Le Cordon Bleu’s Educational Leadership Manager, Dr Roger Haden believes the time is ripe for the new program: “Sustainable production, provision and enjoyment of quality food and drink are revitalising local communities around the world, with obvious relevance for the tourism and hospitality experience. This degree caters to those with a combined sense of gastronomic passion, business initiative and social conscience. It is an important and timely extension of our current culinary and hospitality management education portfolio.”

“Gastronomic tourism is helping to revive rural ways of life and strengthen cultural traditions. It is a growing market sector fostering employment in hospitality and artisan food and wine production and an area of increasing interest for study” Dr Haden adds.

The program will immerse students in the essentials of ‘the gastronomic tourism experience’. Industry professionals and those seeking to work in food & wine media or gastronomic tourism will greatly benefit from taking all, or selected, subjects in the degree program, with many opportunities to focus on areas of particular interest. Graduates will be entrepreneurial, ethical and multidisciplinary in outlook, yet grounded in the realities of running a successful food tourism business or event” he says.

“Le Cordon Bleu is very pleased to be working with Southern Cross University, who will deliver the Master of Gastronomic Tourism online. Southern Cross University was a pioneer in the development of tourism and hospitality degrees and is a leading provider of distance education in Australia. They were a logical choice of partner for Le Cordon Bleu” confirms Dr Haden.

Students with internet access, a computer and a passion for gastronomy will be able to study the program from anywhere in the world, networking with like-minded individuals and studying topics ranging from sustainability and food security to contemporary trends in cuisine and culinary arts; from food writing for media to the history of gastronomy and the restaurant; and from small business management to entrepreneurship and the application of ethical business practices in tourism operations. Graduates of the program will work in hospitality, writing, media and tourism.

The Master of Gastronomic Tourism will commence in May 2012. The first two units that students will study are Food & Drink in Contemporary Society and Gastronomic Tourism. Students can opt to study full-time (two units per trimester) or part-time (one unit per trimester) or can simply study single units of interest. Applicants with a bachelor degree can gain direct entry. Applications from individuals without academic qualifications will also be considered based on relevant expertise and specialist experience.

Applications are now open. Students are encouraged to contact Le Cordon Bleu for further information.

http://www.lecordonbleu.com.au/adelaide/magt/en

About Le Cordon BleuLe Cordon Bleu, one of the world’s most prestigious providers of gastronomy, culinary and hospitality management education, was founded in Paris in 1895.

Through its international faculty comprised of over 80 distinguished Master Chefs, Le Cordon Bleu is dedicated to preserving and passing on the mastery and appreciation of the culinary arts to over 20,000 students from 70 different nationalities in 20 countries at 40 schools including Sydney, Adelaide and newly opened facilities in Melbourne.

The Cruise Council today announced that its 2012 Masters event will be held on Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 as she sails from Southampton to New York from October 14 to 21.

ICCA General Manager Brett Jardine urged agents to register quickly, with participant numbers capped at a maximum of 50 agents plus partners.

A popular event on the cruise calendar, the annual Masters event is open to all agents currently holding ICCA accreditation and employed by an ICCA member travel agent.

Mr Jardine said the 2012 program would feature a series of seminars to help participants boost their cruise sales and improve their business. The sessions will be led by Scott Koepf, a US-based trainer and cruise agent, who has overseen the past 13 ICCA Masters events.

After completing the course and a post-conference case study, agents will enter the prestigious Masters’ ranks.

Mr Jardine said agents would also have plenty of free time to enjoy all the magnificent features of Queen Mary 2.

Priced at AUD$1795 per person twin share for a guaranteed balcony stateroom, the conference includes pre-cruise accommodation and breakfast in Southampton on October 13 and seven nights sailing to New York. For more details visit www.cruising.org.au

The International Cruise Council Australasia is a not-for-profit organisation formed in 1996, committed to training travel consultants and raising consumer awareness of cruising.

Presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, the ceremony was attended by 500 families, friends and Emirates’ senior management, students were awarded degrees across a multitude of disciplines including 13 UAE national graduates, who are also Emirates staff, received the higher national diploma in Computing and Software Engineering. Additionally, the ceremony also commemorated 28 graduates from the postgraduate MBA programmes, 17 of whom are Emirates staff, and all of whom are professionals working in the aviation, logistics, and IT fields.

“Our graduates reflect the diversity and achievement of the College’s global student body, coming from more than 16 nations such as the UAE, France, Germany, Russia, India and the Philippines, said Dr. Ahmad Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor, Emirates Aviation College. “The variety of degree programmes in which the graduates studied, many while still working full-time, illustrates how the College meets the educational needs of the UAE”  “With the future plans to relocate the Emirates Aviation College to a completely new, state-of-the-art campus in Academic City, the College is well-positioned to takes its place as a recognized international institute for Aviation Studies excellence,” he added.

(Bottom row, left to right) Doctor Ahmed Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor Emirates Aviation College, Doctor David Pilsbury, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Coventry University and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum with the January 2012 Graduating Class.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum awarding MBA graduate and Emirates Flight Purser, Peter Rodrigues, his diploma. Also pictured, Doctor Ahmed Al Ali, Vice-Chancellor Emirates Aviation College (l) and Doctor David Pilsbury, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Coventry University.

As a testament to the Emirates Aviation College’s commitment to constantly offer new and industry-relevant programmes, during the next academic semester the College will introduce two additional programmes; an MSc in Aviation Safety and a higher national diploma in Operations Engineering. These two programmes add to the already expanded course degree / certificate offerings which include: MBA in Aviation Management; Bachelor degrees in Aerospace Technology, Avionics Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, Aviation Management and Applied Business; Diplomas and Higher Diplomas in Aerospace Engineering, Electronics Engineering and Computing, Computing Software Development, Business Management and Tourism Management. The spring semester, which will commence on 26 February, also marks the first session of the new JAA Licensed Pilot Training programme, presented in collaboration with Jeppesen.

The 30-minute session, scheduled to run from 4 PM, has been organized in response to an agent feedback requesting more detailed information regarding new product in FTC’s recently launched 2012 program and advising on tools that are helpful selling to assist agents in closing a sale.

Registered agents will be sent a link to the online module. They will simply need to log on, call a dedicated phone number and then be connected to the interactive group training session via their pc screen and phone link.

The training module will be conducted by FTC’s Business Development Manager, Camilla MacInnes, and spaces are strictly limited so be quick and register by emailing camilla@frenchtravel.come.au before 5 PM on Thursday, 2 February.

Agents are also encouraged to use the email above to request regular updates regarding training sessions for France and Tahiti. Agencies wanting FTC to conduct a session specifically tailored to the needs of their staff should also email Camilla with their preferred time and topic.

Written by: Kanchana Ganglani

The course will expose students to the latest developments in electronic marketing media for the hospitality industry, focusing on social media, mobile media, and search engine marketing. Students will learn the theories of network-based, integrated marketing communication and the practical, real-world application of strategies, tactics, and technologies used in this fast-evolving field. Bill Carroll, senior lecturer in services marketing, Rob Kwortnik, associate professor of services marketing, and Felix Laboy, president and general manager of Sabre Hospitality Solutions and a 1986 graduate of SHA, will facilitate the course.

“Sabre Hospitality is an award-winning company that finds technology solutions for some of the top brands in the hospitality industry, and we are excited to have them as the first industry sponsor of this course,” said Steve Carvell, associate dean for academic affairs, SHA. “By collaborating with Sabre, we have a unique opportunity to build a bridge between theory and practice and present students with the most up-to-date practices in new marketing media.”

“The use of new media has been growing rapidly in the hospitality industry. In this new course, we are not only teaching students to use emerging technologies effectively, but we are also laying the foundation for students to be able to evaluate and understand future electronic marketing media applications,” said Laboy.

(from left) Mr. Khampi Suwanarat,  Managing Director- Education Division, Dusit Thani Public Co.,Ltd.; Mrs. Veera Pardpattanapanich, Rector, Dusit Thani College ; Mr. Chanin Donavanik , CEO, Dusit International;       Mr. Michel Rochat, General Director, Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne; Mr.Ruud Reuland; Mr. Yateendra  Sinh, CEO, Lausanne Hospitality Consulting

This is the first step for the exclusive relationship which will bring together Dusit Thani College and EHL to raise the bar for hospitality education in Thailand.   Both Thai and International students are accepted in the programme and it will be conducted in English. This partnership was inspired in part as Dusit International is preparing to further develop hospitality talent in the wake of the Asean Economic Community (SEC) 2015 (Regional Economic Integration of the ten ASEAN Nations) Agreement.

The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne was the first hotel school in the world. It was founded  in 1893 and Thailand has the largest representation of alumnus’s in Asia and the 5th largest in the world.

“HFTP’s CHTP is more global than ever before,” said Frank Wolfe, CAE, CEO of HFTP. “Thanks to the Internet, hospitality professionals now have the same resources for preparing and taking the exam from anywhere in the world.”

HFTP completed a four-part online CHTP review course that is available on the HFTP web site. Each part of the online review is presented with content building from the previous session and focuses on a specific topic — like “managing technology.”

HFTP also launched an online practice exam for the CHTP. The CHTP Practice Exam is an actual sampling of questions taken from the CHTP Examination that have been rewritten for examination preparation. The practice exam includes select questions from each section of the exam, for a total of 25 questions, and a results page showing a percentage passed in each section.

“The CHTP is different from any other certifications because it is the only one that shows specific knowledge of hospitality technology,” said Raman P. Rama, CHA, CHTP, CHAE, vice president and CTO/CIO of JHM Hotels and HFTP Global vice president. “By having this designation, and an accounting degree from university in India, I have confidence in my knowledge of hospitality industry technology and accounting.”

Developed jointly by HFTP and the Educational Institute (EI) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the CHTP designation is the ultimate achievement in hospitality information technology by showing a dedication to both the hospitality and technology industries. Since its inception in 1994, more than 340 professionals have earned the CHTP designation around the world. HFTP also administers the examination and awards the Certified Hospitality Accountant Executive (CHAE).

HFTP, founded in 1952, is the global professional association for financial and technology personnel working in hotels, clubs and other hospitality-related businesses. With an extensive global hospitality network, HFTP offers extraordinary networking opportunities, industry-leading certification programs and events, and essential recourses for professional growth.

1) Respond to questions, comments and mentions.
For many hotels, Twitter still remains a service and conversational medium. The majority of content should be @replies to people talking about your hotels, your brand, or your area. Responses to yoru followers build relationships and show that it’s not all about pushing commercial messages.

2) Retweeting positive feedback.
Retweeting positive messages from customers will act as salespeople for your brand. You don’t need to share every comment, but the occasional recommendation as a retweet will show you that acknowledge advocates and appreciate their comments.

3) Retweeting other resources.
This helps you curate what is cool while giving credit to the source. You could always tweet links directly, but retweeting other content will help build important relationships by raising their own Twitter profile. Plus, retweets introduce your followers to new sources of information.

4) Sharing recommendations.
This strategy helps build a brand personality. Lifestyle information can be very popular on Twitter, so define the image you are building and then share information and recommendations around this.

5) Spotlighting media mentions.
If your hotel get mentioned in the media, pass that information along to your Twitter followers. Highlighting stories on Twitter can amplify the coverage by providing an opportunity for additional exposure through retweets and viral word of mouth.

6) Ask questions.
Twitter can act as a 24/7 virtual focus group, and can be a powerful way to do market research. Next time you have a question – or would like to get a second opinion – ask your followers what they think. Eg a menu change, what they think of the new paint colour for your renovations etc

7) Running contests.
Some of the best contests leverage the power of questions to increase participation. Eg ask your followers to submit their favourite thing about the location/area.

Offering real-time information.
Twitter is by design a real-time media format, and this can be very helpful when up-to-the-minute information is required. We see this often in breaking news situations: Twitter becomes the best source for knowing what is happening right now.

In the context of hotels and hospitality, it is possible to use this real-time medium eg if there is a storm or bad weather. By following and acting quickly on a news event, you can help stranded travellers. It can also work well for events, sharing timely tips for attendees.

9) Sharing personal thoughts.
Depending on the voice and style you want to communicate in your Twitter account, it may be appropriate to include personal thoughts in your hotels’ Twitter stream. Typically this approach works best for small hotels where the owner also acts as the public spokesperson. Eg instead of just promoting your hotel services and promotions, you can include links and resources on topics you’re interested in, such as food, travel, design etc. It brings a personality to your brand.

10) Staff recruitment.
Twitter can be a valuable way to recruit talented team members. You can use Twitter to offer career advice, CV tips, and guidance to potential applicants.

For more information about social media marketing, speak to one of the marketing consultants at TA Fastrack today on 07 3040 3588.

Complete Cruise Solution Director of Sales Don Clark said agents had responded enthusiastically to the webinars and were clearly keen to learn about the latest cruise offerings and product updates.

Mr Clark said that whilst many of the attendees were participants in P&O Cruises’ online training program, P&O Academy, a significant number were fresh to cruising.  The webinars talk agents through the highlights of the new program and provide an opportunity for agents to ask questions about the itineraries and the ships.

“It’s really encouraging to see so many agents interested in learning more about our new program so they can boost their cruise sales,” Mr Clark said.

The first webinar session was held on January 11, with the second scheduled for 8.30am tomorrow.  For more information visit www.myccs.com.au or register here

On sale now, the new P&O Cruises’ program features 61 departures from Brisbane and Sydney from April-September 2013, and includes an increase in short break cruises.

Complete Cruise Solution represents P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises World Cruising, Cunard Line and Carnival Cruise Line in Australia.

Based on an instant feeling from the look and feel of your property’s website, a travel shopper can move on faster than the speed of light. This is the worst case scenario for any property. After all, the shopper’s interest is not the only thing lost. You can kiss increased online bookings, revenue, branding and potential guest loyalty goodbye.

Let’s review five signs that your site needs a makeover. If none of these apply to your property, you’re in good shape. If any of them do apply, it’s time to make some tweaks.

Five signs that scream YES!

1) Dated Imagery
How current are the photos on your website – have they been updated in the last year or two? Have your property’s rooms recently been remodelled?

Photos, especially if they’re rotating in flash or the largest feature on the page, are what visitors notice first, meaning photos should constantly be up to date and professional. If a visitor sees photos of a dim, empty lobby and a room with old TVs and fixtures, it may immediately cause them to start their search over. And hiring a professional photographer is usually worth it in the long run. The difference between professional photos and random photos taken by the hotel staff can be significant.

2) Non-compelling Imagery
Does you property look empty, with no cars in the parking lot, or zero guests walking the grounds?  Does your property have vibrant photos of local attractions – whether it’s the outdoors, shopping areas, theme parks, etc.?

Your property’s website should have exciting, professional photos at all times, especially on the homepage, since it’s seen by nearly 100% of your website visitors. Don’t have two rotating photos of an empty lobby and a bed. Have four rotating photos of guest/staff interaction in the lobby, a wide angle of one your best rooms, an active pool that show guests relaxing, and most importantly, a photo of nearby local attractions, such as people enjoying a theme park, businessmen interacting at a convention centre or hikers enjoying the outdoors.

3) Non-engaging Content
Does your site’s content instantly spark interest in the travel shopper?
With the short attention span of consumers and the assault of ads and content they’re exposed to, they hardly ever read an entire page worth, but they do at least skim it… after they’ve been engaged with the imagery of course.

Besides the fact that your content has to be written with keywords and key phrases to help with search engine rankings, it’s crucial that it sells what the travel shopper wants. If you’re a luxury resort, you should sell the luxuries and amenities of your property – things like a spa and room service. You should also, even on the homepage, have relevant content about local attractions or demand generators. Often times, guests search for a property with close proximity to a place or event, not just for the property itself. If you’re located within a mile from the zoo or a botanical garden, emphasize that in your content. Capitalize on your proximity to the attractions, and try to form an emotional connection with the shoppers immediately.

4) Poor Navigation
Is your site map organized in a manner that’s easy for visitors to navigate?
Once a visitor sticks on your website, easy navigation is a must.  First and foremost, no matter where a visitor navigates to, there should always be a clear link directly back to the homepage.  Think about the goals of your website, and make sure the most important links are prominent and easy to reach from anywhere.

Second, the booking engine should be a distinct call to action on the homepage, always above the page break. Visitors should be able to quickly select a date range and click search. Third, don’t have too many sub pages on different levels. If a visitor clicks on “Event Space” from the homepage, gets to a second page, clicks on “Ballroom,” gets to a third page and clicks on “Weddings,” before clicking to yet another “Bride and Groom” page, then it’s too deep in the navigation. A visitor should never have to go through more than two or three clicks from the homepage to navigate anywhere on your site.

5) Alarming Website Statistics
Are travel shoppers staying on your site longer and viewing more pages than they did last year? Is your site ranking higher in the search engines for crucial keywords and phrases? Is your overall site traffic growing?

All of these questions and more need to be answered regularly at your property. Review how shoppers find your site, which pages they are visiting and how much time they’re spending there. Look at your Web analytics, and learn what every statistic means to your bottom line. These are key indicators about how well you’re engaging shoppers, and how you can improve your site to increase online bookings.  An overall “health review” of your site should be done quarterly.

So, your site does or doesn’t need a makeover…
Now that you’ve thought more about your property’s website and considered the aforementioned five potential issues, how do you feel about your site? Does it need a design and/or layout makeover. Do you feel your visitors are engaged with photos and content and compelled to book? Your website is your 24/7 sales tool, so it must be up to par to consistently fill the rooms.

If your property clearly does not have any of these five issues, chance are, the design and layout is in excellent shape. But if any of these signs ring true, whether it’s one or all five, it’s probably time for a site revision, including updated images and content and a professionally diagrammed layout.

This is where hiring an hotel Internet marketing company would be beneficial. A content management system that allows you to make updates to the site without much design or technical knowledge is also a cost-effective, beneficial option.  Because after all, improving your site will only help increase the time visitors spend on it, which will in turn, boost your direct online reservations.

For more information about website design and development, speak to one of the marketing consultants at TA Fastrack today on 07 3040 3588.