EuroCHRIE Dubrovnik 2011 - "Tourism and Hospitality, Drivers of Transition”

After Amsterdam in 2010, the theme at this year's 29th EuroCHRIE congress, taking place in Dubrovnik 19-22 October 2011, was "Tourism and Hospitality, Drivers of Transition". It was a big success with a really great conference and a very warm welcome from all staff and students at the American College of Management and Technology Dubrovnik www.acmt.hr and the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA www.rit.edu co-hosts of this year’s conference led by Don Hudspeth and Francis Domoy.

More than 160 delegates from all over the world attended the conference where 81 research papers were presented along with 8 posters and 4 workshops.

Among the conference key note speakers, Ms Pave Zupan Ruskovic, former Minister of Tourism in Croatia shared in a historically rich and emotionally compelling speech the development of tourism in the City of Dubrovnik from the Middle Ages onwards. She also highlighted the challenges of the present day situation in the context of a transitional country struggling toward excellence in services and infrastructure. Ms Ginny Clark, Vice-President Constellation Brands www.cbrand.com shared the success story of this small family-owned wine company from the Finger Lakes region in up-state New York founded by Marvin Sands which through acquisitions now owns the #1 premium wine brands Robert Mondavi, Woodbridge amongst others and is the #1 importer of beer in the USA with Corona! The company employs 4300 staff worldwide and is engaged on several fronts in regards to Corporate Social Responsibility. Ms Clark shared her own experience of putting together and leading a medical relief team after the earthquake in Haiti. Mr. Ivica Vrancic, a Croatian HR specialist demonstrated in a very dynamic presentation the challenges of hiring, developing and keeping staff motivated on the job, especially the generation Ys starting their professional career.

The Award Ceremony took place at the magnificent Revelin Fortress. The President’s Award went to Othmar Müller who is retiring from the Nestlé Pro Gastronomia Foundation. Prior to receiving his Award, he officiated for the last time to present the Nestlé Pro Gastronomia Award to Emmanuel Donhauser, Executive Director, Academic, for the Swiss Education Group (SEG) which operates several of the leading Hotel Schools in Switzerland : SHMS, HIM, IHTTI, DCT and “César Ritz” Colleges.

Ms Vera Duehring from the Maastricht Hotel School was honored with the Laureate Award, presented by David Horrigan from Glion Institute of Higher Education and LRG University of Applied Science. The Best Paper Award sponsored by the Institute of Hospitality went to Jennifer Hussey and May T. Holden from the Waterford Institute of Technology. There were two Industry Awards, the International Industry Award was presented by Dr. Destler President of the Rochester Institute of Technology to Richard Sands Chairman of the Board of Constellation Brands, while the Domestic Industry Award went to the Excelsior Hotel Group, active in Croatia.

At the General Assembly Meeting, the EuroCHRIE leadership with President Robert Wetterauer, Vice-President Maureen Brookes, Past-President Jouni Ahonen, Secretary Paul Jackson and Treasurer Herve Fournier, reminded the members of the strengths of the organization: a strong history, diverse in cultures, financially stable, with a well-respected brand. The goals for 2015 are to increase membership, to provide added benefits, such as the mentor programme, to strengthen the links with industry and to seek additional revenue streams through sponsorship. Finally on the social side, the delegates went on excursion to discover the Croatian vineyards, the salt beds in Ston and the traditional olive oil making.

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