Master Innholders and Student Conference 2023

I joined Edge Hotel School in October 2021 as an Events Management student. I have always had a passion for hospitality therefore I knew Edge Hotel School was the right place for me to study. Edge Hotel School offers many opportunities for students to gain experience with their strong industry partnerships.

On Monday 23 January 2023 I got the opportunity, alongside four other final year students, to attend the Master Innholders champagne reception and Gala Dinner at JW Marriot Grosvenor House London. As an Events Management student, it was an incredible experience to see how an event runs in a 5* hotel and to be surrounded by many hoteliers.

The next morning, I helped register guests that had not attended the conference the previous day, then was able to attend the conference myself. The theme for the Hotel Leadership Conference was to inspire hoteliers to think ‘Beyond the Bubble’. The topics covered were:

• Happy people create the best cultures
• Surviving the energy crises whilst tackling the climate crisis
• UK hospitality update
• The global food system
• Sustainable travel

As a student, the Master Innholders conference allowed me to talk industry leaders who inspire me to want to be successful in my future career.

After a busy few days at the Master Innholders Hotel Leadership Conference, on Wednesday 25 January I was back in London to attend Edge Hotel School Annual Student Conference with students, alumni and industry partners.

The day started off with a site visit to the Honourable Artillery Company and heard a talk delivered by Searcys, who gave an insightful presentation about their other venues. After the sight visit, all students then made their way to Leonardo Royal Hotel, St Paul’s for the conference and networking session. The theme for this year’s conference was ‘An Industry in Transition’.

From the conference, the guest speakers I found the most insightful were Stuart Jenkins from the Blue Strawberry and the EHS alumni panel. It was interesting to hear the alumni share their journeys from their time at Edge Hotel School to where they are now in the hospitality industry. This made me realise if you have the drive and passion anything is possible. After the conference myself and all students were given the opportunity to network with industry partners. This was my favourite part of the trip as I got to speak to people I had previously met at the Edge Hotel Schools career fair, during the visit to the Royal Lancaster Hotel and also at the Master Innholders conference I had attended the previous day. The networking session enabled me to enhance and gain relationships with industry partners and helped me explore options for my future career in the hospitality and events industry.