The Passion 4 Hospitality trophy is heading to Holland today after a fierce battle of wits and quick-thinking during the Institute of Hospitality’s popular student debating competition.
In its third year, Passion 4 Hospitality expanded to include a superb student conference showcasing the wealth of opportunities that a career in hospitality provides.
Students heard inspirational stories and received one-on-one career advice from a range of leaders across sectors including:
- Patrick Harbour FIH, director of Harbour & Jones
- Julian Brackenbury MIH, hotel director at Celebrity Cruises
- Chris Penn MIH, director of operations, Starlight Shoreditch
- Jonathan Raggett FIH, managing director of Red Carnation Hotels
- Liz Smith-Mills FIH, housekeeping consultant.
The debate: “In the current economic climate, vocational experience is more relevant than traditional academia for a management career in hospitality.”
Teams from eight universities competed behind the scenes during the conference:
- University of Surrey
- Oxford Brookes University
- Bournemouth University
- London Metropolitan University
- Cardiff University
- University of Brighton
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Hotelschool The Hague
Russell Kett FIH, chairman of HVS London and moderator of the debate, praised the marshalling of research and the quality of oratory and persuasive skills by all teams, with London Metropolitan University and Hotelschool The Hague going head-to-head in the final in front of the large audience of students, academics and industry leaders.
Arguing for the motion, the London Metropolitan team said that the industry is going back to basics and has a primary focus on food and service. Three years of work experience counted for more than three years at university, they argued, because it allowed individuals to solve problems while working, use initiative, and learn from on-the-job experience.
Arguing against the motion, the team from Hotelschool The Hague said that traditional academic training resulted in greater career opportunities and corporate survival. The majority of people who start their own hotel or restaurant businesses fail within the first two years because they have no formal training. The cost of a hospitality management degree was considerably less than the cost of bankruptcy and therefore a good investment, they argued.
An audience vote made Hotelschool The Hague the winners and they received their trophy from Stuart Johnson FIH, general manager of Rocco Forte Browns Hotel, as well as shopping vouchers and places at the prestigious Institute of Hospitality Annual Lunch on 29 May at Lancaster London.
Passion 4 Hospitality 2013 took place at the Victory Services Club, London, and was sponsored by Bartlett Mitchell, Harbour & Jones, HIT Training, Red Carnation Hotels, Fresh Montgomery and supported by The Hospitality Guild’s Act Now! on Apprenticeships campaign.