EHS Student Conference programme 2024 by Edge Hotel School

EDGE HOTEL SCHOOL Student Conference 2024

Eventful Horizon - Navigating the Future of Hospitality and Event Management

JW MARRIOTT GROSVENOR HOUSE, LONDON

WEDNESDAY 17TH JANUARY 2024

to the Edge Hotel School

Annual Student Conference 2024

This is the 7th annual conference that EHS has organised for its students and we are especially grateful to our hosts, JW Marriott, Grosvenor House for their enthusiastic support and assistance in hosting this event.

EHS has always enjoyed doing things differently and we take great pride in the fact that no other department in the University (or for that matter a majority of Universities) stage this sort pf prestigious event for their undergraduate students.

The original idea of organising a Student Conference was to allow our students to engage with industry, listen to contemporary thinking and experience what it is like to be a customer / delegate (rather than experiencing it from a supplier’s perspective!). This approach is still as valid today as it was with our first student conference.

As ever, our industry is beset by a range of issues from rising raw resource costs, to difficulties in recruiting good staff, to increasing the sustainability of their operations… and many more besides. These are issues that form the environment that our alumni graduate into and hence it is important that all of our students (both past and present) have the opportunity to spend some time gaining insights into best practice from our industry as well as networking with them.

The title of our event this year is ‘Eventful Horizon – Navigating the Future of Hospitality and Event Management’. The title, which was suggested to us, seemed to encapsulate the very fast moving changes that are facing our industry and graduates and we have therefore selected keynote speakers to not only give an assessment of where our industry currently is, but also how they are coping with the current challenges and their (in some instances) amazing plans for the future.

In delivering this conference, we acknowledge the consistent support, encouragement and sponsorship of Stuart Bowery and Lotte Bergsma and their team from Marriott as well as Susan Higgins and our founding partner, the Edge Foundation. On behalf of the School, its staff and students, thank you.

To you, our student delegates, I hope you have a thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding and thought provoking day.

Andy Boer

Associate Professor and Head of Department Edge Hotel School

A G E N D A

13.00 to 14.00 – Arrival lunch to be served

14.10 to 14.20 – Student Conference to commence - welcome from Stuart Bowery

14.20 to 14.40 – Kate Nicholls OBE, UKHospitality

SHORT BREAK

14.45 to 15.05 –Jon Dawson, Lore Group

SHORT BREAK

15.10 to 15.30 – Dr. Abeer Alamri, Saudi Arabian Ministry of Tourism

SHORT BREAK

15:45 to 16:30 – Industry Leadership & Management Panel

SHORT BREAK

16:35 to 17:05 – EHS Alumni Panel ‘How I did it!’

17.05-17.15 – Closing Remarks

17:15 to 19:00 – Industry Networking Reception, sponsored by the Edge Foundation

I n d u s t r y E n g a g e m e n

Today signifies a momentous opportunity for your professional growth within the esteemed confines of Edge Hotel School.

The annual Student Conference, a pinnacle event in our academic calendar, symbolizes the culmination of our esteemed standing and collaborative ties with industry partners. Over the years, the school has diligently fostered relationships with prominent entities in hospitality, events, tourism, and hotels both in the UK and beyond. Engaging with these partners aligns with our commitment to 'industry engaged education,' setting Edge Hotel School apart from our peers in higher education.

Throughout this conference, you will gain insights from industry leaders on the broader facets of hospitality and events, along with the requisites for leadership in 2024.

Additionally, we have extended invitations to accomplished alumni who once stood in your shoes, encouraging you to leverage this occasion for networking. Seize the opportunity to cultivate professional relationships that will shape your future career and absorb the advice shared by experienced individuals. Initiate conversations, exchange business cards, and establish your presence among influential members of our community.

Remember, as a member of Edge Hotel School, you belong to a select group of likeminded individuals sharing values, experiences, and professional commitments. Thus, your conduct is expected to reflect the school’s reputation in a commendable manner. Acknowledge that as a part of this community, you are not merely a student but a budding professional at the onset of your career. Actively participate in the event, fearlessly pose questions, contribute ideas, and consistently ask yourself, 'What can I bring to the discussion?'

We hope you enjoy the event!

S P E A K E R S

Kate Nicholls OBE

Chief Executive, UK Hospitality

Kate was appointed CEO of UKHospitality, the powerful voice representing the broad hospitality sector, in April 2018, having previously worked as CEO and Strategic Affairs Director of the ALMR.

After gaining a degree in English and a post-graduate diploma in competition law, Kate worked as a researcher in the House of Commons and European Parliament before joining Whitbread as Government Relations Manager, starting her careers in hospitality in 1993. Kate was Director at one of the largest independent public affairs companies, working with a number of hospitality, retail and leisure accounts before establishing her own strategic communications consultancy in 2000.

Jon Dawson

Group Director of People Development, Lore Group

Listed by HR Magazine as one of the 40 most influential HR practitioners within the UK, Jon has held a variety of senior positions within the hospitality sector and is currently the Group Director of People Development for The Lore Group.

As a key ambassador for the hospitality industry Jon is also a Charted Fellow of the CIPD, an honorary Executive in Residence for Sheffield Hallam University Business School, and an advisory board member on Workday’s EMEA Retail, Hospitality and Consumer Goods Council.

Jon has held various senior HR Director roles throughout his career including positions at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, St Pancras Renaissance, and Jon was part of the Marriott International team that created a new luxury lifestyle brand EDITION which debuted in London in 2013 followed by Miami and then New York.

Dr Abeer Alamri

Human Capital Quality and Evaluation Executive Director, Ministry of Tourism, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Abeer Alamri holds the esteemed position of Human Capital Quality and Evaluation Executive Director for the Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia. With a distinguished career dedicated to advancing human capital standards, Dr. Alamri has played a pivotal role in shaping the workforce landscape within the dynamic realm of Saudi Arabian tourism.

A seasoned professional and academic luminary, Dr. Alamri collaborates extensively with The United Nations World Tourism Organization to elevate the quality of 30 national education and training providers. Her commitment to international collaboration underscores her vision for creating a globally competitive tourism workforce.

At the Ministry of Tourism, Dr. Alamri is at the forefront of transformative initiatives. She is actively involved in developing a cohort of Saudi national talents in the field of quality and evaluation, securing robust career succession plans for them. Additionally, she is instrumental in designing, evaluating, and monitoring the quality of human capital development initiatives. Her efforts extend to more than 119 national education and training providers, where she implements corrective plans to align supply with demand and its requirements. This strategic approach aims to meet the ambitious goal of creating one million jobs in the tourism sector by the year 2030.