Hotel chain boss praises new management diplomas

30/09/2011

L-R; Principal Russell Strutt, Surinder Arora, Arora Executive Director John Donaldson and IOH Chief Executive Philippe Rossiter

Around 30 hoteliers from across the Gatwick Diamond attended a celebration at Central Sussex College to mark the successful completion of a new diploma for aspiring hotel managers.

Hotel chain founder Surinder Arora, and Chief Executive of the Insititute of Hospitality Philippe Rossiter, spoke at the event to highlight the importance of this new qualification in helping to meet the shortage of leadership and management skills within the sector.

The Level 3 and Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management and the brand new Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, have been designed by the Institute of Hospitality to provide a flexible framework of relevant units which can be studied individually or as a whole qualification.

Speaking at the graduation evening for the first group of Level 3 candidates, who are employed in four of the region's top hotels, Philippe Rossiter said: "With the projected growth of the industry, it has never been more important to provide employees with specific skills to enable them to make it to the top."

Surinder Arora, whose portfolio includes seven luxury hotels - including the new flagship Sofitel London Heathrow at Terminal 5 - is a strong advocate of training, having been denied those opportunities himself at a young age. The entrepreneur gave an inspirational speech which highlighted the importance of combining taught skills with a passion for the industry: "You have to be a people person to progress in the hotel industry and in the Arora Group we treat our staff like family and our guests like royalty. It is this passion which helps people to get where they want to go. With these qualifications, the sky is the limit."

College Principal Dr Russell Strutt also spoke at the event, adding: "The success of this course shows that Central Sussex College is committed to providing local industry with relevant and beneficial training routes. We are looking forward to the start of the Level 4 Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management this autumn - as part of the College's higher education offer provided by its new university centre - which will develop competent managers who aspire to go even further."

To find out more about the Institute of Hospitality Diplomas at Central Sussex College, call Clare Skinner on 0845 155 0043 (press 4) or email cskinner@centralsussex.ac.uk.