Tourism and Hospitality

BU Supporting the Hospitality Community

Posted March 24, 2015. Filed under News.

In support of the hospitality community in the South, Bournemouth University returned to the Hotel and Catering Show for the third year running. This impressive event brings people and organisations together to find solutions for sourcing skills, products and services; and business networking, specifically serving the hospitality sector.

Claire Main, Business Engagement Consultant for the School of Tourism commented: “We are committed to supporting the industry and it is a great opportunity for the University to get involved with the show and engage with the public. It is also an ideal time to talk to businesses about our range of services, including bespoke accredited courses and other cost effective services to gain a competitive edge be it through consultancy, student placements or funded projects. One of our latest clients is New Forest Biscotti, a local company requiring support to develop new products.”

This year, two University academic experts were invited to speak at the event. Dr Charles McIntyre and Professor Dimitrios Buhalis entertained and informed visitors with their latest research and advice. Charles outlined how small changes in hospitality space design can increase customer satisfaction and improve an enterprise’s spatial attractiveness. Dimitrios revealed ways in which the industry can take advantage of new technological opportunities, most significantly social media.

For more information on business services and to engage with the BU academic team, contact Claire Main – cmain@bournemouth.ac.uk.

BA Tourism Management Field trip to Malta

Posted March 24, 2015. Filed under News.

Level I BA Tourism Management students recently spent seven days in Malta as part of their studies. The students were investigating tourism development, planning, operations and tourist experience and behaviour during the field trip. During the trip students met with a number of tourism industry professionals, including representatives from Visit Malta, Heritage Malta, The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, MIDI Group, and the Ministry of Gozo.

Students were able to look at the plans for Malta’s capital city Valletta as it prepares to become European Capital of Culture in 2018; explored the development of ecotourism on Malta’s sister island Gozo; experienced the redevelopment of Malta’s Three Cities for heritage and cultural tourism; visited new developments such as the National Aquarium; and investigated dark tourism provision at the catacombs.

During the field trip links were strengthened between BU School of Tourism and the Institute of Tourism, Travel and Culture at the University of Malta, with BU students visiting the University for a guest lecture on ‘Maltese Culture and Heritage as a tourism product’.

Young Guns 2015 Revealed

Posted March 20, 2015. Filed under News.

Hospitality management students Oliver Constant, from Bournemouth University, and Vita Juneviciute, from Oxford Brookes University, have been crowned Young Guns 2015.

The two aspiring industry stars saw off stiff competition from six other finalists to take the coveted title, awarded to them by CHME, the Council for Hospitality Management Education.

The final, which took place yesterday, involved a challenging networking lunch and conversation with the judges, including Lexington Catering chairman Tim West, who hosted the competition, and Red Carnation hotels managing director Jonathan Raggett. The lunch followed previously judged paper and video entries to establish the shortlist of finalists.

The other judges were Peter Ducker, chief executive of the Institute of Hospitality, Alison Tyler, chief executive for the commercial division at CH&Co, Miles Pooley, former general manager of London Marriott hotel Park Lane, Liz Cave, director at boutique HR and business consultancy Your Invisible Partner, Jane Sunley, chief executive officer and founder of Purple Cubed, and Amanda Afiya, editor at The Caterer.

Constant, who spent a year in industry working at the Riverside, Anantara, Bangkok in Thailand, and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, is hoping that his work experience has put him in good stead to enjoy a career in the luxury five-star hotels sector on a global scale. Other placements in his career include three months at Chewton Glen in the New Forest.

Meanwhile, Lithuanian student Juneviciute, who is currently president of the Bacchus Society at Oxford Brookes, travelled to Queenstown in New Zealand for her year sandwich year. Juneviciute worked in the front office of Accor’s Hotel St Moritz for 10 months. Her professionalism and personal demeanor was described by the hotel’s general manager, Lynne McVicar, as “exemplary”.

Their prize pot includes assistance in gaining employment with a high-profile hospitality business, one year’s membership for the Institute of Hospitality, and invitations to this year’s Catey Awards, which take place on 7 July, at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, a JW Marriott Hotel.

Tim West said: “We are delighted to host this competition, meeting the best of the hospitality undergraduates, and judges from all sectors all combined with showcasing the food service management sector.”

YOUNG GUNS FINALISTS

Norman Bechler, International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef
Oliver Constant (winner), Bournemouth University
Dragos Dorobat, Oxford Brookes University
Sophie Huddlestone, Oxford Brookes University
Vita Juneviciute (winner), Oxford Brookes University
Armand Musat, Sheffield Hallam University
Kasia Serafin, Oxford Brookes University
Harry Watts, Bournemouth University

Welcome to the Brewhouse: pub set to produce six of its own beers

Posted February 19, 2015. Filed under News.

BREWING: Bournemouth University students visit the micro brewery at the Brewhouse and Kitchen in Poole

A POOLE pub is due to re-open on Monday as a brew pub, producing six of its own beers on the premises.The former Rising Sun in Dear Hay Lane has been renamed the Brewhouse and Kitchen and days before its re-launch hosted a visit from seven Bournemouth University hospitality students and their lecturer.

Head brewer Pete Hughes took them through a work production day in brewing the house bitter, Brewers Arms – which was the original name of the pub.

“They got a proper experience and feel for exactly what goes into beer,” he said. It takes a whole day to prepare and mix ingredients including malt, hops and yeast and get it to the stage where fermentation can start.

“That’s where all the work is for the brewer,” he said and he had willing hands to help begin the two to three week process in the shiny coppers, which will end with eight firkins, or two barrels, of ale.

“It’s a regular offer where people can come and have the experience of working in a brewery for the day,” he said.

Former Dorset Institute (now BU) hospitality graduate Kris Gumbrell, chairman of Brewhouse and Kitchen Ltd, who has opened six pubs along with business partner Simon Bunn, aims to retain close links with the university.

“We want to attract more students to consider going into the pub sector when they graduate,” he said.

However anyone can buy a Red Letter Day brewery experience and thousands of pounds worth were sold over Christmas. The former pubs team including the chef have been kept on and it will be supplying home-cooked food, some of which contains the local beers, as well as other ales, wine and soft drinks.

BU hospitality lecturer Richard Ward said: “It is essential that students get a real life experience and not just a theoretical one. Going out into industry and seeing how it is, is so beneficial.”

Gold Service Scholarship win for Daniele Quattromini of Club Lounge 39

Posted February 12, 2015. Filed under News.

Daniele Quattromini, manager at Club Lounge 39 in Canary Wharf, is set to receive a year of expert mentoring following his success in the Gold Service Scholarship 2015.

He was named the winner of this year’s award during a gala presentation at London’s Claridge’s hotel.

Among his collection of prizes, Quattromini, 25, will have the opportunity to work with the Royal Household at a state banquet, spend a work with Mandarin Oriental Hotels Group at one of their European hotels, receive mentoring from Diego Masciaga at the Waterside Inn and Silvano Giraldin at Le Gavroche, and visit the vineyards of Champagne and Bordeaux.

Quattromini joined foodservice operator CH&Co in October 2013 and moved to its Lusso Catering contract at Club Lounge 39 – a private members club on the 39th floor of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf – six months later.

He graduated in hospitality management from Bournemouth University in 2013, having undertaken work experience stints at Chewton Glen and Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

Quattromini, who competed against seven other finalists during a lunch service at the Connaught hotel, London, said it was “an honour” to be selected as the 2015 Scholar. “The next year will be an incredible experience and I feel so fortunate and privileged to know that I will be working alongside industry greats in so many revered venues and establishments,” he said.

“I hope over the next year my own work and experiences will inspire other young people to pursue a career in this dynamic and rewarding industry and better understand the huge breadth of opportunities available to them within it.”

As the third winner of the Gold Service Scholarship, Quattromini follows in the footsteps of Rebecca Dibben the inaugural winner in 2013 and now general manager of the Forest Inn, near Bournemouth,, and last year’s winner, James Fleming, now guest relations executive, Berkeley hotel, London.

The full list of finalists in the 2015 Gold Service Scholarship was:

Daniele Quattromini – Club Lounge 39, Canary Wharf, London
James O’Keeffe – Lainston House Hotel, Winchester, Hampshire
Lukáš Andr – the Seafood Restaurant, Padstow, Cornwall
Karen Weisheit – Cliveden House Hotel, Taplow, Buckinghamshire
Matthew Balman – Buckingham Palace, London
Ronald Rosario – the Capital hotel, London
Nicholas Winfield – Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons, Great Milton, Oxfordshire
George Oates – Buckingham Palace, London

Master students visit tropical gardens

Posted July 14, 2014. Filed under Featured, News, Student Experience.

Tourism Masters students were given a guided tour of Abbotsbury Tropical gardens and Abbotsbury Swannery by John Huston, the Abbotsbury Tourism Manager.

John provided students with an insight into the strategic and day to day issues he faces managing such a unique set of attractions. This trip was organised by Tourism Management and Marketing Team – Dr Jon Edwards, Dr Philip Alford and Steven Richards for All Tourism Masters pathways from January 2014 Masters intake (such as MSc Tourism Management, MSc Tourism Management & Marketing and MSc Sustainable Tourism Planning).

If you would like to visit the gardens have a look at this website for further details on Abbotsbury.

http://abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/

By: Natalia Lavrushkina

BU Staff Engage with RockReef

Posted July 7, 2014. Filed under News.

An exciting invite to Rock Reef, the new attraction on Bournemouth Pier, has resulted in a new and blossoming relationship for the School of Tourism and sportBU. Staff from across a number of disciplines visited the facility and met with Steve Twyman, Operations Manager; and Juan Vasquez, Marketing Executive, to find out more.

RockReef is an all year, all weather adventure activity attraction on Bournemouth Pier, bringing the great outdoors indoors. There are 25 Clip N’ Climb challenges, a pier cave adventure, a high line aerial obstacle course, a vertical drop slide and the awesome “leap of faith” jumping challenge. As Dorothy Fox, Anya Chapman and Nick Rowles watched on with cup of tea in hand (and of course discussing ways to engage); Claire Main, Andrew Callaway and Chris Payne braved the challenges and literally took a leap of faith! Claire Main commented, ‘The challenges are incredible, particularly for someone like myself who is not a keen adrenalin junky! I can see why so many people are already enjoying the attraction and recognise the benefits for a range of visitors from locals to holiday makers to corporate clients looking for an alternative venue for team building. It was a great experience for all and we are looking forward to a long-term relationship with RockReef.’

Plans are now underway to develop student projects; partnership opportunities to encourage fitness as part of sportBU’s remit to encourage activity; and to build on current research in the spirit of knowledge exchange. The team at RockReef are also offering a 10% discount to staff and students when booking at the venue on production of student/staff ID.

By: Claire Main

Heather Hartwell awarded Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Cooks

Posted June 23, 2014. Filed under News.

Professor in Food Service and Applied Nutrition at BU, Heather Hartwell, was recently awarded Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Cooks, as one of the first women to do so from a professional perspective which is called by redemption.

When collecting her award last week, Heather said “It’s a great privilege to be recognised as influential within the field of food and food service. I look forward to being able to drive my sheep across London Bridge, which is one of the perks of being a Freeman of the City of London!”

The smallest of London’s Livery Companies by Liverymen, the Worshipful Company of Cooks can trace its origins back to the 12th Century. Thirty-fifth in order of seniority in the City Livery Companies, it was founded from two guilds of cooks in medieval London – the Cooks of Eastcheap and the Cooks of Bread Street. Its membership today still includes craft tradesmen, and its activities engage with a broad range of organisations associated with cooking.

The Company’s purpose in recent years is to contribute as effectively as it can to the pursuit of a good society – to be socially useful. The Cooks’ Company is as vital today – actively supporting the modern day craft and catering industry, as well as funding a range of charitable activities.

By: Professor Vanora Hundley

School of Tourism’s Masters students pitch mobile marketing strategies to Pebble Beach restaurant

Posted June 16, 2014. Filed under News, Student Experience.

Working in pairs, students pitched their mobile marketing strategy to the proprietor Mike Caddy. Before starting their work, students visited the premises where they were briefed about Pebble Beach’s history, current initiatives and vision for the future. They were also treated with coffee and pasties in the terrace overlooking the Needles.

After three weeks of intense work, students presented a variety of strategies aimed at attracting new customers and increasing the loyalty of existing ones. The presentations covered a wide range of issues associated to a mobile marketing strategy, including current trends, technological solutions, resources, the production of content and Return on Investment. Themes covered included search engine optimisation, booking system, QR codes, rewards program, gaming, customisation and social media. While students were only expected to design a strategy, one group went further and prepared a fully working app for the restaurant.

Commenting on the presentations, Mike Caddy said that he was impressed with the variety and detail of the strategies: “Students understood well the challenges faced by a small business like Pebble Beach when it comes to using mobile marketing. Students carried out a lot of research on current trends in mobile marketing and came up with many interesting solutions that could help Pebble Beach improve the mobile experience we provide to our customers. I have learned immensely from this experience, which helped me to expand and consolidate my views on what the priorities in this area should be”.

To Alessandro Inversini, leader of the Mobile Communication & Mobile Marketing uni, the presentations “were extremely interesting and well conceived; in 4 weeks (i.e. the duration of the unit) students gained lots of theoretical and practical knowledge about mobile marketing and mobile communication. The overall quality of the designed interventions for Pebble Beach was extremely good. Furthermore, having a real client to work with has been an additional motivation for students that have been confronted with a real situation and real comments from a professional in the field.”

Pebble Beach is a ward winning restaurant in Barton on Sea, New Milton, Hampshire. Besides the restaurant featuring outstanding views over the Isle of Wight, Pebble Beach offers accommodation and the opportunity to host small scale, boutique business events and personal celebrations. It is also about to open a delicatessen Petit Pebbles next door, which will offer hot and cold drinks and a selection of wines from Pebble Beach’s restaurant.

By: Miguel Moital

Pedal2Medal with sports students

Posted June 11, 2014. Filed under News, Student Experience.

On Sunday 25^th May, a team of sports management students hosted the event Pedal2Medal at Ensbury Velodrome.

Students explained that the aim of the event was to create more awareness for the track and raise funds for ‘Wessex Accessible Cycling Club’, a local charity for disabled riders.

Spectators were able to enjoy refreshments, and experience a fun relaxed day of sporting, whilst they watched friends and family partake in a series of competitive races. The students were ecstatic to announce the presence of a Paralympion cyclist, Darren Kenny, at the event to hand out the trophies and flowers to the winners of each event; as well as world record holder Lauren Booth who unofficially broke her own record for the standing 200m sprint at the event on Sunday!

The team was extremely happy with the turnout, and to top it off, received a high 1^st by their assessors! We spoke to Event Manager, Charlotte Leary who said that over 50 riders turned up on the day from over 20 teams across the South of England!

Charlotte added that “overall we felt the day was a huge success, despite getting a little sun burnt, it was a very enjoyable day for all!”

By: Divya Satwani