UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague Forge Partnership for Hospitality Innovation

(IN SHORT) The UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on pioneering projects in the hospitality industry, aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship while enhancing education. With a focus on stimulating fresh ventures within the hospitality sector and promoting sustainability, the partnership seeks to provide valuable opportunities for startups, students, and industry stakeholders. Through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions, the collaboration aims to create a conducive environment for innovative ideas to thrive and contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism industry. Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, underscores the importance of offering a robust foundation for startups, while Ms. Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors of Hotelschool The Hague, emphasizes the institution’s commitment to preparing students for leadership roles in the global hospitality industry, aligning with the objectives of UN Tourism.

(PRESS RELEASE) Madrid, Spain, 2024-Apr-24 — /Travel PR News/ — UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague, have agreed to partner around the development and execution of pioneering projects in the hospitality industry.

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to stimulate innovation and fresh ventures within the hospitality industry, promoting entrepreneurship and education while engaging in open innovation projects that can enhance the tourism industry, with a particular focus on hospitality. Currently, 20% of entrepreneurs of the UN Tourism Network are directly related to hospitality and are the most dynamic projects including a variety of stakeholders of the industry.

Building on the UN Tourism’s established innovation network, this agreement will further facilitate connections between startups and potential investors, as well as promote knowledge and skills through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions. This partnership not only underlines a commitment to a more sustainable future for the industry but also signifies a shared commitment to providing inclusive opportunities and memorable global student experiences, demonstrated through Hotelschool The Hague’s global Sustainable Hospitality Challenge.

Strong foundations for innovative future

Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, expresses: “Unfortunately 90% of startups within the hospitality sector eventually do not succeed. A decent tourism education and knowledge of the hospitality sector is necessary to develop a disruptive and well-functioning product. Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to alter this trajectory by offering a more robust foundation, fostering invaluable connections, and providing a conducive testbed for emerging startups. Given that technology now permeates 70% of tourism enterprises, it is imperative that these startups are seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, connected with pertinent stakeholders, and afforded the opportunity to validate their solutions in real-world settings before embarking on a larger scale.

Ms. Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors of Hotelschool The Hague says: “At Hotelschool The Hague, we provide our students with the perfect balance of theory, real-world experience and applied research to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry. We develop leaders who shape our global industry and drive it to give back more than it takes. We are proud to join forces with UN Tourism. We fully embrace their vision to Foster Innovation in the Hospitality Industry. In fact, our Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is a student competition designed to enhance the evolution of sustainable practices in hospitality, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of UN Tourism.”

Hotelschool The Hague, founded and funded by the hospitality industry in 1929, provides high-quality education and cutting-edge research in the field of international hospitality management, with an emphasis on the transformation of sustainability and digitalization and on developing students into sought-after hospitality graduates who excel in leadership roles worldwide.

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Source: UNWTO

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