groundbreaking exchange programme.

They will spend two months at some of Africa's most luxurious safari and lodge resorts in a bid to improve their skills.

Laundry manager Verlita Simons, bar manager Perry Brangman, and waiter Douglas Johnson flew out on Tuesday to South Africa.

After a few days' induction with the up-market CCAfrica group, they will be placed in the company's safaris and lodge complexes in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Cambridge Beaches is taking advantage of a four-month shutdown during which it will undergo an $8 million facelift to send its staff overseas. CCAfrica staff will come to Bermuda this summer.

Michael Winfield, President of the Sandys property, said he was delighted that his independent hotel had managed to secure an exchange programme with such a prestigious overseas group.

"While international hotel groups with properties in Bermuda could easily send their Bermudian employees to other international hotels within their group, the independent hotels in Bermuda have not had this advantage.

"Our group will work at the lodges with the intent to gain valuable experience catering to the most discerning upscale traveller -- similar to our clients here at Cambridge Beaches -- and although in entirely different circumstances, will learn new ways to bring excellence to guests.'' He added: "We at Cambridge Beaches understand we are competing with resort properties worldwide and our staff are challenged to offer commensurate levels of service to the finest hotels in the world.''