During the 38th edition of the Annual Conference & Competition of the European Association of Hotel and Tourism Schools (AEHT) in Västerås, Sweden, our students won no fewer than six medals. Our delegation consisted of ten students from the Hospitality Campus competing in this annual European contest.
For two days in Sweden, the AEHT revolved around craftsmanship, creativity and collaboration. This annual European event brings together hotel schools from more than 25 countries to compete against – and learn from – one another in the fields of hospitality, tourism and gastronomy. In every competition, students were paired with a buddy from a foreign hotel school. Together, they had to complete an assignment within their discipline in a short amount of time, ranging from tourism to cooking and front office.
Our Hospitality Campus was represented by a strong team of ten students participating in ten different competition categories. Success was campus-wide: students from all three schools won prizes. Together, they secured four gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Toby, winner of gold in the culinary Decathlon category:
“I stayed in control during the awards ceremony, which allowed me to really take in the moment. I had promised myself to leave the emotions at home, as there had already been plenty of those during the training sessions. But the competition team was there for each other the whole way through, pulling one another through the tough moments. It’s amazing that the three of us chefs are all going home with gold!”
Danique, winner of gold in Tourist Destination:
“After hearing I’d won bronze and silver in previous years, realising I had now won gold didn’t hit me until I walked off the stage and the rest of the competition team came to congratulate me. That’s when the tears came.”
“I am incredibly proud of our students. With their craftsmanship, teamwork and genuine passion, they managed to win no fewer than six medals. They have shown what they are capable of, both nationally and internationally. What an outstanding achievement! These stars have brought out the best in themselves and demonstrated what hospitality truly stands for,” says Francis ’t Zand, Director of Hospitality & Facility Services.
The road to the AEHT began months earlier with a selection and training process. Students could register for the preliminary rounds within their school. Those selected then followed an intensive programme preparing them for the international competition.
Beyond the six medals, it was the experience itself that left the greatest impression. Students worked closely with international colleagues, learned to cope with pressure and discovered what it takes to perform at a European level. “The AEHT shows that our students compete at the very highest level,” says a proud Marco Fontijn, Director of Tourism, Recreation and Events. “They show what craftsmanship, collaboration and perseverance truly mean in practice.”
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