A “once in a lifetime experience” for Bachelor student Maruan Elana as he and his team win the Young Hoteliers Summit challenge

École Hôtelière de Lausanne annually invites top hospitality management schools to send two of their best students to participate in the three day Young Hoteliers Summit. This year, from March 16th until March 18th, 61 students from 31 top hospitality management schools and universities joined together for networking, focus groups, keynote speeches, workshops, and of course: THE CHALLENGE.

The exciting challenge presentations on the last day of the Young Hoteliers Summit are the highlight of this extraordinary event.

This year’s challenge provider was the Dorchester Collection, demanding a creative solution for “designing a hotel organizational network that embraces disruption”. Students were randomly assigned to groups and had one day and one night to come up with an idea and a presentation. Of course, all events leading up to the challenge announcement were of inspiration and assistance.

MODUL Career Officer, Géraldine Förster, had the honor of selecting two students according to an extensive list of selection criteria provided by the organizers. BBA in Tourism & Hospitality Management students Patricia Neamtu and Maruan Elana convinced her through their outstanding communication and networking skills and professionalism. They had the chance to gain this once in a lifetime experience and meet important players in the industry, as well as increasing their network of potential future leaders from all over the world.

One major industry player with a breath-taking international career was especially keen to meet our students: Mr. Gregor Andréewitch, MODUL Tourism College graduate and General Manager at the Waldorf Astoria in Berlin. He was very approachable and kind to give advice from his world of experiences.

MODUL University was therefore very well represented with two outstanding students and one outstanding alumnus!

MODUL Career is very proud to announce that the group with our student Maruan WON the challenge through their clever and realistic approach. His group consisted of students from Switzerland, Ireland, India, and Canada and of course, Austria, and they are going to very much enjoy the “ultimate prize” provided by Dorchester Collection: one week in 3 different Dorchester Collection hotels in Europe!

Photo: The winning team with MODUL University student Maruan Elana, back row, center