DDL, GTA launch bartender training to strengthen skills in hospitality sector

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), in partnership with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), has launched a four-day El Dorado Bartender Training programme aimed at strengthening skills within the hospitality sector. The training, being held at Black Magenta, Georgetown Club, brings together bartenders from bars and restaurants across Guyana. Now in its second year, the initiative focuses on building capacity by exposing participants to modern techniques and international service standards. The sessions are being led by Oren Coleman, El Dorado’s Global Brand Ambassador, who is guiding participants through practical exercises and globally recognised approaches to mixology. The programme also encourages collaboration among participants through the sharing of industry experiences.
At the end of the training, participants will compete in the Guyana leg of the El Dorado Rum Heritage Global Cocktail Competition, which is in its third year. The competition challenges bartenders to create cocktails that reflect the heritage of El Dorado, a brand with roots dating back to 1670. The winning bartender will advance to the global finals, which will be hosted in Guyana at the Diamond Distillery. Competitors from several countries, including the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Barbados, Norway, and the Netherlands, are expected to participate. Marketing Director at DDL, Sharda Veeren-Chand, said the company remains committed to developing local talent and improving service standards. She noted that the programme aims to prepare bartenders to represent Guyana on the international stage while promoting the country’s rum heritage. GTA’s Head, Kamrul Baksh, said the collaboration reflects a shared effort to build a skilled hospitality workforce and enhance the country’s tourism product. The organisers said initiatives such as this continue to create opportunities within the industry while supporting Guyana’s profile as a tourism destination.