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Omar Smith |
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In a few short years, he had worked at some of the top-rated
all-inclusive hotels in the Caribbean including Sandals
and Couples resorts. While Smith had no trouble getting work experience
(which included
being the best man in over 200 weddings), a good education
was what he was really looking for.
Smith was working as a guest services
agent and night
auditor at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios when he got his lucky
break.
"My general manager and mentor was a George Brown College
graduate and he sought the help of Brian Cooper (former
Dean of Hospitality and Tourism) to assist me in furthering my education," says
Smith.
That connection led to Smith relocating to Toronto in
August 1996 and enrolling in upgrading courses. The
next summer, he went directly into the final year of the two-year
Hotel Management program
at George Brown.
"It was a great cultural and learning experience. George
Brown offered an intimate learning environment, which
enabled me to have personalized attention from my professors," he
says. "A
fundamental aspect of this hospitality program is to
develop students into life-long learners in their respective
discipline."
So while Smith promptly found employment at the Marriott Bloor Yorkville
hotel after graduation, his positive experiences at George Brown left
him wanting to learn more.
Following the advice of a former co-worker and friend,
Smith enrolled at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin,
Texas on a soccer scholarship while continuing to work at the Marriott
in Toronto over
Christmas and summer breaks.
"It was a hard and delicate
balance between training, playing games, working on
and off campus while maintaining immaculate
grades," Smith admits.
However, this did not dissuade him from taking his
academic ambitions to another level. With the hospitality
industry suffering
from the aftermath of 9/11, Smith felt the timing was
right to continue academically. In 2002, he began studying
a Masters of Education at Concordia
University in Austin while still working at other hotels
within the Marriott chain.
"I felt this was a good
strategic move to get me prepared professionally and
academically when the bear market
was over," he explains. "The recession proved to
be my Achilles heel when, in
November 2003, the (hotel) company decided to restructure
and eliminate my position."
For three months, Smith was unemployed with mounting
university bills.
But he bounced back quickly, landing a job with Omni
Hotels as a night auditor. Within two months, he
was promoted to Assistant Front Office Manager, winning
the Manager of
the Quarter award.
In 2004, he completed the Masters
of Education program and relocated to Toronto. Smith
is now the Assistant Hotel Manager of the Hilton Toronto Airport. ”I am also proud to be employed as a part-time hospitality facilitator
at George Brown in Hospitality and Tourism —where it all began."
We encourage you to visit the Alumni Association.
Or, contact information the Hospitality & Tourism Alumni association
at:
Hospitality & Tourism Alumni
300 Adelaide St. E.
Toronto, ON M5A 1N1
To learn more, visit the George
Brown College Alumni page.
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