Discussing: Why does hospitality need a chartered professional body?, the panel was hosted by Robert Richardson FIH MI, with guest speakers Tej Walia FIH MI, Clare Johnson MIH ACMI, Martin Traynor OBE FIH and Jane Hunt MP.
Commenting on the night, Martin Traynor OBE FIH told us: “I think if you go back to chartered status here in the UK, the Magna Carta in 1215AD was of course the very first charter, and if you look at the 110 livery companies here in the City of London, they all have chartered status. It will give the whole industry a little bit of influence and for somebody like the Institute of Hospitality which wishes to be an awarding body, it will give the submission credence to be able to do that.
The IoH has been around for 85 years, it’s an international membership organisation, giving reach across the world. It’s been an awarding body and has the desire to be an awarding body again. It represents the profession very well, and I think out of all the organisations around that claim to be supporting the hospitality industry, the IoH is best placed.”
Tej Walia FIH MI hot from the panel discussion said: “Having a chartered body will provide relevance and also a sense of value to the people who are either studying or working in hospitality. It would show we are serious in the UK about hospitality being a sector which provides so much for businesses, generating revenue and taxes, and therefore incredibly valued by our government. Our industry needs a chartered body as a foundation and basis to show how much the government think of us and how much we can achieve.
Clare Johnson MIH ACMI added: “Hospitality needs a chartered body because when we look at young people coming into the industry, one of the main things they’re focussed on is that level of professionalism and stability that says they’re going to have career progression, supported by qualifications and training.
As someone who works within a global company, it sets the standard, making sure you get the same experience no matter where you go. It’s important to make sure we’re using that chartered status to ensure our people are being trained and absolutely everyone is given access to those opportunities.”
Finally, Jane Hunt MP gave her thoughts on chartered status for the hospitality industry, and why it should be given to the IoH: “The industry needs a chartered body as a foundation and basis to show how much the government think of the industry and how much it can achieve.
The IoH does an excellent job, being uniquely placed on a global basis offering skills and training, as well as the ability to focus on hospitality, but chartership would give it that extra sparkle to show that there is a status and integrity behind the brand which is a good thing for hospitality in the UK.”
Did you miss the event?
Above & Beyond Rewind, the video panel discussion, will be available to watch on our website on 19 December 2022.
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