UQ students ‘consult’ to industry

UQ students are set to impress senior executives from the Intercontinental Hotel Group with cutting edge technology applications for the “Holiday Inn Virtuoso Hotel”.

Students studying Hotel Management Technology Applications (HOSP2002) at the School of Tourism are competing to win the Holiday Inn Hotel Technology Student Competition.

The showcase competition has been running since 2006 and encourages the University of Queensland’s School of Tourism students studying Hotel Technology Systems to practically apply theoretical knowledge to real world applications.

Students examine and deliver a proposal on Hotel Technology Systems for a fictitious hotel, “Holiday Inn Virtuoso Brisbane”. Areas of technology explored by students include operational hotel technology systems utilising newer technologies including e-commerce and green hotel technology with a view to managing hotel revenue.

The top three teams will be selected to represent the University at a presentation for the Holiday Inn Brisbane General Manager Raymond Faulkner and UQ School of Tourism Industry Partnerships Director Dr David Solnet in Brisbane on Tuesday 9 June 2009.

“The competition amongst student teams is strong and this results in some truly innovative approaches. Past winners have genuinely contributed to improving and modifying some of the hotel technology” Dr Noreen Breakey, Course Co-ordinator.

“This competition represents a rare opportunity for our students to impress and network with senior industry employers on an individual basis” Dr David Solnet, Director Industry Partnerships, School of Tourism.

The competition is attended by senior industry representatives from the hotel, technology and allied industries, as well as schools with a strong tourism and hospitality curriculum, and UQ students and staff.