Checking In With Edge Hotel School
Summer 2026
Hello from Edge Hotel School! We hope you are managing to keep cool in this summer heat. The first half of 2026 has certainly been an eventful one for us here at Edge, coming in strong with our annual conference in January. This year we hosted at The View in London, and explored the theme Making Space for Women which included insightful conversations with female leaders, and interesting panel discussions about creating gender equity within hospitality, tourism, and events. Thank you as always to the Edge Foundation for their support. Then only a few months later we hosted a masterclass in employability matters at Wivenhoe House, in conjunction with the Essex Careers Team and a select few industry partners. The event was, by all accounts, a great success, and we hope that our students utilise the skills they developed and wisdom that was imparted through the experts panel as they begin to build their careers or seek opportunities for growth over the
In this edition you can expect:
the summer break. We also recently said goodbye to our Level 6 Hospitality Management and Events Management cohort the only way we know how - pizza and rounders! Amongst the cohort were students who have won numerous awards for the School over their time, so it is safe to say that their legacy will live on. Lastly, as we look towards the summer and start of the new academic year, we can now share that Edge Hotel School will be merging with the Essex Business School (EBS) from August. This new chapter is sure to bring some exciting changes and energy as we collaborate with our colleagues in EBS, ignite new research opportunities, and tap into their knowledge to bring our students an even better university experience.
lark C y l i m E
Checking In Editor and EHS Industry Engagement Officer emily.clark@essex.ac.uk 1
Edge Hotel School are Making History Congratulations are in order for Students and Staff alike Exciting new Partnerships and Projects Exciting Accolades from WHH
EHS have gone Global
And much more!
Edge News
Partnership with NIBM Commences Edge Hotel School have officially launched our academic partnership with the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) in Sri Lanka, where students can now study University of Essex accredited BA (Hons) top-up courses in International Tourism and Hospitality Management
Management. Director of Partnerships for Edge Hotel School, Dr Nicola Cade said “I am incredibly excited about the partnership between Edge Hotel School and NIBM, as it reflects our shared commitment to delivering high-quality transnational education. By bringing together our expertise, we are creating opportunities for students in Sri Lanka to gain a globally recognised UK degree while studying in their local context, preparing the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world” This opportunity marks the first Edge Hotel School-accredited degree to be taught away from our Colchester campus, and are excited to see how the global Edge Hotel School student and alumni network grows.
Industry News
EHS Launches Online Game - Have You got what it takes? Following years of refinement and hundreds of student participants, the popular learning game utilised by Adrian during open days, school visits and in-class to teach about decision-making and financial investments, the Calamity Business Simulation series is now available to play for free on our website! The series of games challenge the player, either solo or in teams, to make a series of financial decisions over eight rounds to turnaround a failing business, either a hotel, airline, restaurant, or conference centre. Options range from ‘big picture’ ideas such as replacing key members of staff, to investing in training for employees or negotiating supplier contracts. Players are judged on a series of metrics including staff satisfaction and retention, quality and standards, and of course profitability! With three modes of difficulty, the games are suitable for all, from prospective students up to seasoned general managers looking for a challenge. The current high score was set by a team of managers at the Mandarin Oriental 5 years ago, can you bet them? To try for yourself, please https://www.essex.ac.uk/departments/edge-hotelschool/information-for-schools/interactive-activities register your details to play. 2
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From the House
Wivenhoe House Hotel awarded Rosette and 4 Silver Stars by AA We’re proud to share some exciting news from Wivenhoe House Hotel.
the last couple of years to keep improving, so it’s great to see that rewarded. We’re proud not only of the restaurant team, but of everyone across the hotel, especially with our improved 4 Silver Star accreditation as well.” – Stevie Robson, General Manager, Wivenhoe House Hotel
We have officially been awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence, alongside an upgraded AA 4 Silver Star accreditation, a fantastic achievement for the whole team and recognition of the hard work that has gone into continually improving the guest experience across the hotel.
A Proud Moment for the Team Over the last year, the team at Wivenhoe House has continued to focus on raising standards across both the restaurant and hotel, from the dining experience through to overnight stays, weddings and events.
Award-Winning Dining at Wivenhoe House Hotel The AA Rosette is awarded to restaurants that stand out for the quality of their food, consistency and overall dining experience, making it a huge milestone for the kitchen team and Park Brasserie Restaurant.
This latest recognition is a reflection of that work, and a proud moment for everyone involved.
“After narrowly missing out last year, finally winning an AA Rosette feels amazing. The whole team has put so much hard work into improving what we do, so it’s brilliant to see that recognised. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved together.” – Andrew Turnbull, Head Chef, Wivenhoe House Hotel
Whether you’re joining us for dinner in the Park Brasserie, afternoon tea, a weekend stay or a special celebration, there’s never been a better time to visit Wivenhoe House Hotel. To experience the dining excellence of Park Brasserie at Wivenhoe House Hotel, please visit www.wivenhoehouse.co.uk/park-brasserie/ or call +44 (0) 1206 863 666 to book a table.
Celebrating the Entire Hotel Team Alongside the Rosette Award, Wivenhoe House has also been upgraded to an AA 4 Silver Star hotel, recognising the quality of hospitality, service and overall guest experience throughout the property. “It’s fantastic to see the team’s hard work recognised with an AA Rosette. Andrew and the kitchen team have worked incredibly hard over 3
Edge News
Doc Martin - No longer just stylish footwear or a beloved TV show Edge Hotel School wish to congratulate our Deputy Head of Department, Adrian Martin, on successfully defending his PhD and being awarded the title of Doctor!
Situational Factors and Staff Personality. Furthermore, on average, patrons tip 10.2% of the total bill value, 66.4% of the time; and service charges are unpopular amongst both customers and staff alike.
Over the course of 6 years, Adrian dove deep into what motivates diners to complain or tip, analysing over 1,000 surveys from 100 participants over the course of a year whenever they ate out. On top of this, he conducted interviews with staff from servers to management, and a ..... selection of restaurant patrons based on the frequency of which they complained or tipped.
If you’re interested in finding out more or having Adrian consult on your business, please reach out by email: amartil@essex.ac.uk.
When asked about his motivation for undertaking this research, Adrian said ‘6 years ago Michael Voight (MD of The Goring Hotel) said to me "If you can identify customers who are more likely to complain or leave negative reviews, tell us industry averages for tipping and compensation, identify ways to reduce complaints and increase positive reviews, that would really be something", so that’s what I have done!’ The results speak for themselves. Amongst other findings, the research uncovered three key variables that impact the guest experience, Staff Interaction,
Student Life
Student Spotlight: Adam Tear-Edmonds, BA Events Management When I started studying Event Management at the University of Essex, I knew I wanted to gain as much hands-on experience as possible alongside my degree to ensure I was as employable as possible by the time graduation came. During my first year, I made it a goal to say yes to opportunities that would help me learn more about the industry and develop practical skills. I began by volunteering at events, such as OffScript, which allowed me to build confidence and gain experience working with guests, speakers and event teams. One of my first volunteering opportunities eventually developed into paid work, which showed me the value of putting myself forward and getting involved. Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to support a range of events, including TEDx, conferences, exhibitions and live events. These experiences helped me develop skills in event operations, stage management support, guest services and event coordination. I also joined the EHS Conference Planning Committee, giving me insight into the planning and delivery of events from a different perspective. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that experience often comes from being proactive. Many of the opportunities I have been involved with came from networking, reaching out to organisations and being willing to volunteer to gain experience. I think it is important to try your best to put yourself into situation where opportunities may arise, instead of waiting for them to come to you. As I move into my second year, I am looking forward to continuing to build my experience across live events, festivals and event operations. My long-term goal is to work on major international events such as the Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup, and my first year has given me a strong foundation to work towards that ambition. 4
Student Life
Students pitched their idea to Irene Kettle of North Essex Heritage, the charity behind The Jumbo Project L-R: Jay Dykes; Jessica Jacobs; Sophia Boyle; Irene Kettle; Kacie Neijs-Starr; Vaibhav Sharma
Edge Hotel School students envisage the future of iconic Jumbo water tower Students from Essex’s Edge Hotel School have come up with ideas helped reimagine for the future of Colchester’s iconic Jumbo Water Tower, delivering a bold new vision suggestions that has impressed project leaders. and could influence the landmark’s redevelopment.
The Jumbo Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, the Grade ll* listed former water tower will be conserved and adapted into a commercially viable and accessible visitor attraction and venue.
The consultancy project challenged students to develop creative proposals for the historic structure, building on earlier calls for fresh ideas to transform the much-loved site. Rising to the task, the group went beyond the original brief, proposing that Jumbo should become a destination restaurant, The Balkerne Bistro, rather than a traditional events venue.
Following the success of their presentation, the students have been invited to present their ideas again to trustees and the council, highlighting the practical value of their work. The project reflects the Edge Hotel School’s hands-on approach to learning, where students tackle live industry challenges and develop practical solutions with genuine impact.
Their concept blends dining with exclusivity, suggesting a limited programme of just 12 weddings per year, supported by a targeted campaign to emphasise the uniqueness of the space. The students also recommended engaging the local community by launching a school competition to design the venue’s branding, alongside developing a virtual reality walk-through to showcase their interior concepts, fabrics and colour schemes.
Adrian Martin, from the Edge Hotel School, said: “This consultancy tested our students with the freedom to recommend a whole new strategy for Colchester’s famous Jumbo tower. They did us proud with a superb presentation and may well have shaped the future of this iconic local building and helped create a place for future students at the Hotel School to work in and learn the trade.” The initiative not only demonstrates the creativity and professionalism of Essex students, but also underlines the potential for collaboration between the University and local partners to shape the future of the region’s heritage assets.
The innovative approach has already made a strong impact. Irene Kettle, who helps manage Trustee of North Essex Heritage, the charity behind The Jumbo Project for North Essex Heritage said: “The project was incredibly well received, I was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm, expertise and ideas.” I am at the standard and their ideas will most certainly be going forward.”
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Student Life
Interview with our Alumni - Lauren Armstrong BA Hotel Management (2018) MSc International Events Management (current) Assistant Manager - Slim Chickens In this special edition of our Alumni Spotlight series, I sat down with Lauren Armstrong from the class of 2018, who is currently studying her Master’s with Edge Hotel School part-time alongside her full-time job managing a busy food venue. Hi Lauren, thank you for taking the time to talk to me today. Let’s dive right in - you previously studied your Bachelor’s degree at Edge, so what first drew you back to us for your Master’s? When I finished my undergrad in 2018, I had always intended to do a Master’s but wasn’t entirely sure how it would relate to my future career so I waited a while. Then I had a conversation with Phil [Dr Philip Berners] who mentioned that Edge were starting an events-based Master’s and I’ve always been really fascinated by events and the local events market, and the way it has evolved since Covid. I’m really glad that I chose the International Events Management course after speaking with Phil, as I was originally thinking about the International Hospitality Management Course. But since I already studied hospitality at undergraduate level it made sense for me to diversify my knowledge and career prospects by learning about the events industry as well. It also helps that I met a great group of classmates on the events course who are also studying part-time, and we all support each other, both in the classroom and outside of it. That’s great, and how do you think the course will benefit your future career ambitions? I have thought about becoming a lecturer. The best jobs I have had since I left uni have been ones that focus on training and development, such as when I worked in the hotel [Wivenhoe House Hotel] training the students, I feel that the valuable experience I had being at Edge before them, and going through the course, helped me understand them and their training needs. As you mentioned, you have studied at Edge as an Undergraduate and now as a Postgraduate, so I’m curious to know, what has been the biggest difference you noticed between the two levels of study? I would say the writing style feels very different, and it had been a while since I needed to find and use academic sources. Plus getting back into the swing of working on assignments whilst working a full-time job has also been an adjustment. Can you tell me more about your job and how you study alongside working? I work as Assistant Manager at a local restaurant and I am quite lucky as I have a very understanding boss who has accommodated my study by giving me days off to come to lectures, and allowing me time off to focus on assignments when I have deadlines approaching. I also have great people around me which has motivated me when things get tough, for example my partner is very supportive and makes jokes that he expects me to get a distinction. When I got my first results back and it was over 70% he went out and got me a little ‘well done’ present. It helps that the course is split over two years with gaps over Christmas and the summer so that I get a break from studying and can focus on work. So you have a gap now from May until October when you are not studying, what are your plans in the meantime? Mainly I will be working, as it is our busy season over the summer, but I want to start thinking about my dissertation that I will be handing in this time next year, which is exciting. And lastly, what would be your advice to someone who is thinking about studying a part-time Master’s with Edge Hotel School? I would say that it’s important to really think it through, it’s a whole new mindset that you have to unlock. There will be challenges when you’re balancing work and study, but it’s worth it to move your career forward, especially if you have already found a career path that you love! Fancy studying a higher-level degree for a higher-level career in hospitality, events, or tourism? Reach out to Dr Philip Berners to start the conversation: p.berners@essex.ac.uk 6
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 experience).
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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, or 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
Edge News
EHS Students to support Renovation and Re-opening of Natural History Museum Colchester Natural History Museum has been open to visitors since 1958, residing in one of the city’s oldest buildings, the former All Saint’s Church. In that time, due to limited funding and investments, the displays and programmes at the venue have sadly become outdated. An exciting new partnership with Edge Hotel School and thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Colchester City Council, and other funders will see the museum revitalised for the 21st century through the inception of a project known as Wild About Essex. The project will run from 2026 through until 2030, with Edge being involved for the duration of the project and integrating key milestones into the curriculum for students, allowing them the opportunity to make a real difference to the local community that they call home whilst studying. Over the duration of three academic years, hospitality and tourism students will get hands-on experience of conducting market analysis and making evidence-based recommendations for activities, learning programmes, displays and resources that can better engage a diverse range of audiences. Meanwhile, events management students will consult on the planning and delivery of the museum’s launch event,. The project was conceived by Philip Berners of Edge Hotel School, who is also a Trustee of Colchester Development Foundation. 7
Student Life
Congratulations to the 2025/26 Edge Hotel School Scholarship Winners - Poppy and Scarlett Please join us in congratulating our newest students to be awarded with Edge Hotel School Scholarships!
P: I still have a year left at Edge, then as soon as I graduate, I plan to go to Australia to see the events industry out there, see how tour groups work, and learn more about their culture. S: My goals are similar. I finish my course in August, however I plan to stay at [University of] Essex to do my Master’s. But then me and Poppy are going to explore the West Coast of Australia and I want to learn as much as I can about hospitality and how different countries do it.
Despite growing up in the same city completely unbeknownst to each other, Poppy and Scarlett became fast friends once they started at Edge Hotel School, and the duo have now secured a pair of Scholarships to honour their commitment to the events and hospitality industry, respectively. Candidates were assessed based on a short written application, their performance in Wivenhoe House Hotel and in the classroom, and shortlisted applicants were invited to an interview with Edge Hotel School staff and an external panellist. Both Poppy and Scarlett scored highly in all three assessments and ultimately came out on top, being awarded their scholarship titles:
Longer term, the girls both plan to return to the UK and experience life in the capital. When asked about how the accolade will help set them apart, Poppy commented ‘I think this [award] will be so helpful, I think that everyone uses LinkedIn and I find a lot of people support posts about scholarship wins, especially when you have big names like The Savoy Educational Trust or Master Innholders affiliated with it.’ ‘The opportunities that this is going to bring are amazing. The money is secondary to be honest, as the title and recognition is the big prize!’ adds Scarlett.
The Stuart Johnson Scholarship 2026, in partnership with The Master Innholders Poppy Chambers, Events Management The Savoy Educational Trust Scholarship 2026 - Scarlett McGloin, Hotel Management
Edge Hotel School Scholarships are offered to all EHS students in level 5 of their studies, regardless of discipline. Applications for 2026/27 will open early next year.
The students join a long list of Edge Hotel School alumni who have been honoured with sponsored scholarships, donated by our network of industry partners and esteemed industry bodies.
Thank you to The Savoy Educational Trust, and The Master Innholders and Johnson family for your support.
When asked about what their plans for their futures are, here’s what they had to say: xxxxxxxxxx 8
Education & Research
Recent Article Publications Articles our Edge Hotel School Research team have worked on
Dr Philip Berners Book: The practical guide to organising events (second edition)
Prof. Dorina-Maria Buda Book: Emotions and affective decisions in hospitality equity investment
Dr Jennifer Yee-Shan Chang Health anxiety and information-seeking in the digital age: a two-wave study of cyberchondria (2026) Not just there, but real: how telepresence drives authenticity and user evaluations (2026)
Jennifer Kaye Book: the practical guide to managing human resources in hospitality, hotels and events
Dr Gabrielle Lin A time-varying behavioural economic model for dynamic hotel demand analysis (2026)
Dr Mostafa Marghany From slavery to fair work in hospitality: how new technologies affect? (2025) Food influencer vs peer voices: understanding E-reputation and repurchase intentions through social influence (2026) ChatGPT and other generative AI: a revolution or a setback in H&T research and publishing (2026) Tech at the table: managerial insights into workforce evolution in restaurants (2026)
Prof. Marcus L. Stephenson Competing interests and heritage conservation: examining the political economy of tourism at the Borobudur World Heritage Site (2026) Evaluating the rationale underpinning digital technology integration among tourism microenterprises in a developing country: business owners’ perspectives (2026) Rethinking smart technology adoption in foodservice microbusinesses through specialist-driven action research (2026)
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