International hospitality and tourism congress to meet in Rhode Island

Rhode Island will become the hub of international hotel and tourism education when Johnson & Wales University hosts the 49th EUHOFA International Congress beginning Sunday, November 7 through Friday,

Rhode Island will become the hub of international hotel and tourism education when Johnson & Wales University hosts the 49th EUHOFA International Congress beginning Sunday, November 7 through Friday, November 12, 2010.

EUHOFA International is an association founded in Europe in 1955 for hotel/tourism school administrators, owners, and senior managers. Its mission is to enhance the quality of the training of the tourism industry throughout the world. The EUHOFA Congress has been held in America only once before; in 1994 Johnson & Wales University hosted it in Providence, too. More than 120 EUHOFA delegates are expected to attend the week-long conference in November.

“Educating Tomorrowโ€™s Hospitality Leaders” is the theme for the 2010 Congress. Among the keynote speakers scheduled is Roger Dow, president and chief executive officer of the US Travel Association (formerly Travel Industry Association), the national umbrella organization representing all segments of the US$740 billion US travel and tourism industry. Joining Dow will be David A. Rodriguez, executive vice president of global human resources for Marriott International; Michele Bailey DiMartino, global human resources officer, Marriott Internationalโ€™s Global Lodging Services and the Organizational Capability Center of Expertise; Scott Davis, president of FLIK International, a subsidiary of Compass Group USA, Inc. that provides dining and conference center management services; and John Martin, president of The Capital Grille, a subsidiary of the Darden family of restaurant brands, originally founded in Providence in 1990.

The EUHOFA Congress arrives at an opportune time as the US reinvigorates the domestic travel industry with historic legislation such as the Travel Promotion Act. The Travel Promotion Act calls for the establishment of a fee to be paid once every two years by international visitors, the proceeds of which will fund a marketing campaign meant to spark foreign travel to the US.

“We’re excited to bring this international group to Providence again,” Irving Schneider, Ph.D., president, Johnson & Wales University Providence Campus said. “The exchange of ideas and knowledge will enlighten both the educators and the industry professionals who will be participating, ultimately benefiting students around the world. Essentially, that’s the purpose of this Congress โ€“ to ensure the future of a thriving hospitality industry by investing in the education of the next generations who will lead it.”

This year’s congress will explore best practices for global foodservice management, methods for building new curricula, and will address the ever-changing competitive environment that has been impacted by the economy, politics, and environmental concerns.

The congress offers two tracks โ€“ one for delegates and one for their companions. Delegates will meet for general sessions, academic presentations, and industry panels. Activities will include tours of key attractions and historic sites in Providence, Newport, and Boston, as well as visits to the Johnson & Wales University Providence campus, including its Culinary Arts Museum and new Center for Culinary Excellence academic facility. The Congress will be held at the Renaissance Providence Hotel, the newest addition to the city’s grand renaissance. Originally built in 1929 as a Masonic temple, the neoclassical architecture has been meticulously restored to a state of elegance.

The Congress is open to new members. For more information and to register, visit http://www.euhofa-jwu2010.org/ .

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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