Member Article

Students welcomed onto pioneering hotel mentoship scheme for third year running

Final year hospitality students from Manchester Metropolitan University, have been welcomed onto the 2019 hotel mentorship scheme. The programme provides the students with an invaluable insight into the running of Manchester’s most influential hotels, in a bid to help plug the skills gap in the sector. The partnership between Manchester Hoteliers’ Association (MHA) and Manchester Metropolitan University, is now in its third year and the programme has proved to be highly successful. Thirteen general managers, from some of Manchester’s most high-profile hotels, have been paired up with final year hospitality students to share their extensive knowledge of the industry. The students were introduced to their mentor at the recent launch event held on October 22 at Manchester Metropolitan University. The scheme will see talented final year BA (Hons) Hospitality Business Management students shadow General Managers and gain a unique insight into the hospitality and hotel industry. Diane Connelly, the programme leader for Hospitality and Business Management at Manchester Metropolitan University said: “The mentor scheme is a great asset to our final year students who have been accepted onto the programme. “We have a whole host of amazing hotels in the city and the general managers of these fantastic institutions, will provide students with support, guidance and information, that may encourage them to pursue a career in the industry. “By giving students the chance to shadow a general manager, it will help them develop and recognise the skills and knowledge required to successfully manage a hotel. As a final year, students’ will be able to translate what they learn in classroom into the practical world of work.” Adrian Ellis, MHA Chairman and Chris Mitchell, Principal Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, are also behind the initiative which they say has been designed to attract students to careers in the hotel industry – but more importantly to retain talent. Adrian Ellis, who is also the general manager of the Lowry Hotel, said: “This is the third year of our hugely successful programme and we have no doubt that the partnerships formed with the general managers, will provide inspiration and guidance for this year’s students in the final year of their hospitality course. “I have found in recent years, that after their final year, many students will end up leaving the industry which is a great shame. “The reason I believe the programme is crucial, is to inspire the younger students coming through their final year to stay in the industry and to see the wealth of opportunities it has to offer. “Last year two students on the scheme, Daniel Kristof and Rebecca McHugh, were accepted on Graduate Schemes with the Dalata Hotel Group and Red Carnation Hotels and we hope more students will follow in their footsteps this year.” The past two years of the scheme have helped guide students to pursue a career in the hotel industry. Final year hospitality student Nik Kirian has been paired with general manager, Annie Brown, of the Macdonald Hotel in Piccadilly. He said, “Manchester is a city which is rapidly growing, and the hospitality industry is flourishing. “The fact that there are over sixty to seventy hotels now, made it clear to me that this was the perfect fit and a great city to study in.” When asked about his future hotel ambitions he said, “I hope that I will eventually progress my career within the hotel sector and one day perhaps become a hotel general manager too, as this is where my passion lies”.

Mentors and mentees Jane O’Mahony and Winny Da Costa (Princess Street Hotel) Mario Osvenjak and Tyler Elsom (Hotel Gotham) Annie Brown and Nik Kirian (Macdonald Manchester Hotel and Spa) Richard Pearson and Michelle Kupaza (AC Hotel by Marriott Manchester Salford Quays) Mathieu Batut and Marios Michael (Hotel Novotel Manchester) Kumar Mishra and Maimouna Seck (‘The Edwardian Manchester’ A Raddisson Collection Hotel) Matthew Brierley and Katie Flynn (Whitworth Locke Manchester) Michael Sheldon and Holly Mayo (Clayton Hotel Manchester Airport) Assumpta McDonald and Elliot Rose (Staybridge Suites, Manchester- Oxford Road) Adam Reckert and Chloe Rust (Hilton Deansgate) Claire Moule and Anastasia Barnes (Renaissance Manchester City Centre Hotel) Matt Townley and Alexandros Petrof (Dakota Deluxe Manchester) Adrian Ellis and Alexandros Mallidis (The Lowry Hotel Manchester)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Dyson .