PHOTO: Sheraton Macao Junior Chefs baking their own cookies. (Courtesy of Starwood Hotels and Resorts)
For those youngsters interested in how hotels operate, Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central has introduced a new initiative called Junior Hotelier that brings kids face-to-face with the hotel's front desk, culinary and housekeeping teams.
The weekend programs, running from April 4 through June 28, will show kids from 4 to 12 years old how to run a hotel via personal, first-hand experiences with Sheraton Macao's employees in China. On Saturdays and Sundays between 2:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., kids can take on food and beverage roles such as Junior Barman or Junior Chef, as well as develop their skills as Junior Agents or Junior Housekeepers, completing simple tasks under the leadership of Sheraton Macao's expert staff members.
For example, Richard Lao, Chef de Partie, will help Junior Chefs roll and shape dough, prepare icing and decorate cookies. Sheraton Macao's bar staff will teach Junior Barmen how to create layered and shaken "mocktails," allowing them to taste some secret ingredients along the way. Junior Agents will learn how to check in guests and handle luggage, as well as learn the finer touches that improve guest relations such as setting up a room for a special celebration. And for those interested in housekeeping, Sheraton Macao's housekeeping staff will teach them how to make a Sheraton Macao Sweet Sleeper Bed, as well as share the secrets behind creative towel folding techniques that form family-friendly animals and stylish displays.
Of course, kids will don job-appropriate Junior Hotelier uniforms during the experience, such as a chef apron, chef hat or housekeeping apron.
At the end of each activity, Junior Hoteliers will collect a stamp for their Sheraton Macao Junior Hotelier Passport. Junior Hoteliers who finish all four activities and collect the four corresponding stamps will receive an "I am a Sheraton Macao Junior Hotelier" T-shirt, as well as a Sheraton Bear, a DreamWorks bag and an animal photo frame. The uniforms are also available for purchase.
"The Junior Hotelier at Sheraton Macao is a special program that takes edutainment to new heights," said Mr. Josef Dolp, Sheraton Macao Hotel, Cotai Central managing director, via a release. "It is a rare opportunity for children to know the joy we have every day of creating exceptional stays and culinary experiences for Sheraton Macao guests, and for them to better understand the inner workings of our hotel operations."
It's no wonder why Macau hotels such as Sheraton Macao are ramping up their family-friendly offerings. The destination has experienced a significant rise in family travel in recent years, and that trend doesn't figure to go away anytime soon.
"This program further underscores our commitment to creating memorable experiences for our guests by connecting them to their local travel experiences, friends and families," Mr. Dolp added. "We hope that these entertaining and insightful activities may inspire kids to someday pursue their own careers in hospitality, or at least have fun performing the various hotel roles as they learn."
Registration for the Sheraton Macao Junior Hotelier program is available at the SPG Family check-in counter starting at noon on weekends only. A single daily session costs MOP150 (less than $19) per child. A weekend session costs MOP250 (a little more than $31) per child.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
