Holiday Inn Washington has teamed up with a North East college as part of a global training initiative to give students an insight in to the hospitality and events sector.
Over 40 students at Gateshead College took part in the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG’s) national hotel takeover, in partnership with People 1st, which helps businesses maximise the potential of talent and apprenticeships.
The week-long takeover, saw students from the college’s catering and travel and tourism courses take over the hotel in a variety of roles, to gain real world work experience, and complement their classroom-based training.
Through the training programme, students gained an insight in to a variety of career areas, including management, admin, housekeeping, and working in the restaurant and kitchen.
Shadowed by hotel team members, the college students were able to try their hand in a range of areas, including checking in hotel guests, serving food and beverages, and running room service and housekeeping.
Working on a shift basis, students looked after conference delegates, and served up over 130 breakfasts and 75 meals each day.
They also held an Oscars themed gala, to raise money for the Gateshead College Foundation and GreenFinger charity, which was attended by local MP for Washington and Sunderland West, Sharon Hodgson. Every aspect of the gala was planned by the students, including the menu, rotas, décor and styling, and entertainment.
The initiative is part of IHG® Academy. Through IHG Academy, IHG hotels (with brands including Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express) collaborate with educational providers and community groups to help local people build their hospitality skills and improve their employability.
Since 2013, more than 47,000 people have benefitted from the IHG Academy across 2,133 programmes in 79 countries.
Holiday Inn Washington is part of over 30 IHG hotels in the UK to participate in the hotel takeover, aimed at encouraging more people to take up a career in the hospitality and events sector.