Pedro joined NIC in August 2016 as a Hospitality & Tourism Instructor. In his current capacity, he is leading and encouraging students to explore their potential in a challenging and exciting program that develops their qualities and abilities through a comprehensive approach focused on domestic and international industry engagement.
Pedro came to NIC with more than 20 years of experience in industry and academia, starting his professional journey in Cuba in 1997 working for Cubanacan Hotels & Restaurants before moving to Asia where he worked for Shangri-La, Regal, Century and Barceló hotel companies in China and Hong Kong. After completing his Asian tour he moved back to the Caribbean to work for Wyndham Hotels in the Cayman Islands and then in 2008 entered the world of academia as he took up a teaching position with the Hospitality & Tourism Division at the University College of the Cayman Islands. He moved to Canada in 2012 and held food and beverage positions for various hospitality organizations in Toronto.
Pedro is also a subject matter expert (SME) for the educational divisions of the National Restaurant Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) in the United States, where he collaborates on certification programs and exam evaluation. He holds an MBA from the University of Wales, a bachelor’s degree in education from the Enrique J. Varona Higher Pedagogical Institute in Havana, a diploma in hospitality management from the AHLA Educational Institute and a master certificate in hospitality management from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. Pedro also holds prestigious certifications from across the hospitality sector, including Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), Foodservice Management Professional (FMP), Red Seal (Chef) certification and ServSafe Food Protection Manager, as well as WSET Level 2 in Wine & Spirits Certificate, WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wines and the Canadian Wine Scholar (CWS) certificate.
