Fairgrounds to offer openings for hospitality graduates

Fairgrounds Holdings, the top exhibitions and events hosting boutique is aiming to empower upcoming hospitality graduates by offering them opportunities to learn more from the industry while at the same time molding them to become well rounded professionals who can compete anywhere in the world.

The company that is owned by Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) and Botswana government has been helped by a consultant to come with a structured programme which will make it possible for graduates in various sectors of the hospitality industry to spend between three and six months at the company on an attachment basis. “There are several opportunities in the beverages, food, events management and culinary arts sectors which graduates can learn more about from Fairgrounds,” noted new Chief Executive, Gorata Gabaraane in her maiden meeting with the press recently.

In this regards, the company is planning to partner with local tourism and hospitality schools for the programme to become a success. It will appear there will be even more opportunities for graduates in the hospitality sector as Fairgrounds is planning to expand its facilities which will ensure they become an up market hub for events, networking, conferencing, entailment and eatery. 

A pre-feasibility study on the expansion model has been made but details such as the costs and modalities for expansion are yet to be made public. “That will be made in the medium term,” said Gabaraane.
Fairgrounds sits on an area of 34 hectares, but only 20 percent of such land is utilised, said Gabaraane who has worked for Cresta, a listed hospitality group before joining the company. Meanwhile, the new broom at Cresta has also revealed they will be partnering with industry players to organise top events and conferences which will attract both local and international interests.

Fairgrounds is better known for hosting acclaimed events such as the annual Consumer Fair and the Global Expo organised by Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC). ,
The company said it would continue to return to the community through their Corporate Social Investment activities, added Gabaraane.