Edge Hotel School celebrates industry and alumni engagement

Current students, alumni and industry leaders joined the Edge Hotel School at the stunning Landmark Hotel London for their Annual Conference and Alumni Networking event.

Nestled in one of London’s most lavish and decorated 5* hotels, the Marble Ballroom within the Landmark Hotel London played host to this year’s Edge Hotel School Annual Conference – with over a hundred students and industry figures joining a panel discussion about the challenges of the near future for the hospitality sector. 

These challenges included the ever-present impact of Brexit on recruitment and new immigration policies, as well as the financial implications of the recent Coronavirus outbreak.  In 2019, around 400,000 Chinese tourists visited the UK and spent on average £1678 during their stay.* It is unclear on the total impact the travel restrictions placed on numerous countries impacted by the outbreak will have on the sector, but industry figures are expecting severe financial impacts in the short term. With the illness now spreading to various other countries worldwide, it is likely this issue will continue to dominate the hospitality news cycle. 

The panel discussion was complimented by presentations from three speakers: Michael De Jongh - Chief Commercial Officer at Avvio, Sally Beck – General Manager at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and Sam Roth - Operations Manager (London) at BaxterStorey.

Each provided their own unique outlook on the future of the sector and their own challenges and experiences encountered throughout their careers.

Following the keynote speakers and panel discussions, guests were invited to stay for the School’s annual Alumni Networking event. This relaxed event gave current students the chance to connect with recent graduates, and provided valuable networking opportunities for current and former students with industry leaders. The more intimate setting of the Drawing Room provided a perfect backdrop for friends to reconnect, catch up with each other and enjoy the wonderful food and drink generously provided by the Landmark Hotel London. 

Andy Boer, Principal of the Edge Hotel School, was full of praise for the event. He said: “We hold this event each year, and each year it seems to get better and better…and this year was no exception. The content of the undergraduate conference was vibrant, informed and provocative, the venue was simply stunning and, perhaps most rewarding of all, the numbers of industry guests and alumni who attended has increased year on year.

It was great that so many of alumni made the effort to come along and meet up with their friends and the new undergraduate students. It really emphasises the fact that EHS is a small but distinctive community of young professionals who are really committed to our industry…and the continued and enthusiastic support of so many other members of industry really does tend to confirm this!”

* "UK Hotels and Coronavirus”, Hospitality and Catering News, 2020