Help the students competing in this year’s EMCUP

Posted . Filed under Student Experience.

Four final year Hospitality Management students have been chosen to represent Bournemouth University at this year’s EMCup.

The European Mise en Place Cup (EMCup) is an initiative of HotelloTOP and co-creator Mise en Place. The EMCup is a competition amongst International hotel management schools and was founded in 2009.  

In 2012 the competition already managed to bring together twenty European hotel management schools within the competition. The Bournemouth University team were commended by judges last year and this year’s team hope to do even better.

Bayan Taishybayeva, Umneya Al-kindi, Alexandra Schwartz and Rosemary Turner will be representing Bournemouth University this year at the competition.

This year the theme is “success is a moving target” and is based on the Cruise Industry. The students have to create a rumour around their brand, as well as writing a paper to present at the competition.

With that in mind, you can help the students by liking them on Facebook and following them on Twitter

For more information on the competition please see http://www.emcup.eu/

The Digital Destinations Project start their workshops with businesses and E-Marketing students

Posted . Filed under News, Research, Student Experience.

This week the Digital Destinations project, that launched back in October (See here), started its seminars with businesses and students.

The aim of the project is to capture change in the adoption and use of digital technologies and to develop a strong, competitive local tourism economy. Through increased understanding and use of emerging digital technologies, tourism businesses will be in a position to increase their marketing and management effectiveness, and develop new products and services that will provide an enhanced experience for visitors to their destinations.

Each business is appointed a final year E-Marketing student who will eventually come up with an online marketing strategy for them.

This week saw the start of four seminars that each business will attend with their allocated student.

For More information on the project please contact ddp@bournemouth.ac.uk

Professor Adele Ladkin from the School of Tourism delivers Keynote address at the International Hospitality and Tourism Research Conference, Sörenberg, Switzerland

Posted . Filed under Guest speakers, News.

Professor Adele Ladkin was an invited keynote speaker at the International Hospitality and Tourism Research Conference organised by the Hotel and Tourism Management Institute (HTMi) in Sörenberg, Switzerland.  The conference took place over two days in November 2012, with the first day being held in Luzern and the second day at the HTMi campus in Sörenberg.  The theme of the conference was ‘Preparing hospitality and tourism professionals for challenging and changing times’ which included two strands, 1) Learners, industry and educational institutions: together preparing for futures in hospitality and tourism and 2) The challenges of changing products and changing patterns of demand for hospitality and tourism.

Professor Ladkin’s speech was entitled ‘The people aspect of the tourism industry: current human resource trends and challenges’.  Dr. Ross Tinsley from HTMi opened the conference, and other keynotes were given by Professor Mike Osbourne, Professor of Adult and Lifelong learning from the University of Glasgow, And Mr. Yves Givel, Head of Performance and Talent Management, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

The two days gave participants from academic, industry and HTMi students the opportunity to share ideas and participate in discussions.  Presentations by students were given on the second day of the conference, with hospitality and event management students taking part in the conference organization and facilitation.  Professor Ladkin says “human resources are an integral part of the tourism and hospitality industry and this was an excellent opportunity to learn about current issues and practices in developing people to work in the sectors”.

Dr Maharaj Vijay Reddy to assess the impact of the Japanese Tohoku Tsunami

Posted . Filed under News, Research.

Taken from the BU Research Blog

Congratulations to Dr Maharaj Vijay Reddy from the School of Tourism who has received a small grant from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (GBSF) London for his pilot research on the impact of the Tohoku Pacific Tsunami.

The Tohoku Pacific earthquake (8.9 magnitude) and the tsunami that followed have had catastrophic impacts on Japan creating economic, nuclear and humanitarian crises in 2011. It has made detrimental impacts on the infrastructure, economy, environment, society and culture of North Eastern Japan. The forthcoming pilot project by Dr Reddy aims to explore the nature of the impact on the tourism industry of the North East Japan, identify local collaboration and the priorities for future in-depth research to benefit the socio-economic revival of the tourism dependent communities and local businesses in North East Japan.

Dr Reddy commented ‘the small grant from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation will hugely help me to investigate the Japanese tsunami impacts on tourism and develop local collaboration with researchers in Japan for in-depth research’. Dr Reddy is a member of BU’s Grants Academy and is an expert working on natural disasters. He has successfully conducted larger projects for international agencies including UNESCO HQ Paris on the 2004 Asian tsunami, the worst natural disaster in the recent history.

Hospitality Management Student Cara McElroy is named one of HOSPA’s Student Scholarship Winners

Posted . Filed under Student Experience.

From left to right: Gary Bacon, Director of the Scholarships’ sponsor Extegral Solutions Ltd; Kendra Dhakal, undergraduate in Hospitality Management at the University of West London; Cara McElroy,studying Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University; Bianca Ruxandra Anghel, undergraduate in Hospitality Business Management at University College Birmingham; Natalie Hassell, Revenue Management Analyst, De Vere Hotels; and Andreas Holmes-Berge, studying International Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University and HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon

Last week it was announced that Hospitality Management Undergraduate student Cara McElroy was announced as one of HOSPA’s Student Scholarship Winners.

HOSPA (‘Hospitality Professionals Association’ for Finance, Revenue Management and IT) is a non-profit educational organisation which has evolved from BAHA (British Association of Hospitality Accountants) which was formed in 1969.  The aim of HOSPA is to bring together those hospitality industry professionals involved in Financial Management, Revenue Management and IT.

Cara joins students from Oxford Brookes University, University College Birmingham and the University of West London who were also announced as winners.

All the 2012 HOSPA scholarship winners won the opportunity to learn from, be noticed and publicly recognised at yesterday’s prestigious annual HOSPACE 2012 Conference and Exhibition. In addition, they attended the HOSPACE 2012 Gala Dinner and will be profiled in HOSPA’s monthly magazine ‘The Overview’.

Commenting on the scholarships, HOSPA Chief Executive Carl Weldon said: “Many congratulations to our award winners. The HOSPA Career Investment Scholarships confirm HOSPA’s commitment to the future of the Industry, and those about to enter the profession. We are greatly indebted to Extegral Solutions Ltd. for sponsoring these awards.”

School of Tourism Alumni Hall of Fame

Posted . Filed under News.

Here at the School of Tourism we are very proud of our Alumni and we like to show case what they have got up to and how far they have travelled.

To celebrate this fact we are putting together a School of Tourism Hall of Fame. The “Hall of Fame” will consist of photos of our alumni in exciting places with a small caption that will be eventually displayed in the School of Tourism.

If you are part of our alumni we would love to receive pictures from you! We are looking for exciting pictures of you all around the world and a small caption about what you’re doing now and explaining the photo.

It could be anything from working in a foreign country to working or being part of the Olympics – we would love to hear from you!

The only requirements are you are in the photo and that you are part of the School of Tourism Alumni!

If you would like to get involved please send your photo and a small caption to Anna Jones ajones@bournemouth.ac.uk

Please note by sending your image you consent to it being used in School of Tourism Hall of Fame and potentially other promotional material.

Fancy a provocative and challenging debate over a free lunch? Join us for BU’s first Ideas Café on Health and Tourism!

Posted . Filed under Guest speakers, News.

On 5th December from 12.00 until 14.00 at the EBC, Bournemouth University will be hosting its first Ideas Café.

The Ideas Café is an interactive event aimed at increasing BU’s engagement with the public and to provide a key networking opportunity.

The first session is on Health and Tourism and aims to bring together colleagues with similar interest to promote interdisciplinary thinking in an engaging, informal and interesting way.

You will hear several colleagues speak about Health and Tourism over lunch (which is provided) and you are invited to contribute your own thoughts. At the end of the presentations there is a chance to discuss the topic as a small group, ask questions to the presenters and engage in general debate.

Dr Heather Hartwell will moderate the Ideas Café, titled ‘Healthy Tourism an Oxymoron?’ Presenters will include Prof Adele Ladkin from the School of Tourism, Dr Ann Hemingway from HSC and Mark Smith, the Director of Bournemouth Tourism, who will talk about the Coastal Project.

Lunch will be provided, so come hungry and ready to network/debate!

EBC 7th Floor Sofa Area 12.00-14.00

If you have an dietary requirements please email jhastingstaylor@bournemouth.ac.uk

The Green House Hotel in partnership with Bournemouth University: Health and Wellness Weekend 18th and 19th January 2013

Posted . Filed under News.

The Green House in partnership with the Bournemouth University is delighted to launch its first health and wellness weekend. In time for your New Year resolutions, we have developed a weekend to help guide you on your way to a healthier and nutritious future.

A weekend of delicious food approved by the nutritionists at the University and fun activities from boot camp on the beach for the energetic, to organic wine tasting for those in favour of a more relaxing weekend!

This is aweekend for everyone who has an interest in good food and wine and how to make it more nutritious. A guilt free weekend of indulgence!

What does Bournemouth University bring to the weekend…

Dr Heather Hartwell from the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University is a registered nutritionist and will offer practical advice on a healthy eating lifestyle. This does not mean that you have to eat lettuce leaves all day, a holistic approach which is sustainable can include those feel good foods too – cookery demonstrations will provide tips and hints at ‘health by stealth’.

In addition you will be able to participate in a selection of challenging and fun fitness sessions. You can choose between a fitness class, jogging on the beach, or boot camp on the beach for those who want to try something a little different.

The fitness sessions will be run by representatives of Bournemouth University’s Academy of Performance Coaching; all instructors are qualified as Level 3 Personal Trainers and are members of the Register of Exercise Professionals.

For the full programme please see The Green House Hotel website

• Whether you are looking for the full detox and boot camp experience or the softer approach this weekend is designed to show you how to have great food with little guilt!

• With the experience of the Bournemouth University combined with the excellent service of the Green House team this promises to be an excellent weekend.

• Places are limited so please book when you can to avoid disappointment.

• Gift vouchers are available for that special birthday or Christmas present!

• The menus will be presented to each guest on arrival at the start of the weekend; we will need advance notice of any dietary requirements.

• Bournemouth University will require a Health and Safety questionnaire to be completed in advance of the day so we can ensure we take good care of you through out.

Please email  for more details oosullivan@thegreenhousehotel.com

Hospitality Management Students attend the 7th Student Development Forum

Posted . Filed under News, Student Experience.

On Thursday several Hospitality Management students attended the 7th Student Development Forum in London. Level I student Mhairi Strachan gives us her account of the day:

“The Institute of Hospitality joined together with Starquality in order to co-ordinate their 7th Student Development Forum at The Premier Inn, Kings Cross, London. Monica Or from Star quality arranged this sadly she was absent, however Eamonn Cole the Institute of Hospitality’s Chairperson was there to host instead. The forum started at 9am and carried on until 5pm with the opportunity to network after the event.

I attended with two other second year students Ieva Gliaudelyte and Christina Duncan, and a final year student; Rebecca Cridge.

The day started off with a quiz on which was created and conducted by Sam Coulstock from Springboard, on which Bournemouth University won with Kings College tying with us. The prize, a trip to Park Plaza with lunch and treats!
Following on from the quiz there were inspirational speakers from industry experts and we also had the introduction to World Host. Which is a customer-service focused training program which was adopted by the London Olympic Games to train their games makers, and since then has been used by many other companies like McDonalds, Travelodge and Wembley Stadium.

With all the talks and speakers we had at the event, I think and I hope that the other attendees can back me up, that Mary Jane Flanagan from Learn Purple was ultimately the most inspirational and motivational speaker at the event. Her job is a Training Director, she introduced us to the concept of the six steps to success, saying how network is so important and that it is not necessarily what you know but who you know! She also taught us that you have got to look good and even used a case from The Savoy on which the head butler before service will get all his butler to take their shoes off and make sure they haven’t got holes in their socks, so that if customers need help with something up high that they haven’t got to show their customers their toes when standing on furnishings!

The last workshop was the introduction to the new coaching program that the Institute has set up. On which we have all been accepted on and are very much looking forward to meeting up and networking with our new coaches and ask their opinions on our work and what we can do next to develop ourselves as students.

In reflection, I believe that being able to make time to go to these events is incredibly important not only for your development but also to support what and how the industry itself is evolving. Like, Eamonn told us at the beginning of the forum is that the industry employs 2.4 million people and is the 5th largest, however it is still growing and we as students are the future of it. I am proud to be a hospitality student and importantly as mentioned after the Aspiring Manager Awards, I have pride on telling people that I am a student from Bournemouth University acting as an ambassador for the School of Tourism and the framework. This event has truly been an inspiration and motivation to myself and I look forward to developing myself and hopefully become an aspiring person/manager in the future.”

School of Tourism Careers Forum

Posted . Filed under News, Student Experience.

The models for the Dress for Success Fashion Show

On Wednesday 21st November the School of Tourism held its own Careers Forum at Bournemouth University.

The Forum was attended by over 30 different businesses relevant to students looking for placements and graduate jobs in the industry.

The students got a chance to interact with the businesses and ask them questions about their businesses.

As well companies exhibiting, the Forum hosted five industry talks throughout the day. Expedia, Yummy Jobs, Shangri-La, Park Plaza and The FMI Group all hosted presentations and shared their industry experiences with the students.

The students also got a chance to learn about what clothes to wear to an interview during the Dress for Success fashion with clothes provided by New Look. The students were shown how to create professional looks on a budget.

Thanks to all the students who attended the Forum and thank you to all the businesses that exhibited or presented during the day.