Answering the demands of a booming tourism and travel industry in the Caribbean, New England Culinary Institute (NECI) announced today the successful culmination of an agreement with H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Tortola, British Virgin Islands to open and operate the school's culinary program, which is accepting students for the fall term of 2001.  

New England Culinary Institute was chosen from a variety of high caliber culinary schools in the United States. According to Dr. Haldane Davies, Associate Vice President of HLSCC, ``Among the many schools we considered in our selection process, NECI's educational content, approach, and practices clearly made them the most strategic choice.

'' Dr. Charles Wheatley, President of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College added, ``New England Culinary Institute has been recognized as one of the leading schools in the hospitality and culinary arts field in the United States, attracting students from all fifty states and some thirty-five foreign countries. Their educational design emphasizes very small classes in real food service atmospheres, which is appealing to us.

'' Plans exist to build a hotel and conference center for program use by 2005, and a large sports complex for student use that also will host events for the entire region. H. Lavity Stoutt Community College is providing the campus, financial resources and support services for the culinary program. Arrangements are being made for student training in an a la carte restaurant, a popular price restaurant, banquet facilities, a bake shop, and cafeteria.

Francis Voigt, founder of New England Culinary Institute commented, ``We have always been committed to creating ways in which students from other parts of the world can benefit from our singular approach to training. The partnership with H. Lavity Stoutt Community College offers a unique answer for people in the Caribbean who want the best of both successful educational institutions.''