A hotel has honoured its summer staff at a special reception.

The 18 interns, who range in age from 16 to 33, got together at the event at the Fairmont Southampton’s Boundary Bar & Grille.

Shane Rogers, 18, who has just left CedarBridge Academy, has worked as a conference concierge since June and said he planned to study at Bermuda College.

He said: “As soon as you get into here, they treat you like family, they don’t sit there and say ‘oh, you’re a summer student,’ ‘oh, you’re only 18 or a young kid,’ you’re in the adult world. You’ve get to go in and you get straight to it.”

Chantel Stowe, a student at the University of Buckingham in England, added her stint as a front-office trainee had allowed her to meet people from all walks of life.

She said: “I am enjoying the interactions with the diverse guests, as well as having colleagues that speak different languages and from different parts of the island.

“I find that as a company they really look out for their staff and they always make sure that their staff are OK and they even help with the welcoming of a summer student.

“You’re in training but they still make sure that you have guidance every step of the way, which I very much appreciate.”

The interns mingled with senior staff at the hotel and met Jamahl Simmons, the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism.

The temporary staff were recruited through career fairs, information sessions and a careers conference.

All had to pass a tough interview process before they were taken on.

The summer employees started work on May 28 after an orientation period.

Mallissa Furbert, who won a recent promotion to recreational manager, said she joined the hotel as a cashier aged 18 in 1999.

She told the interns: “I didn’t know if I was going to have a passion in this industry — you never know.

“But once I got in, it’s definitely hard for me to leave.”

Ms Furbert added: “You don’t have to actually stay at one position or in one area or one department.

“It’s easy to move around as long as you’re doing your best.”

Kiaran MacDonald, the general manager at the Fairmont Southampton and regional vice-president, praised the interns for their hospitality skills and potential for a career in the field.

He said: “Your character is the biggest, biggest talent that each of you have.

“We can teach you all the technical skills but what we can’t teach you is personality.”