July 25, 2012
I had, of course, come to Macedonia to work. So the next morning I met Ante for a complimentary breakfast in the hotel lobby and we were soon joined by Zoran for a final espresso before we began our day. The ride to the other hotel was less than fifteen minutes and we soon arrived at a small hotel just off a small side street. As we parked our car I noticed a group of people having coffee and more than the occasional cigarette at tables in front of the hotel. Each was dressed similarly in white shirts and black pants. It took no great powers of deduction to realize that they were our students. We greeted them as we passed but we were on a mission to ensure that our training room was set up so that class, scheduled to start in only a few minutes, could begin.
The training room was immediately to the left off of the hotel lobby and was a trainer’s dream come true. Just inside the doors was a table for beverages and snacks and a gathering area with tables to socialize. A counter divided the room and on the other side were tables and chairs for all of the students. The room was equipped with computer projection capability as well as a flip chart if you chose to go ‘old school.’ Proper audio setups were in place as were tables for the instructors as well as side tables with all the training materials preset. After a few minutes assuring that all the components were ready to proceed, Ante and I headed to the door of the training room to invite in and greet all of our new students.
The students were just as impressive as the facilities. Zoran’s company had done a great job of screening and selecting candidates for this school. The Celebrity Service Academy had already trained several classes full of future assistant waiters who were already onboard our ships and showing that the five day investment at the front end made all the difference in the world in helping them be immediately successful when they arrived onboard the ships. Since it was my responsibility to do initial ice breakers and to cover the general company service standards, I would spend a majority of the morning teaching the class. These students demonstrated that they were not only eager to learn but brought intelligence, hard work, and experience with them. By the end of the day we had developed a great rapport and comfort. I knew that I needed to head back toward the ship the next evening, but I really wished that I could stay longer with them. After eight hours of classroom work, we turned them loose for the evening while Ante, Zoran, and I went out to find another stellar meal in Skopje. The students were provided room and board in the same hotel at which we trained so virtually all their needs were met in this one-stop shop.
The next morning I returned for just the first hour of class focusing primarily on a quick review of the first day’s material. Again, the experience of this class amazed me. Where early morning reviews can often be challenging this group was quick to respond and dead on in their responses. In their generosity they gave me a round of applause when I left to start my car and plane travel back to the ship. I knew I wanted to return to Skopje to teach, again.
As I have heard that Celebrity hopes to open at least two more of these Celebrity Service Academies around the world to develop new additions in other business disciplines, I believe that my chance to do this again is a very real possibility.
And the adventure continues . . .
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