Carnival’s Nationwide Search Connects Bahamians With Opportunity

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – Carnival’s Celebration Key is more than just a project, it’s about putting Bahamians to work.

At the heart of it all is the recruitment team.

They’ve spent the past year island-hopping from Grand Bahama to New Providence to Abaco on a mission to find top talent.

Marielle Johnson has spent the last year as Carnival’s talent acquisition supervisor.

The Grand Bahama native remembers when the team was just getting started.

Marielle Johnson – Supervisor of Talent Acquisition at Celebration Key

“It was about a team of ten or less and we had a small office space downtown so it was a bit nerve-wracking for me but I knew the carnival brand i knew i just had gut feeling that this was gonna happen.”

And happen it did!

To date, more than 450 positions have been filled.

Many by locals who saw a real chance to come home.

Marielle Johnson – Supervisor of Talent Acquisition at Celebration Key

“So we’re about 99% complete with our recruitment efforts and of that about 276 have actively started.” We’ve had Grand Bahamians come back home from Canada, Nassau, the U.S., just looking for an opportunity or a good reason to come back home.”

And for many job seekers, Celebration Key’s recent job fair was the moment they were waiting for.

Talent acquisition specialists Aria Davis and Chelsea Knowles recall the excitement.

Aria Davis – Specialist of Talent Acquisition at Celebration Key

“The response was grand! There were tons of Bahamian, tons of people, there were long lines.”

Chelsea Knowles – Administrative Assistant in H.R. at Celebration Key

“They might come in for one thing..They may have something on their minds for a specific position, but we can guide them.”

From lifeguards to landscapers, engineers to electricians, the carnival team filled hundreds of roles with Bahamians.

Talent acquisition specialist Roland Stubbs recalls that effort.

Roland Stubbs – Specialist in Talent Acquisition at Celebration Key

“We’ve had havoc technicians, landscapers, arrogation technicians, electricians, carpenters, and the list goes on for the engineering dept. Water safety department we have our lifeguard supervisors.”

Tia Ferguson is the Human Resources Coordinator who moved from Nassau to Grand Bahama to help make it happen and now she proudly calls it her second home.

Tia Ferguson – Coordinator in H.R. at Celebration Key

“It just feels so amazing walking though the convention centers, walking through the orientation hearing new employees say at carnival were here to have fun to everyone is hyped and they’re ready go go.”