In its second year, teams from six universities (Oxford Brookes, London Metropolitan, University of Plymouth, University of Brighton, University of West London and Westminster Kingsway College) battled for and against the motion that “the London 2012 Olympics will be positive for the UK hospitality industry.”
The preliminary heats were hosted at the Novotel Hotel London, Docklands, while the final took place at Hotelympia in front of a live audience of students and professionals, including Jan Matthews FIH, head of catering, cleaning and waste for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
Before announcing the finalists, Russell Kett FIH, managing director, HVS International and chairman of Passion 4 Hospitality, said: “We’ve had a fantastic day. If this was an academic test, all of the teams would have got As. There was international insight, local knowledge and all of the students had the confidence to interpret the facts, bring them to life and make them interesting.”
However, only two teams could go through to the Hotelympia final, and the Universities of Brighton and Oxford Brookes were chosen by the chairman and the judges: Wendy Bartlett FIH, managing director, Bartlett & Mitchell; Sally Messenger FIH of the Edge Hotel School; Gillian Hayes FIH; Wallace Vincent FIH; and Clive Roberston FIH, director of the Learning from Experience Trust.
The winners from the University of Brighton (Ramzi Husseini, Felix Tormann and Robert Nagel) are congratulated by chairman Russell Kett and Institute of Hospitality president Sir David Michels. |
The runners-up from Oxford Brookes University (Jessica Flaten, Seamus McHugh and Daria Darnowska) with their mentor Peter McGunnigle |
Not only did the finalists make presentations, but also dealt with a series of challenging questions from the audience and the judges.
The University of Brighton team of Ramzi Husseini, Robert Nagel and Felix Tormann were mentored by Ioannis Pantelidis FIH. Arguing for the motion, the students referred to an Ernst & Young report quoted by David Cameron that suggested that hospitality and tourism were driving the UK’s economic recovery . They argued that the increase in London hotel supply for the Olympics would result in affordable prices (even during the Games) and the Paralympics would pave the way for UK package holidays specifically for the disabled. Sport would thrive in the UK after the Olympics and food and beverage operations would play their part in transforming unhealthy lifestyles.
The Oxford Brookes University team of Jessica Flaten, Seamus McHugh and Daria Darnowska were mentored by Peter McGunnigle MIH. Arguing against the motion, the students cited the displacement of regular tourism and transport problems caused by the Olympics as not benefitting hospitality. They also underlined that the expense to the taxpayer (£9b) comes at a time when the public sector is experiencing severe cuts and suggested that the 2004 Athens Olympics had contributed to Greece’s current economic woes. In counter-arguments, the Oxford Brookes team said the Olympics would make people “better at watching TV rather than playing sport” and over-priced accommodation for families participating in the Paralympics reflected badly on the hotel industry.
In an audience vote, however, the University of Brighton team were found to have the edge in terms of their presentation skills and were declared the winners. All participants were presented with certificates by Sir David Michels FIH, president of the Institute of Hospitality.
“It doesn’t matter how good you were. You have been courageous enough to put yourselves in the lion’s den, and the more you practice, the better you’ll get. The ability to talk and to persuade others is of prime importance in our industry,” said Sir David.
The winning team were awarded places at the prestigious Institute of Hospitality Annual Lunch and £40 vouchers. Thanks were given to the sponsors Bartlett Mitchell, Fresh Montgomery, Harbour & Jones, Novotel Hotel London Docklands, Parliament Hill and Red Carnation Hotels.
