Training and Education in Hospitality - A Case Study of Macdonald Hotels

2. Training and Education in Hospitality - A Case Study of Macdonald Hotels Dr. Craig Thompson Managing Director Centre of Applied Tourism & Hospitality Management Macdonald Hotels and Resorts

3. Training & Education Within Macdonald Hotels • The HR time-bomb • Macdonald Hotels & Resorts • Potential solutions • Stairway to Success • HNCs and HNDs • Capstone programmes • Quick to the Cut Chef programme • CATHM, Centre of Applied Tourism & Hospitality Management • Outcomes • Conclusions

4. Macdonald Hotels and Resorts • Over 40 hotels throughout the UK • 10 resorts in the UK and Southern Spain • 4* and 5* market, wide range of styles, locations and products • AA Hotel Group of the Year 2007-8 • Over 4000 employees

5. The HR time-bomb • HL&T generate £4.5bn for Scottish economy • Objective to increase to £6bn by 2015 • 200,000 employees, 9% of total Scottish workforce But… • Unfilled vacancies are 5.3% of numbers employed • 60% of vacancies are ‘hard to fill’ • An estimated 30,000 to 50,000 additional trained supervisors required in the UK by 2010 • The number and quality of applicants to hospitality and tourism programmes is declining

6. Potential solutions • Non UK workforce • Greater emphasis on tertiary education • Industry driven response

7. Stairway to Success • 5 stage programme, fully integrated programme • Induction, Core standards and three levels of management • Range of one and two day courses offered at each stage • Capstone programme for ‘high achievers’ offered at each level • Short courses are pre-requisites for capstone programmes

8. Capstone programmes • Supervisory, Head of Department/ Operations Manager and General Manager levels • Externally awarded by the UK’s leading provider of leadership qualifications • Candidates selected by application from across the Group • Requires manager’s backing and support • Assessment is based on, and feeds back into, actual operations

9. HNCs and HNDs • Partnership initiative with leading practical college • Utilises college expertise and industry resources • Programmes available to Macdonald Hotels staff and external employees • 2 days each week for 10 months • Hospitality Management and Professional Cookery • Requires commitment from employers and employees

10. Quick to the Cut Chef programme • Response to key shortage in the industry • Partnership of public sector, Macdonald Hotels and leading practical college • 12-week intensive, residential, professional, work-based programme (3 x per year) • Targeted at unemployed = new entrants • Offers externally recognised qualification, work experience and certificate, guaranteed job interview

11. CATHM, Centre of Applied Tourism & Hospitality Management • Swiss style, private centre of excellence for hospitality and tourism • Backed by wide range of leading industry partners • Offers applied certificates, diplomas and degrees • Degrees are awarded by leading Scottish university • Programmes are residential, professional, applied and contemporary • Each stage comprises 15-week intensive taught programme and a 5 month+ managed industry internship

12. Outcomes • Increased retention • Increased motivation • Increasing skill base • Platform for succession planning And for the future?… • Increasing number and quality of applicants

13. Conclusions • Education and training are essential for the future of hospitality, leisure and tourism • Industry must take the lead • Utilise partnership approach • Programmes should be applied, integrated and progressive • Qualifications should be externally recognised • Industry backed, private hotel school may serve to raise interest in hospitality as an attractive area of study and viable career