior Sous Chef (24 months)

Allround Hospitality Attendant (24 months)

For students without prior experience in hospitality, a crash course in basic skills was offered in August. This ensured they could begin their practical training at partner businesses with confidence.

The matching between students and learning companies is facilitated by Impacto, which has been expanding partnerships with local restaurants to support the program.

With its hands-on training model, Vivente SBO aims not only to nurture young talent but also to help address the structural shortage of skilled staff in Curaçao’s hospitality industry.