Welcome

THE HOTELSCHOOLWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

THE PlymouTH univErsiTy HoTEl sCHool

We are pleased that the following eminent people have agreed to become patrons of the Plymouth University Hotel School:

mr Tony Potter mr Peter Ducker FiH Dr Anne Pierce mBE mr David Dingle CBE mr James Brent mr Philippe rossiter mBA/FiH The Hon olga Polizzi CBE

“i am delighted to support the new Plymouth university Hotel school as a Patron. The Plymouth university Hotel school has a serious ambition to prepare future graduates to be industry ready while working with industry partners and to focus on providing stimulating ‘real world’ learning experiences. As a result, i believe the various degrees on offer at the Plymouth university Hotel school, which includes the Bsc (Hons) Cruise management, will be of real value for the Hospitality and Cruise industry.”

Mr David Dingle CBE Chief Executive, Carnival UK Patron, Plymouth University Hotel School

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Be the bestWe are embarking on a new venture: one which will see us working closely with industry partners so students can gain vital business knowledge and experience. This will supplement and enrich our highly successful curriculum at Plymouth university. our aspiration is to build on our reputation of 20 years’ standing to develop the best Plymouth university Hotel school in the country, one with an international reputation for research and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. it will be dedicated to providing tomorrow’s hospitality graduates with a stimulating and engaging learning experience in co-operation with a series of industry partners.

Uniquely contemporary success favours the brave and, as any good hospitality student will know, you can never rest when striving for perfection. our adaptation of the internationally recognised term ‘Hotel school’ is expected to provide tomorrow’s graduates with a uniquely stimulating, engaging, and demanding learning experience.

Industry partnershipsour network of high profile partners – including millennium Copthorne Hotels, Hilton Hotels and Dartington Hall Trust – forms the foundation for the new initiative. These industry partnerships will open doors for our students, giving them opportunities to gain commercial experience while they study. our partners are:

Inspirational – they will offer students an in-depth understanding of the hospitality industry; Innovative – they harness new ideas in hospitality; Influential – they enhance the students’ employability.

Learning in the commercial environmentstudents will have opportunities to be trained by and shadow managers, to work on live problems, to be employed in relevant hospitality jobs while they study and to develop their professional profiles. This form of learning experience is designed to be motivational, enlightening, hard work and fun.

Sustainability, innovation and best practice Accompanying this practical engagement with industry is a curriculum that is informed by sustainability, innovation and best practice. These are strongly embedded in the ethos of the Plymouth university Hotel school and underpin the curriculum.

Benefit to industryour graduates will have real business acumen and a strong industry focus. our ambition is to provide graduates with an excellent learning experience, so securing them the best graduate employment opportunities. This important development will make a significant difference to future students and be of considerable benefit to the industry and society as a whole.

The PlymouthuniversityHotelschool

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“The new university Hotel school heralds some exciting changes for the university. As a previous undergraduate student i strongly support the new initiative. Working closely with industry partners is a great opportunity to develop the skills required to work in the industry and provides a unique platform upon which to reflect academic learning. Having participated in a year-long student work placement, i experienced the benefits of being exposed to real life scenarios in the workplace. This enhanced my academic studies and my understanding of the industry.

students will now have greater opportunities to work with industry professionals throughout their time at university. Well-known patrons who support the programme further add to the overall value of the course. i have no doubt that gaining an insight into the hospitality industry, mixed with various learning techniques and the fantastic support from academic staff will help students excel when they venture into their chosen careers.”

Luke Slater

BSc (Hons) Hospitality Management 2013 graduate, currently enrolled on the MSc International Hospitality Management

About the Plymouth university Hotel school

Tony Potter President, BraveagleTony Potter is a very experienced hospitality professional having accrued 40 years in senior management positions for some of the world’s best known hospitality brands. Tony has headed up significant PlCs in the united Kingdom as Chief Executive officer (CEo) and PlC Director. over the last 16 years he has held CEo and director positions with Corinthia Hotels, millennium and Copthorne and Choice international. in these positions he led international hotel companies across a global portfolio in Europe, the usA, Africa, the middle East and Asia. Prior to this he was employed by Hilton international and held various roles including senior vice President and managing Director. Tony is currently President and Founder of Braveagle, a dynamic management practice focusing strongly on service and culture development, social media strategies and communications in addition to general management services and consultancy. The company’s training programmes and management approach are simple in that all activity is focused on “making it happen” in their clients’ businesses and operating as an extension to their management team.

Partners

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Throughout my 40 years in hospitality as general manager, managing director, CEo and now with my own consultancy i have consistently believed in three things. Firstly continual learning, secondly managing by walking around and thirdly the power of people. in terms of having the honour of serving as a Patron of the Plymouth university Hotel school i believe passionately that these three guiding principles have an importance and reflect how i see the role.

operating and delivering hospitality is a complex discipline and it is essential that individuals and business have expertise and are up to date with the very latest developments. The only way of doing that is for our universities, businesses, and institutions to work together and constantly provide a learning process and opportunity. As a visiting fellow to Plymouth university i feel honoured and privileged to be part of that process and thank you all for that opportunity.

managing by walking around, for me, is to spend as much time as possible in the university theatre and that includes lectures, visits and simply engaging and hanging around with students, postgraduates and the academic teams. such connections, i hope, will contribute to all our collective and individual growth.

We often hear that people are our greatest assets. Whilst that may well be true, i believe that what is more important is what people actually do. With that in mind i am determined to be an active and contributing Patron and provide you all with an opportunity and invitation to have an open access and if i can help or support in any way i look forward to hearing from you on tony@braveagle.com

The creation of the Plymouth university Hotel school is an inspired one and a real opportunity to roll back the frontiers of learning and growth. it will act as a vocational centre of achievement, supported by the finest academic framework. For students it will provide the finest point of entry to an exciting business and to all of us it will be a dynamic and fun opportunity for personal and group growth. let us all work with each other to create something that is truly a special place.

i really applaud the university’s strategy of involving business and industry partners in this initiative as it is exactly the method to ensure an invigorating blend of talent that will inspire creativity and advancement at a world class level. The quality and level of these partners is testimony itself to the excellent reputation and standing of Plymouth university and all who pass through its doors.

Together let’s make it happen.

Tony Potter President, Braveagle

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Dartingon HallDartington Hall is the hospitality arm of The Dartington Hall Trust. Based in Devon, we provide hotel-style accommodation in a historic location and all our profits support the charitable work of the Trust. our 50 distinctive bedrooms located within the East & West wings of our medieval Courtyard offer a superb mix of heritage and comfort. A few steps across our courtyard you will find The White Hart, our newly refurbished Bar & restaurant featuring the best local and seasonal produce. you’ll also discover the Barn Cinema, a renovated 14th century barn screening mainstream blockbusters, live opera and ballet and independent art-house productions. our Great Hall – used for Concerts, Conferences & Weddings – completes our listed courtyard, built in 1388 by John Holand, Earl of Huntingdon and Duke of Exeter, half-brother of richard ii.

The team is looking forward to working in partnership with Plymouth university Hotel school to provide real world learning experiences. our partnership will aim to support the university in its ambition to develop student learning in relation to sustainability, social enterprise, social responsibility, ethical business practices, innovation and entrepreneurship in hospitality contexts. The partnership will also aim to support Dartington’s emerging strategy of community resilience particularly through learning, improving inclusion and supporting jobs. Finally, the partnership will aim to develop plans that could lead to the co-creation of value for all parties including work placements, project work, and collaborative enterprises.

Copthorne Hotel Plymouth – Partner OrganisationThe Copthorne Hotel Plymouth is pleased to be working with Plymouth university in support of the development of tomorrow’s talent. our plan is to welcome first year students into the hotel to shadow managers or supervisors and to be trained across different departments to allow them to develop an understanding of the way a real commercial hotel business works. This should allow students to engage fully in all aspects of the experience, to enhance motivation, to learn actively and to ask questions to always understand ‘why’. This practical element of the students’ work is designed to complement theory and enhance learning. The managers and staff at the Copthorne Hotel Plymouth have a long history of working to support student learning and this new initiative is a natural development that should mean students can gain that all important relevant and real experience during their first study period at university.

Michael Wood General Manager Copthorne Hotel Plymouth

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Hilton Worldwidestudents benefit from a long-standing relationship and partnership with Hilton Worldwide. The international hotel chain offers a number of exclusive placement opportunities in their hotels from Hilton Worldwide in the south West of England and many students have further benefited from graduate positions as a result of a successful placement year. Alongside this partnership, additional positions have been offered in Prague, spain, and Brussels, and students have also managed to secure their own placements in Brisbane and, more recently, in the seychelles!

The Plymouth university Hotel school and Hilton Worldwide seek to expand on the partnership through additional opportunities for students to develop their knowledge and skills.

UCSP: University Commercial Services PlymouthPart of the idea behind enhancing employability and promoting a work ethic culture amongst students is to offer experiences in a diverse range of situations spanning both private sector and institutional hospitality provision. As such, we are delighted that our own university-based catering service providers are one of our key partners in the delivery of the Hotel school concept.

By partnering with our colleagues in uCsP we can provide students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in a range of challenging business contexts right here on campus from grab ‘n’ go service at ‘loafers’ through to contributing towards service provision at a range of ad hoc events that take place across the campus throughout the academic year.

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our philosophy for student learning is based on two interrelated approaches. First, we seek to develop students’ conceptual understanding of key issues and ideas. By exposing students to a range of theories we are seeking to develop their minds, so that they can understand the big strategic picture. second, we test these theories by considering their application and bringing into the classroom real-life experiences. As a consequence students develop analytical, problem solving and communication skills.

While the Plymouth university Hotel school will enhance our capabilities, we already encourage the development of practical skills, knowledge and evaluation. Every year the team organises a range of specialist activities focusing on best practice and considering contemporary issues. This year these included:

• Tomorrow’s World: a half day conference with a keynote lecture from our

visiting Fellow Tony Potter; a question time debate utilising the knowledge of a range of General managers from the local area; alumni talks on research outcomes from honours project dissertations.

• Field trips including: first year food and beverage learning journey to Glasgow;

first year induction and industry orientation visit to Cardiff; first year cruise ship visit; second year feasibility and planning field trip to london; final year Champagne and reims considering luxury products in the hospitality industry; final year cruise conference in Bremerhaven. Masters students: Edinburgh field trip and Thurlestone Hotel considering competitive advantage.

• Local field trips: riverford Field Kitchen;

Town mill Bakery; langage Farm; Eastcott vineyard; st Austell Brewery; Plymouth Gin.

Current Practice

• Competition work includes: supporting students to enter EmCuP – for European Hotel schools

(Amsterdam), young Guns – for work placements.

• Additional initiatives: Career investment Programme – introduced to support employability,

provide access to specialist training and help students secure work placements.

• Value Added: students are also encouraged to study the:

WsET Certificate; WsET intermediate Certificate; CiEH Basic Food Hygiene Certificate; Food safety qualifications; language development opportunities in French, spanish, German and mandarin.

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The curriculum focuses on a number of central themes that underpin hospitality as an overarching discipline. These themes are addressed in modules that are designed at the different levels to allow for focused, integrated and cumulative learning.

This includes new areas of focus that are contemporary and vital for the hospitality sector:

• the meaning of sustainability;

• the growing importance of technology;

• revenue management;

• talent management.

students can also build their curriculum vitae by diversifying their engagement in a variety of ways:

• Participating in real live industry experience in a range of hospitality organisations;

• studying the newly designed curriculum;

• Taking advantage of additional opportunities: language development; food hygiene training; wine qualifications; social media.

The Curriculum Plan

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FIrST yEAr – LEVEL 4

TEACHIng PLAn LEArnIng PLAn PrOFESSIOnAL PLAn

Contextualised introductory curriculum field trips, learning journeys, expert sources, introduction to key hospitality theory

Work based learning inspirational partner support – involving shadowing managers and departmental training

Job brokerage scheme potential to earn while you learn – established in first year and maintained as needed through the Career investment Programme

SECOnD yEAr – LEVEL 5

Contextualised and stretching curriculum field trips, real world industry practice, expert sources, research development and examination of theory related to industry practice and innovation

Team and resource based learning innovative partner support involving the analysis of ideas and consideration of innovative practice

Career investment programme developed further in second year in line with work placement support

OPTIOnAL WOrk PLACEMEnT WITH InSPIrATIOnAL AnD InFLUEnTIAL PArTnErS

FInAL yEAr – LEVEL 6

Contextualised and synthesised curriculum field trips, expert sources, analytical challenges, investigatory project work, application of research skills

Problem based learning influential partner support involving work leading to the systematic analysis, evaluation and potential resolution of complex industry problems

Career enhancement activities attending competitions, research conferences, and professional events

Dr Philip gibson FIHAuthor of Cruise Operations Management – the second edition of which is the current key text for this subject – Philip is an acknowledged expert in the area of Cruise management. He introduced the Bsc (Hons) Cruise management 10 years ago and has nurtured its development alongside the sister Hospitality degrees. in addition to the textbook he has written many book chapters and research papers relating to learning, vocational education and the cruise industry. many graduates are now employed by major cruise brands and have successful careers. Philip has a long history in management in a range of tourism and hospitality sectors including hotels, in-flight catering, the cruise and ferry industry, and the licensed retail industry and, before being employed by Plymouth university, he was a lecturer and subsequently the head of centre for tourism, hospitality and sport at south Devon College in Torquay. He completed his PhD in Education in 2003 at the university of Exeter. Philip is a founding father, Fellow and vice-Chair of the Cruise research society, a Teaching Fellow, a Fellow of the institute of Hospitality and a Fellow of the Centre for Professional Placement learning. He is currently Associate Head of school (Teaching and learning) in the school of Tourism and Hospitality.

Philip can be contacted at: philip.gibson@plymouth.ac.uk

Mandy Aggettmandy is interested in the impacts of social media on consumer behaviour, service quality, facilities management and services marketing. mandy is our school Placement Co-ordinator helping students secure placements and internships. she is currently working on a PhD investigating the co-creation of value in service situations. mandy’s published research has looked at service quality and the cruise industry, and the perceptions of students towards internships.

mandy can be contacted at: mandy.aggett@plymouth.ac.uk

our staff

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Dr Susan Horner susan wrote her first book Marketing for Hospitality in 1996 and has gone on to write further books with collaborators including Professor John swarbrooke and Professor stephen Ball. susan’s books include key texts such as Consumer Behaviour in Tourism, international Cases in Tourism management, Business Travel and Tourism and leisure marketing. These books are used internationally and have been translated into a variety of languages. Among her other skills susan has an interest in the learning styles of hospitality students, relationship marketing and management issues for hospitality. she has also developed an international reputation as a marketing specialist, and been responsible for the academic content of hospitality courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level that have been delivered both locally and internationally in the distance learning environment. susan is the Programme manager for the undergraduate courses in Hospitality and Cruise management.

susan was a senior lecturer in marketing and Consumer Behaviour from 2009-2012 in César ritz Hotel school switzerland, based in Brig, and taught students from all over the world who went on to successful careers in the hospitality sector.

she said “The Hotel school development here in Plymouth mirrors many of the excellent practices that the swiss Hotel schools have developed with an emphasis on sound educational programmes, practical industrial experience, and the development of long term alumni networks that all contribute to the personal career progression of talented individuals.”

susan can be contacted at: susan.horner@plymouth.ac.uk

Craig WightCraig is interested in food and tourism, heritage management, destination development, discourse analysis and commercial consultancy (hospitality and tourism). Craig is the author of various research papers in the fields of culinary tourism and ‘dark’ tourism, and a number of book chapters ranging from tourism management issues to ‘disgraced monuments’. He is nearing completion of a PhD in destination management. Craig is a reviewer for a number of journals including Tourism Management, Journal of Vacation Marketing and Asia Pacific Management Journal. Craig has taken the lead on a range of uK and international consultancy projects ranging from st lucia to Hull.

Craig can be contacted at: craig.wight@plymouth.ac.uk

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Dr Wai Mun LimWai mun lim (mBA, PhD) is an Associate Professor of service management at Plymouth university. she was awarded a Teaching Fellowship and nominated as an Aim associate (Advanced institute of management) in 2010. Prior to her embarking on an academic career, she was a tour operator in singapore for many years. she publishes widely in the area of technology adoption within the tourism and hospitality industry and has won grants investigating the use of technology in small and medium sized enterprises. Her expertise in the adoption of Web1.0 and 2.0 technologies has also won her various consulting projects with private companies ranging from art design firms to global hotel chains. Her current research interests are in the use of information technology in developing countries, internet technologies for distribution and marketing and how businesses co-create value with customers via technology. Her pedagogic research includes exploring how academics co-create value with businesses via curriculum. Wai mun is the programme manager for the BA (Hons) Hospitality, Tourism & Events management programme, is the school’s Postgraduate research Co-ordinator and the service sub Group leader for the service Enterprise research Centre

Wai mun can be contacted at: W.M.Lim@plymouth.ac.uk

Catherine HineCat is a Doctoral Teaching Assistant within the school of Tourism and Hospitality. she currently teaches on a number of modules including Hospitality industry Engagement and Food and Beverage operations. Her current research focus is the completion of her PhD which is centred on student engagement with hospitality education. Prior to working at Plymouth university, Cat spent a number of years in the hospitality industry employed by marriott, mitchells and Butlers PlC and the Central Asia, middle East and Africa division of Compass Group. she also completed a msc Hospitality management at university of Wales institute, Cardiff.

Cat can be contacted at: catherine.hine@plymouth.ac.uk

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Dr Christina kellyWithin the school of Tourism and Hospitality, Christina is Programme manager for the msc international Hospitality management degree. Teaching areas include Contemporary Food issues, Food safety, Hospitality industry Engagement, management for Tourism, Hospitality and Events and Tourism, Hospitality and Events research methods. Christina’s fields of interest for research are consumer behaviour, expectations, norovirus and the impact of sociological factors on hospitality customers. Her PhD, which considered the impact of sociological factors on consumer expectations when dining out, was completed in 2012. Currently, Christina is supervising a number of msc student dissertations and is part of the supervisory team for two PhD students. Before entering into lecturing and research, Christina worked for nestlé uK and Associated British Foods in roles that focused on the five major multiple retailers. Christina has a Bsc (Hons) and msc in Food science, is a member of the institute of Food science & Technology and a trainer for the Chartered institute of Environmental Health.

Christina can be contacted at: christina.kelly@plymouth.ac.uk

to be the enterprise university We are an ambitious, world-class university. By placing enterprise at the heart of everything we do, we will develop an innovative and creative culture that empowers people.

our enterprising approach will develop our reputation as a world-leading university and our enterprise culture will deliver sustained innovation and international impact. We will use the knowledge we create to transform lives. We will achieve this through world-class research, excellence in teaching and learning, and through our partnerships and collaborations. We will maintain our commitment to driving social inclusion, economic prosperity, and environmental quality in our local community and beyond.

our vision

our mission

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if you require this document in an alternative format please contact Dr Philip Gibson on 01752 585617 or email P.gibson@plymouth.ac.uk

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THE HOTELSCHOOLWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY