Checking In Issue 1

Checking In With Edge Hotel School

Summer 2025

Welcome to the first edition of the Edge Hotel School Magazine Welcome to the first edition of Checking In, the Edge Hotel School magazine! We are thrilled to share with you the latest updates from the School, as well as relevant updates from the wider university, our cutting edge research team and the home of Edge Hotel School, Wivenhoe House Hotel.

This magazine has been curated to provide news and about upcoming events, stories to celebrate our achievements, and the opportunity to highlight the important findings of our research team.

It will be published bi-annually in Summer and Winter.

To preface, this year so far has been an incredibly successful one for Edge Hotel School, as some of our students have won multiple national and international awards - a true testament to their hard work and dedication to their studies and professional development.

We are also rapidly growing as a department and are looking forward to welcoming students

on our brand new courses, starting this Autumn: BA/FdA International Tourism Management MSc International Tourism Management MSc International Events Management As well as these exciting new courses, we are pleased to share that all three of our MSc courses now run part-time!

Lastly, we are excited to announce that Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage studies (which encompasses EHS Subjects Hospitality and Events Management) at University of Essex has jumped 14 places in the Complete University Guide 2026 to 5th Place, an incredible accolade!

I hope you enjoy this first edition!

lark C y l i m E

Editor and Industry Engagement Officer emily.clark@essex.ac.uk 1

In this newsletter you can expect: Edge Hotel School’s big wins Message from Stevie Robson, General Manager of Wivenhoe House Working with University of Essex

Our Vision for the Future

Upcoming Events

And more!

Student Life

(L-R) Charlotte, Shannon and Florence at the Fast Forward 15 Graduation

Jessica and Vaibhav at the Essex Sustainability Awards collecting their Platinum trophy

(L-R) Emma, Isabelle, Fernando, Chelsy and Megan ‘Team Zenith’ in Maastricht

Monumental Year for Edge Hotel School as Students Wow in National and International Competitions So far, 2025 has proven to be a bumper year for Edge Hotel School and its students, with a number of victories claimed both nationally and internationally!

facilitated by Dimitri Lera, EHS academic and Guardians of Grub ambassador.

The competition saw students create an Instagram Reel about food waste and Vaibhav Sharma who studies Hospitality Management came out on top!

As well as this amazing achievement, Vaibhav and classmate Jessica Jacobs were invited to the University of Essex Sustainability Awards, where they received a Platinum award for their planning and execution of various events during Food Waste Action Week, including bringing local chef Rowen Halstead to Wivenhoe House to teach about food waste best practices. and collecting donations for Colchester Foodbank

EMCup 2025 In February, five students, Fernando Odio Esquivel (Level 6 Hospitality Management), Chelsy Rafael Sanchez (Level 5 Event Management), Isabelle White (Level 6 Events Management with Hospitality), Emma Sharma (Level 6 Hotel Management) and Megan EllisSmith (Level 6 Hotel Management) formed Team Zenith, and took to the European stage, competing in the renowned EMCup, held in the Netherlands annually.

This competition sees students from elite hospitality schools compete in a series of papers, panels and pitches to be crowned ‘Best Hospitality School in Europe’. Team Zenith were the first ever team to represent Edge Hotel School and won on their first year in a monumental victory, scoring top marks in both the final ‘Dragon’s Den’ style presentation and the overall competition. We wish to thank the Edge Foundation, as well as Wivenhoe House Hotel for your key roles in helping us grasp this victory.

Fast Forward 15: University Challenge In April, three of our Level 5 Event Management students, Florence Sweetman; Charlotte Swain; and Shannon Coombs, were invited to a graduation event for aspiring event leaders as a part of Fast Forward 15's University Challenge.

Fast Forward 15, which aims to help women reach their full potential in the events industry, challenged students to design, execute and evaluate a fundraising event for one of their nominated challenges. Charlotte, Florence and Shannon opted to curate a fashion show using donated items and students as models, raising over £800 in total!

Despite not winning the grand prize, the Edge students did come away with a ‘High Commended’ title and special recognition from Fay Sharpe OBE, who founded Fast Forward 15.

Food Waste Action Week 2025 In March, as a part of our Sustainability module during Level 5, two Edge Hotel School students went above and beyond their assignments to participate in a competition with Guardians of Grub, an initiative founded by WRAP and

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Industry News

Letter from Stephen Robson, General Manager of Wivenhoe House Hotel, the Home of Edge Hotel School Re: Invitation to Sponsor a Bedroom at Wivenhoe House – Supporting Future Hospitality Leaders I hope this message finds you well. I am writing from Wivenhoe House Hotel – the UK’s only teaching hotel, located on the University of Essex campus – to invite you to participate in a unique opportunity to support the next generation of hospitality leaders.

As part of our ongoing commitment to student development, we are relaunching an exciting initiative that invites leading hotel groups to sponsor one of our guest bedrooms. This project connects Edge Hotel School students with realworld hospitality brands, giving them the chance to learn through practical exposure to professional design, branding, and operational standards – all while recognising and celebrating the support of our industry partners.

By sponsoring a bedroom, your brand will be showcased through a bespoke room design, cocreated with our students and team to reflect your identity, culture, and values. It’s a creative and meaningful way to demonstrate your commitment to education, talent development, and the future of our industry – while gaining visibility among a diverse guest profile that includes leisure travellers, business visitors, and academic guests.

We are proud to have the support of exceptional partners including Milsom Hotels, Hilton, and Exclusive Collection. Following a recent refurbishment of their sponsored room, I asked Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of Exclusive Collection, what had motivated their continued involvement. His response was simple: “We have always been happy to support the Edge Hotel School and believe passionately about the project and its vocational educational element.”

What does sponsorship involve?

The opportunity to rename and rebrand one of our bedrooms in line with your hotel group Collaborative design input to ensure the room reflects your brand standards and values – from carpets and wallpaper to amenities and finishing touches A creative partnership with our students and team to bring your vision to life

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What are the benefits?

Direct involvement in shaping the education of future hospitality professionals The opportunity to build relationships with emerging talent for graduate roles, placements, or internships Visibility for your brand within a high-profile, operational hotel environment Potential collaboration on research and development projects relevant to your business and the wider industry – for example, ensuring curriculum content aligns with evolving sector needs Alignment with your Corporate Social Responsibility objectives through meaningful educational support We would be delighted to explore how you could be part of this impactful initiative. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly if you’d like to arrange a conversation or request further information.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to inspire, educate, and empower the future leaders of our industry. I look forward to the possibility of working together.

Warm regards,

Stevie Robson General Manager Wivenhoe House Hotel If you are interested in this incredible opportunity, please email Stevie directly SRobson@WivenhoeHouse.co.uk

Industry News

Get Involved with Edge Hotel School and University of Essex Knowledge Exchange Partnerships Edge Hotel School and our colleagues across the University of Essex are currently supporting the largestever portfolio of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) for an English university. Governmental funding supports 1-1 collaborations between companies/charities and universities to join forces on a project of strategic importance to the partner.

If your organisation has a strategic challenge or opportunity for which you need to bring in new expertise, why not consider partnering with Essex for a 2-3 year collaboration with funding support from Innovate UK? You’ll have a full-time dedicated employee placed within your organisation with a specific brief to deliver the project across its lifecycle, plus the support of an expert academic team and the University’s UK-leading KTP Office.

We are currently working with events industry leader Constellation on a KTP and look forward to exchanging more of our professional knowledge with industry partners.

For more on how KTP can transform your organisation, check out the ‘Business’ tab on the University of Essex website or email Robert Schatten (robert.schatten@essex.ac.uk) with any queries

Study a Part-time Masters with Edge Hotel School Are you an industry professional looking to take the next step in your career?

We are now offering part-time MSc courses in International Hospitality Management, International Events Management, and International Tourism Management.

This is an opportunity to achieve a higher level degree for a higher management role and to develop your knowledge of a subject.

We are already seeing recruitment from industry partners and alumni for the part-time events management Masters to enhance their knowledge and experience, and we still have spaces available for interested professionals.

The part-time route is one day a week over two years and graduates will leave us with a full Masters of Science (MSc).

You don’t even need an undergraduate degree for the part-time Masters at Edge Hotel School, industry experience is considered when applying!

If you’re interested, head over to the Edge Hotel School website for more information, or email Dr Philip Berners (p.berners@essex.ac.uk) with any queries.

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Edge News

Unveiling our new Vision for the Future

Following a period of consultation, Edge Hotel School’s Steering Committee has developed a new Mission Statement which best reflect the strategic goals for the school in the coming years.

As of Summer 2025, our new Mission Statement is: "To be the leading European tourism, hospitality and events hub for transformational higher education and research excellence, specialising in impactful research, industry-engaged learning, and practical education within WHH that inspires our professional graduates to flourish and be coveted by employers."

And our goals to achieve over the coming years are as follows: 1) retaining the position of highest student satisfaction in the University and the sector through quality teaching and assessment, student activities and testing ourselves via student, staff and departmental competitions; 2) generating an annual budgetary surplus through growth, whilst maintaining the welfare and highest standards of working for our students and staff; 3) undertaking research that challenges the status quo, is cutting edge, takes risks, and bridges theory and practice 4) further expanding our industry links and interactions through projects, conferences, careers events, and guest speakers to be recognised as the best place to recruit Tourism, Hospitality, and Events graduates with a wealth of opportunities for our students.

When asked about the need for a new vision, Adrian Martin, Deputy Head of School, added,

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‘Our mission for the last 10 years has been to be "the best place to study Hospitality and Events in the UK", which, with the number of awards we have won this year, alongside the recognition from industry and our students, we feel we need to be even more ambitious. We also have an ever-growing research team who are publishing some exceptional work, and our students are becoming highly sought after. This new mission statement will push us on to even more success and hopefully firmly establish us as a great choice to study Tourism, Hospitality and Events both in the UK and Europe.’

We look forward to continued growth and development of Edge Hotel School in the coming years as we strive to achieve our new missions.

Education & Research

Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME) Conference 2025 20th - 23rd May 2025 saw Edge Hotel School host the annual CHME Research Conference, entitled ‘Transforming the Hospitality Sector through Innovation’.

the Essex Business School where a number of keynote addresses, presentations and posters laid the backdrop for networking and thoughtprovoking discussion about the future of hospitality education.

The four-day conference saw academics from over 40 universities across the globe converge at

Highlights from the event included a doctoral symposium for PhD hopefuls hosted by Dr Whitney Vernes and a gala dinner held at Wivenhoe House Hotel where EHS students wowed diners with their professionalism and experience learned during their placement.

Dr Mostafa Marghany commented “The 33rd annual CHME conference at Edge Hotel School, University of Essex, was a wonderful experience.

It was great to take part in the organisation, connect with inspiring and talented colleagues from around the world, and engage with a wide range of fascinating research topics.”

The 2026 CHME Conference will be hosted at Surrey Business School.

Edge Hotel School staff and students gather with conference delegates in the Essex Business School

Edge News

Three New Directors appointed amongst Edge Hotel School Academic Team Dr Nicola Cade joined Edge Hotel School from Anglia Ruskin University in 2023, where she teaches on a range of tourism and events modules for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Nikki holds a Doctorate in Events Management from King's College, London, as well as a Master of Philosophy in Events Management, and BA Hons in Tourism Management.

Nikki has been promoted to Director of Partnerships and lived in Spain for five years!

Dr Nicola Cade Director of Partnerships

Dr Mostafa Marghany is currently an assistant professor at the Edge Hotel School, University of Essex, UK. He completed his PhD at Swansea University, UK, in 2022 and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK. His research interests include hospitality work, employee/customer experiences, people management, and technological change.

Mostafa has been appointed Director of Postgraduate Research and loves to Barbeque every weekend!

Dr Mostafa Marghany Director of Postgraduate Research

Dr Gabrielle Lin has research interests in neoclassical and behavioural economics in hospitality and tourism, with a focus on demand modelling and decision-making. Gabrielle holds a dual PhD in Tourism Economics from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her recent work has examined the impacts of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis on industry demand and employee wages.

Gabrielle has been recognised as Director of Research and has visited more countries for research than on holiday!

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Dr Gabrielle Lin Director of Research

Education & Research

Recent Publications from the Edge Hotel School Research Team Robots at your service: Understanding hotel guest acceptance with metaUTAUT investigation Dr M. Marghany et al. (2025) In this ground breaking study, Dr Mostafa Marghany and colleagues analysed the main factors contributing to robot acceptance by UK hotel guests, aiming to increase the acceptance of robot technology and ensure the success of robot initiatives.

This study contributes a more comprehensive framework for understanding robot acceptance in hospitality and offers valuable insights for hoteliers and robot designers. It emphasises the significance of user-centred design, clear communication of benefits, and supportive environments to enhance guest experiences and promote robotic service adoption.

Plus size people can and will travel too: body positivity in travel and leisure Dr W. Vernes et al. (2025) In this thought-provoking paper, Dr Whitney Vernes and her team analysed TikTok videos and comments to uncover a landscape of structural challenges, community support, and societal perceptions around plus-size travel.

The paper provides a deeper understanding of how inequalities hinder the inclusion of alternative, non-conforming groups in travel, as represented in online discourses. It also offers empirical insights on advancing inclusivity in tourism and establishes a foundation for implementing changes that foster more equitable tourism experiences.

Pay with a smile? Modelling the continuance use intention of facial recognition payment Dr J. Chang et al. (2025) Research conducted by Dr Jennifer Chang and colleagues reveals the nuanced interplay between artificial autonomy and user perceptions, particularly concerning service enhancement, technology security, and trust, as they influence well-being and the continued adoption of Facial Recognition Payments (FRP) This article highlights that the intention to continue using FRP evolves through three key stages. Initially, in the expectation stage, the multidimensional concept of artificial autonomy (sensing, thought, and action), which is underpinned by self-determination, is pivotal, strongly influencing perceptions of service enhancement and fostering trust in FRP. 7

Education & Research

Join us for your PhD - Applications Now Open!

Unlock your potential with the Edge Hotel School PhD programme, where the future of tourism, hospitality, and events begins. At Edge, research goes beyond academia—it drives real change and challenges conventional thinking across areas like sustainability, social issues, and technology.

You will join a supportive and diverse community, working closely with academic staff and industry leaders who value innovation. You will have access to dedicated research facilities and comprehensive workshops like research methods, literature reviews, and conference presentation skills. Rigorous instruction in research philosophy and tailored supervision ensure you get the best possible support.

A unique advantage at Edge is our partnership with Wivenhoe House Hotel, a luxury country house hotel on our campus. This provides exclusive opportunities for PhD students to engage directly with live hospitality operations, apply research in real-world settings, and collaborate with professionals on-site. You can work on projects, collect data, and develop insights with immediate practical relevance.

Doctoral students are valued as junior academics and an integral part of our school. You can access paid teaching opportunities and a PGR allowance to support your development.

Got questions?

Contact (mostafa.marghany@essex.ac.uk).

Dr

Mostafa

Marghany

Student Life

Alumni Spotlight - Oliver Harris IG MIH BA Hotel Management (2016) General Manager - The Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant, Bath Oliver Harris has been recently promoted to the position of overall General Manager of Bath’s Michelin Key Queensberry Hotel and Michelin Star Olive Tree restaurant, having started as Hotel Manager in November 2024.

Fresh from appearing on the 2025 Boutique Hotelier Power List in the “Young Trailblazers” category, identified by hospitality industry experts as one of the next generation of hospitality talent, this promotion marks another huge step up in a career whose trajectory has been tracking steeply upwards ever since Oliver graduated from Edge Hotel School nine years ago.

Having secured a place on the Exclusive Collection’s Graduate Programme at the five red star country house South Lodge Hotel in West Sussex, Oliver rose after two years to become Food & Beverage Manager at the same group’s four star Fanhams Hall Hotel before moving in 2021 to Whatley Manor Hotel, a two Michelin Key, one Michelin Star, five star country house hotel in the Cotswolds.

Over and above this rapid progression, Oliver’s career has already seen recognition in various forms. He’s an Ambassador for Hospitality Action, whose annual Beaufort Polo Day he runs operationally; in 2023 he won a prestigious Acorn Award (known in the industry as The Top 30 Under 30) and was on the General Manager of the Future shortlist in 2022, which seems especially prescient in light of this promotion.

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Edge News

Our new Departmental Events Calendar for 2025/26

Alumni Homecoming

EHS Annual Conference

Employability Development Day

Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th September 2025

Wednesday 21st January 2026

TBC March 2026

We are excited to be hosting our first-ever Alumni Homecoming event this year, welcoming back any and all alumni to Colchester for two days of networking, CPD, laughing with your classmates and catching up with the new developments of the School.

The Edge Hotel School Student Conference is a staple in our calendar and we are excited to share that it will be returning for the 2025/26 academic year!

In a change of pace from previous years, we have evolved our Careers Fair to now include key elements from both our Undergraduate Careers Catalyst and our Postgraduate Employability Bootcamp to create one allinclusive Employability Development Day.

The itinerary for the homecoming includes plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends as well as reliving your university days, partying at the Students Union and sleeping student halls (Or Wivenhoe House if you prefer!).

On top of this, we will have a very special guest speaker delivering an insightful keynote seminar.

Whether you graduated with our first ever cohort or have only just finished in 2025, we want to celebrate your achievements and hope to see you there!

Booking will open soon, please keep an eye on social media

This iteration will be the 9th annual student conference and we will be exploring the crucial topic of gender within the Hospitality, Events and Tourism space.

Head of School, Prof. Marcus Stephenson adds “We are looking forward to this event and we anticipate strong intellectual discussion as well as debating practical solutions to ongoing challenges in the industry. The conference will also encourage our EHS students to engage with industry stakeholders which has obvious educational and career-based benefits.”

If you are interested in sponsoring or attending the Student Conference, please contact Emily emily.clark@essex.ac.uk to register your interest

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The day will still host a Careers Fair for exhibitors, but will also include a mixture of workshops, roundtables and guest seminars for our students to network with and learn from our industry partners.

We are even able to facilitate Skills Assessments as part of the graduate scheme application process, should any partners be interested in doing so.

If you are an industry partner who is interested in leading a session or holding an exhibition at the careers fair, please contact Emily emily.clark@essex.ac.uk

The next edition of Checking in is due for publication in Winter 2025-26.

If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to ehsindustryengagement@essex.ac.uk and we will remove you from the mailing list.