Success for EuroCHRIE 2012 Conference at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne was the host of the 30th edition of EuroCHRIE (Conference of The European Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education). The event was attended by professors, students and experts from the industry. With the theme of "Hospitality for a Better world", the conference was devoted to the options for responsible and sustainable development in hospitality.
This thirtieth edition of EuroCHRIE was a real success. Steffen Raub, Deputy Director of Learning and Research, with particularly responsibility for research, said "The quality of this conference was very high and most of the many delegates were extremely pleased." In fact almost 230 people attended the event and 120 research papers were presented. Moreover, around fifteen papers came from EHL researchers, which, according to Steffen Raub, is a good percentage.
"Hospitality for a Better World"
At present, the hospitality sector is still seeking responsible solutions to sustainable development. The complexity of the industry, the tensions between international strategy and operations, together with the variety and diversity in hotel management make it difficult to establish a common environmental policy that meets the global challenges. That is why EuroCHRIE wanted to focus on the topic at its meeting.
Steffen Raub, Deputy Director of Learning and Research, with particular responsibility for research : "EHL has a particular responsibility and wants to give its students, the future leaders in tomorrow's world, the tools they will need to introduce innovative approaches in these areas."
EHL, which hosted the conference, welcomed three renowned speakers: Professor Guido Palazzo of HEC Lausanne, Johanna Devine of UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) and Marc Caira of Nestlé Professional. During his presentation, Guido Palazzo pointed out that the hotel industry was lagging very much behind when it came to sustainable development. He emphasised that most of the innovations in the sector were coming from other industries and it was urgent to reverse the trend. He also explained that companies today can show their difference through their sustainable development policy and that environmental criteria are increasingly a consideration for customers when they choose their hotel.
A number of companies, such as Accor Group, Protel, STR, TripAdvisor, The Total Simulator Company and Fuenso, shared their practical experiences in a variety of presentations. For example, Sophie Flak, Director of Academies and Sustainable Development at Accor presented the Planet 21 project. Launched by the group last April, it includes a number of measures to enable growth while respecting the environment and local populations. Accor is committed for instance to offering nutritionally balanced dishes in 80% of its hotels, using eco-label products and reducing water and energy consumption as far as possible.
Accor is sustainably reinventing the hotel business
A pioneer in reforestation, Accor has paid for the planting of two million trees with the savings it has made in laundry and through the responsible behaviour of its hotel managers. To achieve the 21 goals set by this environmental charter, Accor intends to encourage its customers to join in what it is doing in order to achieve greater results.
Read more about Planet 21
One of the other highlights of the conference was the EuroCHRIE Industry Award. The prize was awarded to Fuenso by EHL. The prize recognises a company for its excellent results and also its constant and total commitment to hotel management. The winner of the award also becomes a member of EuroCHRIE for one year.
Sam Salvisberg, former Deputy Director to the General Director, was also awarded by The Fondation Nestlé Pro Gastronomia for his career in EHL.
EHL: a worthy host for this event
The President of EuroCHRIE, Maureen Brookes, was highly positive about the event: "The quality of the experts and of the presentations by the representatives of the industry greatly impressed our delegates."
For information: the conference is organised in a different place each year. EHL was hosting the event for the second time. EuroCHRIE is a powerful platform for discussion and networking for hospitality sector academics and professionals. Over the years it has become an essential date in the calendar and seeks to identify, through a joint process of reflection, the overall development of hotel management in the future.
The European Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education is the official federation for Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and Africa of International CHRIE. EuroCHRIE has 169 members.
Read more about EuroCHRIE
About the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) offers university-level studies to talented and ambitious students who are aiming for top careers in the international hospitality industry. In addition to this international recognition, EHL constantly integrates market trends and new technologies into its three academic programmes:
- Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management
- Executive MBA in Hospitality Administration
EHL is part of Switzerland's University of Applied Sciences and is accredited both by the Swiss federal government and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (Higher Education Commission).
Since it was founded in 1893, EHL has educated more than 25,000 hospitality industry executives. The worldwide network of alumni represents an invaluable asset for every member of the EHL community.
Today, over 1,800 students from almost 90 different countries enjoy the unique and enriching environment of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne.
For more information about the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, please visit www.ehl.edu