As part of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Caribbean Tourism Awareness Campaign, we present Kenrick Housen, a young tourism professional working as Manager and Marketing & Sales Manager at Carl’s Unique Inn in Cole Bay, a family-run business that opened in 1996. Housen says he has worked his way up the ladder within the family business which included helping with the cleaning of rooms and working at the Front Desk. He studied at Florida Metropolitan University in Orlando and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in management and marketing.
Kenrick says tourism is an exciting field to work in, and it’s difficult to become bored because the daily experiences are all different: “For example, we encounter tourists every day on the island, by just sharing information and exchanging stories, it’s always a delightful experience knowing you’ve helped put a smile on someone’s face for the day.”
His greatest satisfaction comes from seeing people enjoying the island, its hotels, restaurants, clubs, and everything the destination has to offer. “Tourism starts at home and if we don’t enjoy our lives, it’s almost impossible to help someone else enjoy theirs.”
For young people thinking about pursuing a career in the tourism and hospitality sector, Kenrick advises not only thinking about working in hotels, but also looking at the other vast opportunities the sector offers. Some examples he gives are island/hotel marketing, technology, statistics, research and development, transportation and immigration. “I truly believe everything is connected to our tourism sector in the end.”
“St. Maarten is one of many beautiful destinations in this world, but what can set us apart from anywhere else are the experiences we provide… and if we don’t come together to take care of our product (i.e., the island) and plan for the future, the experiences we offer will suffer. I would urge us all, including government, to not let this happen,” Kenrick concluded.
This profile is one of an eight-part series for the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau’s Caribbean Tourism Month Awareness Campaign.
