News

National hospitality debating competition victory

Published 5 March 2012

Three students from the University of Brighton have won the Passion 4 Hospitality 2012 debating competition at Hotelympia, the UK's largest exhibition for foodservice and hospitality.

Competing against seven other universities, the team of Felix Torman, Ramzi Husseini and Robert Nagel from the School of Service Management, were required to present a series of arguments about the Olympic Games and its impact on the UK hospitality industry.

In the final debate against a team from Oxford Brookes, Felix, Ramzi and Robert had to defend the motion that the London 2012 Olympics will be positive for the UK hospitality industry.

It was a tough fight given much of the data and the pessimistic thinking surrounding the games, and with mounting evidence regarding the escalating costs and diminishing expected returns in the hospitality industry. This meant the team had their work cut out to convince the judging panel that the Olympics are an opportunity to be embraced and will leave the industry with a positive legacy.

Left to right: Ramzi Husseini, Russell Kett FIH MD of HVS International and Chairman of Passion4Hospitality, Sir David Michels Hon D.Litt FIH President of Institute of Hospitality, Felix Torman and Robert Nagel.

Commenting on the team's success, senior lecturer in hospitality, Dr Ioannis Pantelidis FIH, said: "This was a whole day event and incredibly challenging for the students. To debate a series of arguments at this level, to a professional audience and come away as champions is an amazing result. The competition was fierce, but our team delivered an outstanding presentation and we are really proud of their achievement."

One of the successful students, Robert Nagel said: "What a great experience, it showed me the importance of researching and communicating effectively, but also the benefits of networking at such a major event and most importantly highlighted the level of commitment of my colleagues who I was proud to work with."

The students were presented with prizes and a trophy by the President of the Institute of Hospitality, Sir David Michels, Hon D.Litt FIH.

More information about the competition can be found at www.passion4hospitality.com.