Institute of Hospitality London Branch Student Learning & Development Forum 2015
Students receive a wealth of career opportunities at the Institute of Hospitality Student Learning & Development Forum
The Learning & Development Forum, now in its tenth year, attracted 150 students from universities and colleges across the country, who benefited from meeting a wide range of employers including Marriott, Starwood, Jumeirah, WSH, Redefine BDL and Shangri-la.
The Forum was organised by the Institute’s London Branch and generously hosted and sponsored by Glion Institute of Higher Education at their University of Roehampton campus on Tuesday 17 November 2015.
During a keynote speech, Danny Pecorelli FIH, managing director, Exclusive Hotels and Venues, emphasised that hotel management requires both high level strategy and microscopic attention to detail, and is fundamentally about dealing with change. He illustrated this by describing what it was like to host four rugby teams during the Rugby World Cup this year, which of course didn’t turn out as the English would have hoped.
Hilary Cooke MIH, director, Merlin Consultancy, wished that the next generation of hospitality managers would make greater use of data ( “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion”) .
“The industry puts up an image that it is not academic, but of course it’s a science in every area. We need data all the time and we’d be a better-rounded industry if we used it more,” she said.
Students heard that experience is the main attribute that employers look for in candidates. Michael Crow, HR manager, Shangri-la Hotel at the Shard, said: “My career didn’t start at university. It started when I was sixteen and working in the local cafe. Experience is the number one thing we look for. Any experience you can play to, make sure it’s on your CV.”
With a UK industry need for nearly 30,000 managers over the next four years, students were advised not to jump at the first opportunity. Martin-Christian Kent, executive director, People 1st, said: “Take time to understand what is out there and where you fit in.”
The 10th Student Learning and Development Forum was also generously sponsored by education caterer Pabulum Catering, video production company Write Direction and Omni Facilities Management.