There are few jobs that encourage employees to move to the far reaches of the world. Twenty-four-year-old Jecoa Tucker, a recent graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Miami, has one of them.Earlier this year, Mr Tucker applied for a managerial position with Fairmont Hamilton Princess within its global Leadership Development Programme. After an interview process between here and Canada (where the hotel chain is based), he landed the job and started in March.His goal, after completing the development programme, is to work for Fairmont’s Dubai property, a luxury hotel in one of the ultra-glamorous locales in the world.For the next 18 months, Mr Tucker, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in hotel management and an Associate of Science in tourism, will rotate between several different posts within the iconic Bermuda hotel.The Fairmont Leadership Development Programme, which is carried out at each of the hotel’s 55 worldwide locations, is designed to put university graduates on a training track to become executive-level managers within five years and hotel general managers within ten years. Participants choose their area of focus when they enter the programme; either human resources, accounting, spa, rooms (operational positions) and food and beverage.Mr Tucker chose to focus on the hotel’s rooms division and just completed three months on the Fairmont Gold floor, catering to well-heeled executives and leisure travellers. Next he moves on to the main front desk and operations. “It’s been great; he’s been with us for three months so far and he’s just getting his feet wet,” said Kellianne Smith, director of human resources at Fairmont Hamilton Princess. “He’s already got a Memory Maker award, helping to make moments into memories for our clients.”He joined Fairmont at an opportune time as the global hotelier is expanding, opening a handful of hotels in the coming years, including Jakarta, Indonesia; the Philippines and Nanjing, China.“We, as a company, have been growing phenomenally so we are looking to develop our pipeline of employees. Fairmont is looking to hire 25,000 people as we expand into Asia and the Middle East.”Mr Tucker is the fifth Bermudian candidate to go through Fairmont’s Leadership Programme, and he is set to graduate in the fall of 2012.The previous four graduates ended up leaving Fairmont and according to Ms Smith now work for the Bermuda Government.Surprisingly, according to Ms Smith, interest in the programme isn’t as strong as she would like. Of the two positions they would like to fill each year, Mr Tucker is currently the only participant.Interest in the programme is “fair, I wouldn’t say strong but it’s fair,” she observed, adding hopefully: “I have two interviews next month.”In order to be accepted into the programme, candidates must go through an in-person interview, an online assessment and then a phone interview with Fairmont’s corporate office in Canada.“That’s what I like about the process,” said Ms Smith. “It holds us accountable to international standards.”Once the trainees are on board, they are involved in webinars and conference calls with all the LDP trainees from all over the world.Mr Tucker is planning on sticking with the hotel and the timing his graduation is ideal for becoming part of a “transition team” to open a new resort property or gaining valuable experience working in a luxury resort. Dubai, however, is on the top of his list.“Out of the 50-plus Fairmont properties around the world, Dubai is rated in the top five,” said Mr Tucker. “Experiencing the level of service they provide would be a wonderful thing. I think it would give me the tools needed to come back here and contribute my services, not only at Fairmont but also to my Island.”Ms Smith agrees, saying that the programme has endless opportunities for participants and employees overall.“We get an opportunity to travel and see the world,” she said.“I had to call the HR director in Kenya regarding a question and he said to me ‘Kellianne, you won’t believe what is right outside my window: zebras, elephants and giraffes’. I was amazed. That could be me.”