The search is on for Future Tourism Leader as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Sommet Education have issued a final call for applications from both established tourism professionals and those new to the sector to put themselves forward for the joint “Hospitality Challenge”.
The initiative, which closes at the end of the month, will grant 30 scholarships for world-class education programs that will allow winners to develop themselves and their projects and so help drive tourism’s recovery.
The finalists will be eligible for full scholarships in 15 different programs in Hospitality, Culinary and Pastry Arts Management, (Bachelors, Masters, MBAs) offered in the world-class academic institutions of Sommet Education: Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and London, Les Roches Crans-Montana in Switzerland, Les Roches Marbella in Spain and École Ducasse in France. Among the 30 winners, the top three most innovative entrepreneurial projects will be granted funding to support their initial development from Eurazeo.
This initiative, according to the United Nations specialized tourism agency is key as the sector which is a source of employment for millions begins a gradual restart after being brought to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The tourism sector is a source of employment for many millions. Jobs in tourism provide opportunity, empowerment, and equality, including women, youth, and people living in rural communities. As we restart tourism, the time is right to rethink hospitality and to identify and implement new ideas to make the sector more inclusive and sustainable.
“The UNWTO Hospitality Challenge will do just this” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said.
On his part, Benoit-Etienne Domenget, Chief Executive Officer at Sommet Education added: “Education is the foundation of a more hospitable world. Offering scholarships is a contribution to the recovery of the hospitality economy, by accelerating the personal development of talented people with creative views and to support their vision to revamp hospitality”
Recall that UNWTO has repeatedly harped on Sustainability and scalability key priorities as fundamental issues as the sector gradually restarts and has called on stakeholders to identify and implement new ideas to make the sector more inclusive and sustainable
The selection criteria for the program will include the degree of disruptiveness, project maturity, and potential for implementation, as well as viability, scalability, digitalization, sustainability, and the potential to attract the interest of investors. The competition will focus on four different categories namely; Luxury travels, good and service, Hotels and hotel-related operations: small to medium-sized properties, family businesses. Others are Food and Beverage: restaurants, Catering, delivery services, and retail and Smart Real Estate: small to medium-sized properties and family businesses
The competition which is now open will close at the end of August. A Selection Committee made up of an international network of investors, entrepreneurs, and experts from UNWTO Member, Affiliate Members, and strategic allies, as well as from representatives of Sommet Education, will then choose the 30 finalists.