School of Hospitality to Host National Hospitality Championship

On April 12, the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration will host the National Hospitality Championship. Formerly known as the Battle for Atlanta, the event brings local hospitality businesses together for team-building with a healthy dose of industry competition. For 2012, the School of Hospitality is taking this event to a new level by nearly doubling the number of participating teams. To ensure the event continues the success it has enjoyed over the past 10 years, two School of Hospitality classes will be involved: Meetings & Tradeshow Management and Expos, Fairs, & Entertainment Management.

This event provides a true “hands-on approach” to event management for the students.  “It is better to learn and make mistakes in the classroom,” says Deborah Robbe, the instructor for the two courses.

Working alongside Robbe will be Joe Cunningham, a graduate research assistant. “This event provides an opportunity for students to work in teams and solve real-world problems just like they will when they graduate,” he notes.

New for this year will be the Pineapple Bowl, a competition for the Best of the Best in Atlanta. This year, the Pineapple Bowl will feature the Best Turndown Service in Atlanta, the Best Tablescape in Atlanta, and the Best Garde Manger Chef in Atlanta.
 
The National Hospitality Championship not only benefits GSU students but also local businesses. Friendly competition between companies is healthy for the hospitality industry and is a true team-building experience for each company, Robbe says. Competitions like these build team pride, increase camaraderie and place a sense of company ownership in each employee.

The National Hospitality Championship will take place at Hall A-1 within the Georgia World Congress Center from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 12.
For more information, e-mail nhcdirect@gmail.com or call 404-413-7615.