MONTICELLO – Monticello High School Academy of Finance (AOF) students spent the day at Kartrite Resort & Waterpark on Tuesday, but this was no swim day field trip, the 16 Monticello High Seniors and Juniors were taking part in a joint effort coordinated by Monticello Central School District AOF (MCSD AOF), local consulting firm HospitalityGreen LLC, and the Kartrite Resort to learn real-world hospitality and service experience and explore the opportunities in the field that are available to them after they graduate.
The students spent the morning in seminars with HospitalityGreen trainers strengthening their career readiness skills and practicing some of the more impactful customer service techniques that properties like Kartrite Resort have become known for. Junior MCSD AOF student Trinity Henry said of the morning sessions, “Learning about customer service in class is good but being able to do it hands-on and learn it hands-on makes all the difference.”
The afternoon was spent with directors from human resources, front desk, and aquatics who shared techniques, tips, and processes on how to be empathetic, professional and effective and strive to give each customer the best experience possible.
The students finished the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the resort suites, conference center, kitchen/staff channels, and the arcade and water park.
The entire MCSD AOF team was impressed with the facilities and Kartrite Resorts generosity, particularly Jeff Lagares, Director of Human Resources, who not only helped organize the day and share the impact and mission of Kartrite but took all of the students on a tour of the building.
“We are excited to be a part of this community and with the opportunity to offer residents new hospitality-focused career paths. Attracting new employees and providing to them the education and training needed to thrive in this industry is a passion for us. We are excited with 2020 and the years to come in which our guests and employees will continue to learn what our statement Be The Difference means to us at the resort and the reflection of it to all of our neighbors,” said Lagares.
