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"A Day in the Life of a Hotel Management Team"

Monica Lehan , Joan Knowles, Daniel Tomkinson, Robert Langley, Lauren Stokes, Naomi Percival, Michael Greatbanks, Oliver Rose, Sarah Weaver, Steven Hesketh

A brilliant new "programme" has been trialled by students from South Cheshire College completing their final year in BND Hospitality Supervision.

Ramada Chester in association with Springboard, Visit Chester and Cheshire, Managed by Cheshire & Warrington Tourism Board, and South Cheshire College teamed together to deliver a realistic 24 hour Management Experience.

The day entailed all students arriving for a welcome lunch, followed by a realistic and truthful industry talk from Steven Hesketh, Acting General Manager.

The day continued with a behind the scenes tour of the property, and continued onto a shortened version of a normal employee Induction day.

Students, later split into all the different departments across the hotel for a 2 & ½ hour 'Management Journey'. A two way learning development, where both Manager and student where able to talk and discuss what is done on an everyday basis as a manager of a department within a very busy Hotel unit.

This further continued as students changed departments, again to reflect on a different scene within the hotel, Leisure, Finance, Sales, Restaurant, Kitchen, Housekeeping, Human Resources, Conference & Events operations and Reception – no department left un-turned.

After a fairly long day, Students where then delighted with a three course meal in the Arts Restaurant with Steven Hesketh and Monica Lehan, HR Administrator, getting a great reflection on the success of the day.

Naturally the day didn't stop there, as often it never does in the hospitality industry! Students where set an overnight task within the four star accommodation rooms provided, the task was to complete a Ramada "100 point" room check and breakfast service/product audit for the morning.

Re-grouping at nearly 8.30am, as only students can, and after a hearty breakfast, the students presented back their findings, with some very surprising useful suggestions.

The programme was then finished with a set task of students preparing and presenting back to the Hotel Management team an ‘External Consultant's Review of the past 24 hours’ with their thoughts and recommendations on the hotel's Training, Customer Service, Product Evaluation and Management Skills.

Two hours later, the students presented back some amazing positive, truthful and very professional reviews, followed by the Hotel team feeding back to the students on their excellent input into the experience.

Overall a fabulous day, with thanks going to Pam Billington-Springbaord's Careers & Education Manager at Visit Chester & Cheshire, Joan Knowles – Tutor at South Cheshire College, the Management team at Ramada Chester Hotel and naturally the fantastic seven students that took part.