Digital Transformation & The Generational Gap

Destination Education Comes to Curaçao

Curaçao is one of the latest additions to the growing list of unique destinations to offer professional educational courses and workshops to the international market of business owners and their employees. Considered to be “off the beaten path”, the island offers many exclusive accommodations and distinctive attractions that can be integrated into an educational curriculum to provide a one-of-a-kind experience that serves both as a relaxing retreat and a source of inspiration and empowerment for any business professional.

TEXT BY HELEN GRIFFITH

One such program is Embark: a strategic partnership between Qnity, Inc., a US-based professional educational company; the local ly-based accommodation and educational facility called Ananda; and 8 The Experience, the internationally recognized local spa and salon. This newly formed alliance plans to offer a number of business education programs in 2018, (the first of which was scheduled for February), that promise to deliver cutting-edge education for up-and-coming entrepreneurs in an enriching and rewarding setting.

The workshops are primarily, (but not exclu sively), geared towards attracting foreign business owners and leaders to experience a results-driven business education in a beau tiful tropical setting such as Curaçao. And while locals are also invited to attend, their focus is to provide business professionals with a quiet getaway retreat in a serene setting. Their intention is to offer unique and enrich ing life experiences during the workshops, and allow participants to indulge in exclusive pam pering while enjoying a holistic lifestyle during their stay in Curaçao. This truly elevates the definition of destination education and will undoubtedly attract many entrepreneurs to our shores. And of course, introducing new entrepreneurial visionaries to our island can only lead to further opportunities for local and foreign business development.

The unique approach delivered in these workshops holds great promise for many entrepreneurs who often struggle to maintain a consistent profit margin in their businesses. As a matter of fact, it is precisely the creative mind of a visionary business person that struggles with the analytical side of running a business, and limits the profitability of the company. The Qnity program is a tried and true success story that has helped many business owners in the U.S. and Canada to navigate the financial aspects of running a business with a simple and visual approach. Their internationally renowned programs are “whole-brained,” and take a “right brain approach to get left brain results.” This has been the key to success for many entrepre neurs, especially those in business sectors that rely on a certain sense of artistic creativity to distinguish their corporate identity.

Qnity, was founded in 2009 by Tom Kuhn, an advisor, educator and entrepreneur, who previ ously co-owned a $25M multi-location salon/ spa/retail company. He is also the founder and CEO of The 2 to 10 Project, a $350M, 45 company benchmarking and networking collaborative for multi-location market-lead ing salons and spas. His brainchild, Qnity, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, has been licensed by Fortune 500 Brands as an internal education resource, with clients including Estee Lauder (through the Aveda brand), JC Penny, Lifetime Fitness and ULTA Beauty. The signature Qnity training program has over 5,000 graduates from the U.S. and Canada, and the company serves as trusted advisors and coaches to many companies across North America. Entrepreneurs, business leaders and

their teams, have gained the competitive edge, and all report higher earnings and employee motivation as a result of attending the Qnity workshops. Tom Kuhn was introduced to Curaçao by Kimberly de Freitas, owner of the exclusive spa and salon, 8 The Experience. Kimberly has emerged as a leading young entrepreneur burgeoning a creative path of success here on the island. Her beautifully appointed spa, located at Coral Estate, is an exclusive Aveda Spa that offers luxurious services in a relaxed setting, perched above the breathtakingly blue waters of Banda Bou. In 2016, the spa was awarded the prestigious ‘Salon of the Year’ award by Salon Today magazine. After hav

Ananda’s vision is to create a place where peo ple can experience a quiet serene environment, and benefit from a wellness program that ena bles guests to connect with nature, and benefit from farm-to-table menu offerings. The resort facilities include elegant accommodations, educational and conference facilities, a fully equipped gym, swimming pools, instructional kitchens, dining areas and meditational areas including a garden labyrinth. The overall

ing moved to Curaçao from the U.S. several years ago, she is continuously inspired by the vast opportunities that Curaçao holds, and has become a passionate spokesperson for the island, female entrepreneurs and millennial leadership. She has presented at the esteemed 2 to 10 Project annual conference in Chicago, at Dare to Dream in Florida and at the Annual Qnity Summer Retreat in Minneapolis. After finally convincing Tom Kuhn to come visit the island she now considers home, he was equally inspired by the island’s beauty, and the two joined forces with Patricia McGraw at Ananda Resort, (formerly Rainbow Retreat) at Villapark Fontein.

layout of the resort is the perfect place to host workshops and corporate retreats such as the ones offered by Qnity. Put together with the indulgent spa services from 8 The Experience offered to all participants, the only conclusion is that Embark will deliver a life-changing experience for all who are lucky enough to attend. As Kuhn so aptly describes it, “The island of Curaçao, along with our two key partners, offers us an opportunity to bring our vision to not only a more global marketplace, but to do so in an exotic and colorful loca tion… a jewel in the Caribbean.”