133 boys learn social skills

The annual Boyz2Men social etiquette sessions held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Grand Cayman was another classy affair.

It was a great opportunity for 133 boys from across the Island to learn social skills in fine dining situations.

Skills they learnt included how to correctly hold cutlery, which bread plate and glass to use, table manners, passing and offering food, posture and positioning for dining and napkin etiquette.

Ritz manager Pratik Vyas said: “At the Ritz-Carlton our ladies and gentlemen are the most important resources in our service commitment to our guest. We sincerely appreciate all the students who came and showed their interest in learning the art of social etiquettes. We are always committed to investing in our local talent and nurture them.”

Banquet director Marius Lazar conducted the session for the social protocols. John Gray High School, the hub from which the program Boyz2Men started, had 71 boys at the session. Several of the boys wore neckties and were smartly groomed.

Christopher C. Murray, school counsellor at John Gray High, is the founder of the program. He said: “This year was exceptional, as, it’s the most boys we have ever had in our program. The program warmly welcomes the Hope Academy Institute with 14 boys who recently joined.”

The Clifton Hunter chapter of the program hosted 50 boys at the training along with 12 boys from Hope Academy. The training is geared towards the boys having a night of fine dining with their mothers in March to tie in with Mother’s Day. Each boy will be required to escort their mother that evening and practice the chivalry and etiquette taught to them.

Hope Academy student Steven Stewart said: “Etiquette should be taught at all schools so that students like me can become aware of our body language and the messages it may convey to others. At the recent etiquette training at The Ritz Carlton Hotel, I learned socially acceptable behaviours and appropriate conversations while dining. Overall, it was a good experience.”

Jordan Dias from John Gray High said: “It was a very good experience and fantastic customer service also Jan Carlos Hernandez mentioned that he learned a lot about table etiquette which he believes will help him in the future.”

“I had an awesome time, it was a wonderful experience,” said Javon Stanley of Clifton Hunter High School. Sian Lewis said: “The experience was very enriching and allowed us to see the operations of a hotel. The etiquette training gave us knowledge on how to eat like gentlemen, as well as social graces in formal dining. I am glad that I was given the opportunity and will use this knowledge in the future.”