Checking In With Edge Hotel School
Winter 2025
Welcome to the next edition of the Edge Hotel School Magazine Dear readers, We hope you are well in the lead-up to the festive season. The last 6 months at Edge Hotel School have certainly been a whirlwind and we can’t quite believe that we are about to say goodbye to 2025! This autumn, we dove headfirst into some exciting new collaborations across our local community, with Dr Philip Berners working with North Essex Heritage to renovate and reopen Jumbo Water tower, an iconic landmark of Colchester, as an event space and unlocking an exciting project for our students to present ideas on.
As we look towards 2026, we are excited to welcome another year of innovation and student development, with a series of events designed to shape our student’s future careers and provide CPD opportunities to our alumni and professional network.
Exciting new partnerships
Start 2026 with CPD from Edge Hotel School
Please read on to find out more about what we have been up to, what we have been researching, and where we are going in the future.
Meet the new WHH Council
We hope you enjoy this edition, and wish you a prosperous 2026!
News from Wivenhoe House
Prof. Marcus Stephenson Head of Department
We have also partnered with our local tourism board, Visit Essex, who we will be working closely with to develop the next generation of tourism professionals in East Anglia.
In this newsletter you can expect:
lark C y l i m E
Editor and Industry Engagement Officer emily.clark@essex.ac.uk
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Upcoming events
And much more!
Student Life
Thank you to Constellation for sponsoring The Edge Ball 2025 Constellation Carnival! Edge Hotel School students know how to throw a good party, and this year’s Edge Ball, hosted on Friday 14th November at Wivenhoe House was no exception!
This year’s theme was Constellation Carnival, an ode to the long-time partner of Edge Hotel School and generous sponsor of the event for the second year. Olivia Morrin, Head of Training and Retention at Constellation commented ‘The guys have done really well, I love being able to attend this every year’. Organisers and BA Events Management with Hospitality students Ronaldo, Abigail, and Khiana, alongside classmate Scarlett had been working on the event since June, as part of their coursework. The event gives the students an opportunity to plan, operate and de-brief the sponsor, providing valuable experience that will help them in their future careers. Special thanks to Ryan, Olivia and the whole team at Constellation for their continuous support of our events and activities at Edge Hotel School.
The event was a true celebration of colour and students got creative with the decorations
Industry News
Edge Hotel School Conference Theme Reveal The 2026 edition of our annual conference will be our ninth iteration and we are very excited to announce that the theme we will be exploring is all around women’s issues. The title for our conference is Creating Space for Women in Hospitality, Tourism and Events As a department, we feel strongly that this timely topic will provide fascinating insights and respectful discussion. The event will be held on Wednesday 21st January 2026 in London. If you are interested in attending, please email ehsindustryengagement@essex.ac.uk and we will get back to you with information about how to reserve your ticket. Thank you, as always, to the Edge Foundation for their sponsorship of this event, and thank you to our new partner Hertelier for their support.
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From the House
Abbee working hard in the Garden Suite helping to turn the room around after an event
The Inntelo AI interface lets guests interact with the hotel through WhatsApp
(L-R) Sahil, Lisa and Rajeev at The Wedding Industry Awards (East of England)
News from the House There have been lots of exciting developments in Wivenhoe House Hotel, the home of Edge Hotel School The second half of 2025 for Wivenhoe House can probably be summarised by the word ‘Progress’! Between award nominations and wins, exciting partnerships and new technology trials, Wivenhoe House has been at the tip of innovation in hospitality excellence.
that there is a team of busy bees working tirelessly to keep the hotel spotless! Award Season It’s been a busy industry awards season for the events team at Wivenhoe House, with both the Essex Wedding Awards and The Wedding Industry Awards (East of England region) proving fruitful. Firstly, following nominations in five separate categories at the Essex Wedding Awards, Wivenhoe House scooped the top prize in both the Historic Wedding Venue of the Year and Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year categories. Then whilst still riding high on success, the hotel won best Hotel Venue of the Year in the East of England regional competition of The Wedding Industry Awards, now qualifying them as a finalist in the national awards, due to be announced on Wednesday 21st January 2026.
Virtual Concierge Wivenhoe House Hotel are now working with Inntelo, a leading artificial intelligence software that acts as a virtual concierge and allows guests to order food and beverage or housekeeping amenities from the comfort of their bedroom or table in the Stirling Lounge, through WhatsApp, and hopes are that the system will eventually allow guests to check in and out of their rooms in their own native tongue if they are not confident in speaking to staff at reception in English. Abbee Robots Change is a-buzz in Wivenhoe House thanks to the implementation of our brand-new Abbee Robot Vacuum cleaners! These cute little devices are being deployed across the hotel to give the Housekeeping team a helping hand (or wing) to give them time to focus on other important tasks instead of wasting valuable time on vacuuming. The bots have been designed to resemble bees and Wivenhoe House’s hive of 10 Abbees will be primarily used in function rooms during change-over and public areas overnight, so even though you may never see them, know
Planday Leaders in rota management software, Planday has been implemented at Wivenhoe House since 2023, however we have recently rolled this platform out to our students for tracking their placements too. The easy-to-use app and web interface means students are able to track and clock into their shifts with ease, saving time for hotel heads of departments, and the team at Edge Hotel School who must track student attendance.
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From the House
Meet the Wivenhoe House Student Council The Edge Hotel School Student Council is a coalition of EHS students from across courses and cohorts, alongside Hotel General Manager Stephen Robson and Edge Hotel School’s Adrian Martin and Emily Clark. The Council aims to improve student experience within the hotel and provide a forum for innovation and transparency. Student Councillors will hold office for a year before they are to elect their successors. The current members are: Vaibhav Sharma (Level 6 Hospitality Management) Charlotte Swain (Level 6 Events Management) Florence Sweetman (Level 6 Events Management) Jessica Jacobs (Level 6 Hospitality Management) Scarlett McGloin (Level 5 Hotel Management) Poppy Chambers (Level 5 Events Management) Katie Hopwood (Level 5 Events Management)
Edge News
Edge Hotel School welcomes our first Tourism students at BA and MSc level Edge Hotel School were pleased to welcome the first of our BA International Tourism Management and MSc International Tourism Management students this autumn, having adopted the undergraduate course from the Essex Business School and diversified our postgraduate offering. When asked about why they chose to study at Essex, undergraduate students Emily and Kamille said ‘At the University of Essex, we have an opportunity to work alongside Wivenhoe House Hotel and Edge Hotel School to gain experience and knowledge which we can use in the industry. Another reason is the location of the university, as it is close to Colchester City which includes historic sites such as Colchester Castle and the fact it is the oldest city in the country which brings in many tourists’ Colchester is a hub for local tourism, with 6 international airports within two hours, ferry terminals in nearby Harwich, and masses of local history right on our doorstep. The students continued ‘We recently had a trip to Colchester Caste which helped us gain knowledge of tourist numbers and how the marketing is effective within the local tourism industry. Having this experience helps us gain an out of book experience on the tourists in the city and the impact’
The curriculum for both courses is supported by Visit Essex, the local tourism board for the county. We thank Visit Essex for their support thus far and look forward to our continued partnership.
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Student Life
Career Support for Life as an EHS student Don’t forget about the range of support you can receive from the Careers team whilst studying here and beyond. You’ve got a whole team here to back you, from CV reviews to interview preparation, we’re here to help you sharpen your applications and stand out from the crowd. Or perhaps you need help in deciding on or searching for your next position (part-time, grad scheme, further study or career), we will support you to make bold steps toward the career you want. View our range of resources and events on CareerHub and to speak to a Careers Advisor specific to your faculty, select and book a ‘guidance appointment’ in the Appointments section. If you need support with this, please email csinfo@essex.ac.uk.
Katie Betteridge (R) works alongside Ann Ord who are the Careers Consultants for Arts and Humanities, whilst Katie specialises in Edge Hotel School; East 15 and LiFTS careers support.
Industry News
Building Employability through our Community - Invitation to our Employability Development Day Wednesday 4th March 2026 will see Edge Hotel School students participate in a day of career development, which will combine our ever-popular careers fair with our developmental Careers Catalyst and Postgraduate Bootcamp events to form one all-inclusive convention of employability. We are seeking support from our industry network to deliver short presentations to our students, with the aim of improving their job-seeking literacy. Sessions will be around 20-minutes long and could cover topics such as: How to write a successful CV that beats AI applicant tracking software The importance of a cover letter - and why it’s not just a re-worded CV Standing out at interview and how to know what questions to ask the interviewer Lessons you learned when searching for your own role What soft or transferrable skills you look for when considering an applicant for a position How to start your own business Or any topic of your choosing that fits the theme! All themes will be vetted before the day to ensure that there are no duplications in your session, maximising turnout. If you’re interested in attending the event and delivering a workshop, please email ehsindustryengagement@essex.ac.uk with the subject line ‘Employability Development Day’ Many thanks in advance, Emily Clark AIH Industry Engagement Officer 5
Education & Research
The Practical Guide to Managing Human Resources in Hospitality, Hotels and Events Jennifer Kaye Taking a practical approach, this insightful book provides key guidance and insights from HR professionals working in hospitality, hotels, and events, showing how aspects of HR are facilitated in the working world, using case studies and practical examples to elucidate theory. With contributions from a range of industry HR professionals, this volume aims to enhance the comprehension of a range of practical HR-related issues facing the hospitality, hotels, and events industries. This book will contain real-life experiences, complementing the ideal process that HR follows when recruiting, onboarding, training, monitoring performance, and when rewarding staff. The book also considers legal issues faced by an industry which continues to handle staffing challenges, alongside post-Brexit and Covid pandemic shortages. International in scope, this volume is a pivotal resource for college and university-level students studying hospitality, hotel, or events management subjects, as well as those with a general interest or career in HR or management, such as those with an involvement in planning hospitality staffing, or individuals responsible for planning corporate, charitable, or private events.
The Practical Guide to Organising Events (Second Edition) Dr Philip Berners Fully updated in its second edition, The Practical Guide to Organising Events is a short, accessible, and practical guide on how to successfully plan and organise a variety of event types in a wide range of contexts. International in scope and appeal, the core sections of the text are logically structured around the key stages of events management – pre‑event, onsite, and post‑event – offering essential practical insight and guidance throughout the whole process. This new edition includes content on hybrid/live events, the MICE sector, event culture, sociology of professions, event tourism, experiential events, the experience economy, attitude to risk, emerging event locations, and qualifications versus experience, amongst other relevant topics. Based on experience, using real‑life case studies and anecdotal examples, this guidebook is essential reading for students, scholars, and academics with an interest in events, tourism, and hospitality management, as well as practitioners already working within the events industry.
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Industry News
Why not integrate a part-time MSc into your Graduate Scheme or Management Training Programme? Looking to upskill your existing managers and support their continual professional development? Are you looking to attract more graduates with a unique offering or outsource your training? Why not integrate our Part-time Masters Degree to your programmes: Just one day per week over two years, excluding Easter, Summer and Christmas. No undergraduate degree required (based on having industry experience). Start in October or January, whichever best suits your business needs. Upper-management-level teaching by subject-specialist academics with industry experience, including people management, luxury marketing, and finance. Options include MSc programs in International Tourism Management, International Events Management, and International Hospitality Management, each tailored for managers in tourism, events, F&B, and accommodation. To arrange an informal conversation about how we can support your business needs, please email Philip: P.Berners@Essex.ac.uk
Student Life
Alumni Spotlight - Jessica Lee BA Events Management (2023) Founder - Sweet Treat Food Festival
‘Putting yourself out there can be daunting, but it really is worth it as the connections you make are invaluable’
Hi, I am Jess! I studied Events Management at Edge Hotel School from 2020-2023 and am now the founder of my own business, Sweet Treat Food Festival! Sweet Treat Food Festival is a events business holding fun, interactive confectionery themed events across Essex & Suffolk currently. As a student I had a Business Strategy Module with Adrian in which we were tasked to come up with a business idea and in doing so, I noticed a gap in the market as no food festivals were focusing on bakers or desserts, which is how I came up with my business idea. I set-up the business in 2024 after having a few successful event manager job roles post graduating but I kept thinking about how great it would be to see if I followed my dream and went for it, so I did! I really enjoyed learning the ins & outs of business within this module at EHS. Our 2026 events calendar is being planned now, stay tuned by following our social media @sweet.treatfoodfestival on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok. We are planning on expanding through holding more events in 2026, collaborations and a few big reveals which we can’t wait to share with you next year! It’s always a great idea to build upon relationships with other businesses through reaching out directly and attending networking. It takes time to build a start-up organically, but with the willpower and small wins you will notice over time how much you have grown. My advice to students is to ensure you connect with those close to you - family & friends and enjoy your social time as well as focussing on your own personal, academic or business goals.
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Student Life
Where have our students been?
Poppy
Florence
BA Events Management
BA Events Management
Level 5
Level 6
This summer was honestly one of the busiest I’ve had, but it taught me loads and gave me some great opportunities. I spent part of my break doing work experience with Colchester Events, which was a real eye opener. I got to see how much work goes on behind the scenes to pull off events that look effortless. It was fun, and a bit chaotic at times, but it definitely made me even more excited about working in the events industry. At the same time, I kept working my parttime job at Wivenhoe House Hotel, right in the middle of wedding season. If you know wedding season, you know it’s non stop! But I actually loved it. Being part of people’s big days, rushing around getting everything right, and working with a team that supports each other, it all helped me grow in confidence and pick up skills I wouldn’t get elsewhere. When I came back to uni, I interviewed students and staff about their favourite thing in Colchester. It was a really nice way to start the term, chatting to new people and helping make something fun. And probably the thing I’m most proud of is getting a social media internship. It’s pushed me to be creative and think differently, and it’s made me realise how much I enjoy the social media side of events and hospitality. Overall, it wasn’t a relaxing summer, but it was a really rewarding one. I learned a lot, met great people, and took steps that I know will help me in the future.
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to move to Orlando and work for The Walt Disney Company through the Disney Cultural Exchange Program. After a simple application process with YummyJobs, I suddenly found myself 4,000 miles from home, living and working at ‘the most magical place on Earth’. Despite the continuous feeling of missing my dogs, it was an undeniable extraordinary summer. I worked in quick-service food and beverage at Magic Kingdom, and I couldn’t have asked for a better role. It was amazing to see how something as small as a box of popcorn could brighten a guest’s day. Through my training and work, I understood how Disney creates magic and how special it is to continue that, even outside of Disney. Living abroad, especially in Orlando, was eyeopening. I met incredible people from around the world and fully immersed myself in American culture, from celebrating my first Fourth of July to exploring Target and visiting Gator Land. Overall, it was an unforgettable summer, and a magical experience I’ll always carry with me.
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The next edition of Checking in is due for publication in Summer 2026. 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.
Education & Research
Quickfire news Edge Hotel School goes Plant-Based! Edge Hotel School have committed to catering our departmental events 100% plant-based, starting in 2026. This is in an effort to reduce our environmental impact and foster an inclusive environment for all attendees who may avoid certain animal products for ethical, health or religious reasons.
Sharing the Essex Spirit This year, Edge Hotel School collaborated with a number of other departments across the University to develop our student’s knowledge. We thank our colleagues and research students for giving up their time to contribute to our curriculum.
Kicking off our Knowledge Transfer Partnership 2026 will see Edge Hotel School commence our first Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the market leader in contract hospitality provision. The project will develop a toolkit of recruitment, training, retention and progression best practices for the hospitality industry. Research will be led by a team of Dr Philip Berners of EHS, Dr Elaine Yerby of Essex Business School and Research Associate Rishabh Gupta.
Big plans in place for Colchester’s Jumbo Project Edge Hotel School students have been given a rare opportunity to shape history as we partner with North Essex Heritage as they tackle the renovation of the Jumbo water tower into a versatile events space. The development is funded by the National Lotto Heritage Fund and students have submitted their proposals for the space’s interior using life simulator game The Sims 4.
Congratulations to Sam and Abby Baby Theo, son of EHS alumni Sam and Abby, turned one in November and is the first baby to be born to an Edge Hotel School couple. Sam and Abby graduated in 2017 and co-own The Three Horseshoes in Fordham, which has recently been awarded with three AA rosettes and won Pub of the Year 2024 at the East of England Tourism Awards.
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Education & Research
Recent Article Publications Articles our Edge Hotel School Research team have worked on
Dr Jennifer Yee-Shan Chang Exploring Generative Artificial Intelligence In Service Industries: Adoption And Customer Acceptance (2025) Antecedents and consequences of digital human avatar-destination fit: The case of cultural heritage tourism (2025) What Makes Users Recommend Their Mobile Travel App? Findings From an Innovation Diffusion and Social Exchange Theory Perspective (2025) Authentic experience in the metaverse: a situated cognition perspective of metaverse food festivals (2025)
Dr Gabrielle Lin The heterogeneity of hotel demand curves across consumers and contexts (2025) Wage stagnation in leisure and hospitality during the cost-of-living crisis: the role of labor segmentation, cost burden, and structural constraints (2025)
Dr Mostafa Marghany Technology Anxiety in Virtual Reality Adoption: Examining the Impact of Age, Past Experience, and Cybersickness (2025) Heritage hotels: An exploration of staff experiences in these unique hospitality environments (2025) Food-influencer vs peer voices: understanding E-reputation and repurchase intentions through social influence (2025)
Prof. Marcus L. Stephenson The effect of social media influencers' synchronous and asynchronous interactivity on revisit intention: mediating effects of inspiration and travel aspiration (2025) The impact of social media influencers on viewers’ inspiration towards tourism destinations and revisit intention: a combined PLS-SEM and NCA approach (2025) Tourist or resident, or maybe both? International students’ staycation considerations (2025) The contribution of social media influencers to sustainable travel behaviour: the mediating role of inspiration and involvement in sustainable travel practices (2025) A systematic review of challenges faced by Micro and small Enterprises in Tourism Destinations: Producing solutions through resilience building and sustainable development (2025) 10