A Bermuda College student who aims to one day run local hotels will be one step closer to his dream this month when he attends a prestigious tourism conference attended by many of the Caribbean’s hotel industry movers and shakers.When Dawayne Fubler, 26, first graduated from The Berkeley Institute he never he thought about going to college. He knew that further education took money. He was more focused on getting a job and earning money to help support himself and his family. He drifted from job to job, in construction, hotels and restaurant kitchens. Then the Bermuda College began to offer free tuition in 2008 to first degree college students.“I said, let me go up there and see what I can make of myself,” said Mr Fubler. “My ultimate goal is to become a corporate executive in the hospitality industry. I know that you can’t just go to school, and come out of school and automatically become one. You have to work your way up the ranks. Before college, I had been getting the necessary experience working in the hotel industry, but I also needed the schooling.”Mr Fubler realised part of his dream in May when he graduated from the Bermuda College with an associates degree in culinary arts, and he has only four classes left to take to achieve his associates degree in hospitality management. This month the Caribbean Tourism Organisation invited him to attend their prestigious tourism conference in St Martin. The theme of the conference is, ‘The State of the Industry: How to win in a competitive market’.“I was part of a group from the Bermuda College who attended a previous tourism conference in Bermuda back in April,” said Mr Fubler. “Members of this group were also invited to the conference in St Martin, but as far as I know, no one else from the Bermuda College will be going. I am going there to learn as much as I can about the latest trends and difficulties facing the hospitality industry.”At the conference tourism officials from public and private sectors internationally will tackle a number of critical issues including overcoming hurdles to intraregional travel, how to use limited resources to the greatest advantage, how to influence the affluent traveller, and being truly competitive. The state of the industry conference is not only about challenge, it is also about opportunity.“Upon completion of my second degree from Bermuda College next May, I hope to spend one or two seasons working on board a cruise ship applying what I have learned in the hospitality industry,” said Mr Fubler.This year, the Bermuda College changed its tuition policy and will now be charging discounted tuition to first degree college students instead of no tuition. This year the average college student will pay at least $1,072.50 discounted tuition per semester or $1,605 without discounted tuition. That does not include text books or other supplies.Mr Fubler said if the Bermuda College hadn’t offered free tuition in 2008 to some students, he might never have gone, only because it was the announcement of free tuition that caught his attention.“It is good that I am working on my last courses now that they have started charging tuition,” said Mr Fubler. “But even though it has changed, it is still nothing to complain about. The prices and fees that they are offering are still good. You can’t beat it anywhere else. At least you are not paying $10,000 for one semester with still more needed for room and board, as is the case for many overseas universities. I would recommend that anyone coming out of high school take a few courses at the Bermuda College before going overseas. You don’t even have to enrol in an entire programme. The courses at the Bermuda College will get you ready for going overseas, and you might gain extra credit towards the overseas programme.”Mr Fubler was in his last year of the Bermuda Regiment when he first started at the Bermuda College. Through the Bermuda Regiment he had completed a culinary arts certificate course, and he wanted to take it further.“The certificate was just the first part of the culinary arts programme,” said Mr Fubler. “So I went up there I had a head start but I still had to do another three semesters to get the associates degree in culinary arts. I worked part time and went to school full time.”He said along the way it wasn’t always easy. Although tuition was free, students still had to pay for their courses if they failed. And Mr Fubler said he had to pay for more than a few courses, but he persevered.“Since I have been in college, I have been following my passion for cooking,” said Mr Fubler. “This past summer I was awarded the opportunity to complete a hospitality management internship at The Rosewood Tucker’s Point Club in St George’s Parish. The internship, required as a credit towards completion of the hospitality programme, was an eye opening experience.“I had the privilege of working and spending time in every department getting to know the roles and duties that each employee at Rosewood Tuckers Point performs. I was able to learn about how each department works separately as a unit, that when combined with other departments, they enable the resort function in unison.“I established a number of contacts locally and internationally during my time there, and performed any duties and task that was assigned to me to the best of my ability every time. I felt that I put in a good shift, and since then have been rewarded with part time employment in the human resource department as I continue my studies.”To other young people coming behind him, he advised that they be proactive and keep an open mind.“Begin with the end in mind,” he said. “It is important to take risks and that failure is part of the process of doing anything innovative. Just don’t get stuck at failure. Surround yourself with positive people, people who are passionate, disciplined and motivated.”When he finishes at the Bermuda College, he would like to go overseas to study for a Bachelors of Science Degree in Hotel Administration at Cornell University.