Sunway University becomes the newest Observer of THE-ICE!

THE-ICE is delighted to welcome Sunway University, Malaysia, to THE-ICE global network as the newest Observer of THE-ICE! The addition of Sunway University sees THE-ICE membership grow to include 34 members, of which 23 are accredited institutions, in 18 countries.

Sunway University is one of Malaysia’s leading private universities dedicated to providing quality holistic education for all. By upholding their core values of Integrity, Humility and Excellence, Sunway University supports the discovery, advancement, transmission and application of knowledge that meets the needs of their society and the global community.

Sunway University strives for its students to become independent, lifelong learners who actively pursue knowledge and appreciate its global application to economic, political, social and cultural development. The institution also helps their students to develop strong leadership qualities and communication skills, as well as be prepared for careers that enable them to lead productive, fulfilling and meaningful lives.

The School of Hospitality and Service Management at Sunway University was formed in 1998 and has a significant history in the provision of hospitality-related studies. The School of Hospitality and Service Management employs innovative teaching methods and flexible learning approaches that keep institution at the forefront of hospitality education.


Click here to visit the Sunway University website for more information about the institution, including the courses and training they offer.


Click here to see the full list of THE-ICE Non-accredited Member Institutions


Announcing the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2023!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2023, our global student competition exclusively for students of THE-ICE accredited member institutions. Now in its third year, THE-ICE GRM Challenge brings together students and staff across our global network, providing an opportunity to engage and build international skills and experience.

THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2023 attracted more than 65 students representing 10 institutions, who were grouped into international and inter-institutional teams to compete in an innovative and exciting challenge that tested and developed their hospitality and tourism revenue management skills.

We wish to congratulate the winning teams in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2023, who demonstrated significant skill and international collaboration. We are delighted to reward their achievements through the following prizes, generously supported by our Business Alliance Partners STR SHARE Center and Russell Partnership Technology:

1st Place – Team 14

Anna Mae Pano, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, Aaron Joseph C. Fandiño, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines and Jeff Lander E. Fabilane, Far Eastern University, Philippines. With thanks to Staff Advisor Mr Sebastian Küchler, EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality, Switzerland.

All members of the team will receive an $1500 AUD bursary towards study offered by any member of THE-ICE, AND a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) offered by STR SHARE Center AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme offered by Russell Partnership Technology.

2nd Place – Team 7

Luca Kunz, EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality, Switzerland, Rhona Mae R. Hernandez, Far Eastern University, Philippines, and Emi Avrilia, Dubai College of Tourism, United Arab Emirates. With thanks to Staff Advisor Dr Maureen D. Perez, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines.

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) AND a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

3rd Place – Team 10

Justin Bryle V James, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines, Ashlyn Kumar, The University of the South Pacific, Fiji, Brandur Ingi Stefnsson, César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, and Patricia Marie F. Pecson, Far Eastern University, Philippines. With thanks to Staff Advisor Ms Maria Juillet Ang, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines.

All members of the team will receive a free registration on the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

Russell Partnership Technology has also prepared a video explaining the 2023 Challenge results, please contact jade@the-ice.org to receive the link to this video.

Thank you to all staff who took part in THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2023, who made this Challenge possible for the students.

We look forward to launching the next GRM Challenge, which will take place in March 2024, at the end of this year and hope that you will take the Challenge once again!


Click here to view the previous winners of THE-ICE Global Revenue Management Challenges.


César Ritz Colleges Switzerland: Call for Proposals, 5th International Research Roundtable

You are invited to attend the 5th bi-annual International Research Roundtable of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, running from the 5 – 7 September 2023 at their Brig campus. The institution is seeking submissions from academics across THE-ICE network, as well as members who are interested in reviewing scholarly papers.

César Ritz Colleges engages in research for responsible business and society that promotes entrepreneurship, sustainability, leadership, inclusivity, and visionary thinking among business leaders and scholars. The research community at César Ritz Colleges fosters innovation in the domains of entrepreneurship and management in hospitality, tourism, and service industries. The bi-annual roundtables held in March and September offer an opportunity for scholars and practitioners interested in this theme to share research in progress, exchange opinions, and explore potential collaborations.

Important dates

  • Proposal submission deadline: 8 August 2023 through EasyChair platform
  • Acceptance notification: 31 August 2023 at the latest
  • Research Roundtable: Tuesday, 5 September – Thursday, 7 September 2023
    • Formal welcome afternoon, speaker presentations, and research networking – 3:00pm – 5:00pm, 5 September 2023
    • Welcome dinner – 5:00pm – 6:30pm, 5 September 2023
    • Official paper presentations and roundtable discussions – 10:00am – 5:00pm, 6 September 2023
    • Informal Networking lunch, Brig campus – 11:30am – 1:00pm, 7 September 2023
  • Post-conference: Translational Research Papers and Practitioner Business Cases may be fast-tracked for publication at the peer-reviewed journal ICHRIE Research Reports.

Topics

All submissions are expected to highlight practical implications for entrepreneurship and management in hospitality, tourism, or other service organisations.

  1. Management:
    • Leadership and human resource management in dynamic settings: Advance knowledge on management, human resources, and related disciplines in dynamic settings, such as hospitality, and propose practical applications for hospitality, tourism, and service organisations.
  2. Entrepreneurship:
    • Strategy and innovation for better service: advance knowledge on strategic management for innovating in hospitality, tourism, and service organisations, and propose practical applications for the industry.
  3. Business:
    • Operational sustainability: uncovering different aspects of sustainability in operations and proposing practical applications for hospitality, tourism, and service organisations.
  4. Service:
    • Business in hospitality, tourism, or service organisations: Business topics may be related to areas such as innovation, sustainability, marketing, finance, accounting, or revenue management.

Call for proposals

The call for proposals from researchers and practitioners is open in the following categories:

  • Original research papers (5000-8000 words, excluding references)
    • Academic research papers taking the form of a literature review, conceptual, qualitative, or quantitative work.
  • Translational Research Papers (600-1500 words, excluding references)
    • Translational Research Papers take the form of reports that present scholarly evidence-based opinions and focus on actionable knowledge. These reports present practical implications from previously published credible peer-reviewed research, such as scholarly research articles from journals included in Scopus/Scimago ratings and chapters from academic textbooks.
    • These reports should be relevant for students, professionals, policy makers and/or society.
    • Translational research reports take the form of direct explanations. They should describe the key concept of published academic research, set the focal business context, give examples, and make actionable recommendations for practitioners.
    • Reports should be written in Business English, using figures, tables, and illustrations to be easy to read.
    • Although these reports do not contain in-text referencing, they must include a list of at least 3-5 key sources reflecting previously published credible peer-reviewed research used for developing these reports.
  • Practitioner business cases (600-1500 words, no references needed)
    • Practitioner essays in free format presenting an authoritative personal viewpoint to share business stories, current issues, or emerging business trends.
  • Research proposal (400-600 words, excluding references)
    • Work in progress, extended abstracts.

Submission guidelines

Submissions are accepted on rolling basis after a double-blind peer review and early submissions are welcome. Paper submissions should NOT contain author-identifying information for blind review (no names, no affiliations, etc.). Author details should be entered through the EasyChair platform.

  • Proposed text:
    • Each submission should have a title page containing:
      • Title and Abstract (400-600 words maximum)
      • Each submission should clearly indicate 1 of 4 topics: (1) leadership and human resource management in dynamic settings; (2) strategy and innovation for better service; (3) operational sustainability; (4) business in hospitality, tourism, or service organisations. Without a topic selection, submissions will automatically be reviewed as original research papers related to business.
      • Each submission should clearly indicate one of the four submission categories: (1) Original Research Paper; (2) Translational Research Paper; (3) Practitioner Business Case; (4) Research Proposal. Without a category selection, the submissions will automatically be reviewed as original business-related research papers.
    • Main text with with figures, tables, and illustrations, as needed.
    • References in Harvard style (except for practitioner business cases) and appendices.
  • Proposal formatting:
    • Font type: Times New Roman
    • Font size: 12 points
    • Line spacing: 2
    • All margin widths: 2.5 cm
    • Submitted in PDF format
  • The authors of accepted submissions should send the presentation file to the Organising Committee (Evelina.Gillard@cesarritzcolleges.edu) in PowerPoint or PDF format prior to the scheduled presentation day.

Venue information

Participation in the 5th International Research Roundtable may occur online, both online and on campus, and asynchronously. For asynchronous presentations, a 20-minute recorded video presentation and a presentation file in PowerPoint or PDF format must be shared with the organising committee before the event.

If you would like to register for this event or have any further questions regarding submissions, please email Ms Evelina Gillard, Head of Research at César Ritz Colleges, at Evelina.Gillard@cesarritzcolleges.edu.


Click here to find out more about César Ritz Colleges Switzerland by visiting their website.


Recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2023 announced!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce and congratulate the recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2023:

As always, we were impressed by the high calibre of research and ideas being produced within our member institutions and their networks.

THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) was introduced in 2019 with the purpose of facilitating and promoting research by THE-ICE member institutions, supporting THE-ICE objective to enhance the quality of higher education in tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts (TH&E). The outcomes of the selected RGS 2023 research projects will be presented at the International Panel of Experts (IPoE) Forum 2023, to be proudly hosted by William Angliss Institute in Melbourne, Australia, with the theme Leading Change in Challenging Times – Finding and Framing the Transformative TH&E Graduates for the 21st Century.


For information about THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme, click here


Call for Papers – International Marketing Journal of Culture and Tourism: Issue 4

On behalf of the Managing Editor of the International Marketing Journal of Culture and Tourism, we are pleased to share with you the Call for Papers for the fourth issue of the journal.


You are cordially invited to submit relevant papers to the fourth issue of the International Marketing Journal of Culture and Tourism (IMJCT), published by Katara Publishing House in cooperation with Al Rayyan International University College in partnership with University of Derby.

The IMJCT is prestigious international journal that showcases high quality, peer-reviewed papers in various areas of tourism culture and marketing, including government and administration policies, new technologies, methodologies and tools. The journal seeks to provide a platform for researchers and experts in the field of culture and tourism marketing to reach a wider audience. IMJCT follows an open-access model and publishes two issues per year in both print and online formats, without any publication fees for researchers. With a distinguished Editorial Board, IMJCT strives to foster impactful research in the industry.

Submissions are due 10th August 2023, and require a maximum length of 5000–7000-words, including references, tables, and figures. The average time for review of papers submitted to the journal is 2-4 weeks.

To submit your article for consideration, please visit www.imjct.com or send an email to editor@imjct.com.


Click here to view the previous Issues of the International Marketing Journal of Culture and Tourism.


THE-ICE forms partnership with the Alliance Network!

On Thursday 8th June 2023, Dr Craig Thompson, CEO of THE-ICE, met with Mr Maxime Moïse, Strategic Partnerships Manager of the Alliance Network, in Lyon, France, to formally announce a new partnership between THE-ICE and the Alliance Network.

The Alliance Network, formerly Alliance by Institut Paul Bocuse, was created in 2004 and is operated as a non-profit activity by Institut LYFE. The Alliance Network aims to gather leading higher education institutions and universities around the world, to promote and develop the professions in hospitality, food service, and culinary arts. In April 2021 Institut LYFE, formerly Institut Paul Bocuse, successfully obtained international accreditation with THE-ICE and joined THE-ICE global network.

The Alliance Network and THE-ICE share several important characteristics:

  • International network organisations
  • Serving academic institutions offering hospitality and culinary arts programmes
  • Not for profit
  • Providing a range of member benefits
  • Primary objective of promoting quality and excellence in education

Benefits offered by the Alliance Network to THE-ICE Members

Alliance Network Friends

The Alliance Network is offering all members of THE-ICE the opportunity to become Alliance Network Friends at no cost.

Participation in Alliance Network activities

Members of THE-ICE may participate free of charge in all events organised by Alliance Network members, including short programmes, and will receive regular communications throughout the year detailing these events.

Hospitality Seminar for faculty members

Faculty members of THE-ICE institutions will be invited to attend the annual Hospitality Seminar, an event that is held at one of the Alliance Member institutions and addresses educational and industry challenges.

Alliance Programme for students

Members of THE-ICE can promote the Alliance Summer Programme (10 weeks at Institut LYFE) to their students at the Alliance Member rates.


The vision of THE-ICE is to significantly and sustainably enhance the quality of higher education in tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary arts (TH&E) globally. We believe that collaboration is the optimal approach and THE-ICE is delighted to be engaging in activity and alliance that serves our vision, both within and beyond THE-ICE global network.


Click here to find out more about the Alliance Network by visiting their website.


Fellow of THE-ICE nominations are now open for 2023!






On behalf of THE-ICE Chair, we are delighted to announce that nominations for Fellow of THE-ICE 2023 are now open. This distinguished status is awarded to individuals in recognition of their significant contribution in any one of the following three categories: 

  • Outstanding TH&E Academic
  • Outstanding TH&E Academic Industry Professional
  • Exceptional contributor to THE-ICE

Representatives of accredited member institutions of THE-ICE are cordially invited to nominate an outstanding individual whose significant contribution in any one of the above categories may be considered deserving of the prestigious status of Fellow of THE-ICE.

To nominate outstanding individuals, please complete and submit the nomination form to accreditation@the-ice.orgon or before 30th June 2023. Click here to download the 2023 Fellow of THE-ICE Nomination Form.

All nominations will be presented to the THE-ICE College of Fellows for consideration and decision. Successful nominees for the 2023 Fellow of THE-ICE will be conferred during THE-ICE 16th IPoE Forum, to be proudly hosted by William Angliss Institute from 30th October – 1st November 2023 in Melbourne, Australia.

Please refer to the Frame of Reference document for full details of the nomination and selection process. Please note that nominations may only be made by a representative of a currently accredited THE-ICE member institution.

Thank you in anticipation for nominating appropriately qualified individuals for the Fellow of THE-ICE award. Please do not hesitate to contact THE-ICE Operations Manager, Elise Lawrence (elise@the-ice.org) if you have any questions about the nomination and selection process.



Click here to view the previous Fellow of THE-ICE recipients.


Institut Paul Bocuse evolves to become Institut Lyfe!

Institut Paul Bocuse, an international professional school of management, hospitality, foodservice and culinary arts, has announced a new name and identity to embody its strategic objectives: Institut Lyfe.

In line with the institution’s international objectives and positioning, a new identity has been adopted that embodies the modernity, innovation, and uniqueness of Institut Lyfe. Short, inclusive and international, this new name reaffirms the origins of the institute, its roots in Lyon – capital of gastronomy and the French “art of living” since 1935 – and reflects the school’s broad reach, dedicated to the reinvention of tradition.

This year, as part of its €25-million expansion and investment project, Institut Lyfe is opening a new center dedicated to the hospitality industry and management courses. This new campus complements the historic campus dedicated to the Culinary Arts, which will be called Paul Bocuse campus, each campus referring to and paying tribute to the two founders of the school.

The ambition of Institut Lyfe is to strengthen its position among the leading management schools in culinary arts and hospitality worldwide, while maintaining its identity as a professional school and offering its innate French flair to students from all over the world. 

Lyon For: Excellence, Education, Exploration, Experience


Click here to read the full press release on Institut Lyfe.

Click here to view Institut Lyfe’s new institutional video.


Invitation to participate in the Kyungdong University Global Immersion Program!

Kyungdong University Global (KDU Global), South Korea, are inviting students of THE-ICE member institutions to apply for the KDU Global Immersion Program (KGIP)! KDU Global are a prospective member of THE-ICE, and this unique and fully funded event in South Korea will commence from July 10, 2023.

KGIP intends to bring hundreds of international and Korean students together for an opportunity to build international networks, experience various cultures and values, and enhance language, interpersonal, and career-tailored professional skills through customized courses, exciting events, trips, and activities in the most popular touristic area of South Korea.

This year’s KGIP offers two sessions for international students:

Session I: Global Networking and Korea

  • Will run from July 10 to August 11, 2023 (4 weeks)
  • Provides an exciting environment for international and Korean students to establish networks, build friendships, and exchange cultures.
  • Exposes the participants to engaging and fun activities and sessions on contemporary vogues of South Korea including Korean language, culture, and history, K-Beauty, K-Pop, K-Cuisine, and K-Sports.
  • Offers tours and trips to the most popular industrial and cultural sites around Korea.

Session II: Global Student Mobility – Academic Semester

  • Commences on August 28, 2023, and runs until December 15, 2023 (Fall 2023 Academic Semester)
  • Allows the international students to enroll to credit-yielding academic courses at KDU Global Campus
  • Offers competitive specializations in the fields of Business, Computer Science, Korean Studies, and Hotel and Tourism Management.
  • Embodies exciting field trips throughout Korea.
  • Provides internship and community service opportunities.

All successful applicants will be granted “KDU Global Scholarship” that covers the full tuitions, on-campus dormitory fee as well as the organizational and transportation costs of field trips, tours, and activities for the entire period of the program.

The scholarship places are limited, and applications will be accepted until May 21, 2023.

Please refer to the program website for more information: https://kgip.kduglobal.net/ 

Students can apply to any one session or both sessions, and individual applications can be submitted online.

Due to a highly competitive nature of the program and large number of applications, KDU Global also offer ‘fast-track’ institutional application process if institutions/universities:

  • Send the list of their interested and qualified students with (i) Letters of Enrollment and (ii) Passport Copies as one package for review and selection.
  • Process, complete, and support the remaining admission and visa documents for their successful students.

All institutional applications and inquiries should be addressed to juraev@kduniv.ac.kr by May 7, 2023.



THE-ICE members discuss the changing skills needs within the TH&E industry

Representatives from 11 THE-ICE member institutions across 7 countries joined THE-ICE Webinar Series 17: Future trends in the hospitality industry and the changing skills needs to discuss the impact the pandemic has had on the tourism, hospitality and events (TH&E) industry, specifically within the current and emerging workforce.

On Wednesday 5th April 2023 Dr Craig Thompson, CEO of THE-ICE, and Professor Peter Jones, Academic Director of eHotelier and Chair of the Professional Review Panel for the Institute of Hospitality, reviewed the results of an international research study conducted by eHotelierInstitute of Hospitality, and THE-ICE to better understand the future skills needs and ongoing challenges and change the TH&E industry is facing post pandemic.

Within these areas of discussion, the following key takeaways were highlighted:

The pandemic has had significant impact on the TH&E industry

  • The TH&E industry is becoming smaller and leaner and will continue to do so in the future due to the closure and downsizing of businesses.
  • Business models need to change to reflect the economic, social, and behavioral changes seen post-pandemic.
  • Technology will have an important role in the future of operations within businesses and will support staff in delivering service, however, will not replace the service.
  • Consumer pressure is forcing businesses within the TH&E industry to commit to sustainability and environmentally conscious practices.
  • Education and training need to shift to keep pace with the changes within the industry, as well as reconsider the curriculum to better reflect the skills needs for the future.

Recruitment and retention are, and will remain, the biggest single issue facing the TH&E industry over the next 5 years.

  • There has been a significant decrease in professionals within the TH&E industry as many individuals have changed industries, have found different forms of income, or have chosen not to come back to work post-pandemic.
  • For many professionals the pandemic has magnified the importance of having a work life balance, including focus on family values, home, health and wellbeing, and hobbies.
  • This creates an increased complexity of managing a more flexible workforce, as businesses may require more staff, or hire staff who work for multiple employers.
  • The TH&E industry is not attracting new entrants to replace those leaving, resulting in a greater cost of recruitment.
  • It can be seen that potential new staff do not have the professional skills for the industry, meaning that focus should shift to staff retention, and a greater investment is required in staff training and career development.

Skills needs for the future

  • It is evident that new and younger entrants to the TH&E industry expect a better work-life balance in their careers, which is a vastly different approach to previous generations.
  • The new workforce is seeking roles within organisations that align with their personal values, such as sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ethical standards, and employment practices.
  • Basic professional skills are vital in delivering the service expected by guests/customers, and these skill sets should be valued and developed appropriately.
  • The four (4) essential staff skills include professional, communication, customer/guest service, and financial.
  • The top five (5) skill sets that produce high standards of service:
    1. Communication and listening, ability to interact with guests.
    2. Cooperation with others, working in a team, and the ability to delegate.
    3. Problem solving, ability to understand, observe, and find an immediate solution.
    4. Creativity and innovation, relates to problem solving, taking initiative.
    5. Multi-skills including cultural and social awareness, planning and analysis, and language skills.

Training and education will need to develop to keep pace with the changes in the TH&E industry

  • It was found that higher education providers are not placing enough emphasis on students acquiring professional practical skills during their course of study. Current students may be able to understand the theory of customer service, however, are not able to put this into practice.
  • Survey respondents do not believe academic qualifications will be as relevant or essential for future staff as it has been historically. Rather, high importance will be placed on professional recognition, which includes professional development throughout their role.
  • Institutions need to consider whether their courses still offer vocational value sets, and how this can be made more relevant for the future students looking to work in the TH&E industry.
  • The pandemic has caused significant changes to the TH&E industry, yet education has not changed at the same pace, resulting in disparity between what institutions are teaching students and what businesses are searching for in new staff.

Members of THE-ICE institutions commented on their experience with the changing number of student applications, with majority claiming that these were declining. The following observations were also made during the discussion:

  • A representative from Dubai College of Tourism, United Arab Emirates, stated that their culinary course applications were growing, however, hospitality and tourism course applications were decreasing.
  • A representative from Torrens University, Australia, explained that their masters’ applications were remaining steady, however, undergraduate applications have seen a significant decrease.
  • A representative from Breda University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands, mentioned that their institution has seen a slight increase in their Hotel Management courses.
  • Professor Peter Jones explained that there has been a decrease in institutions that offer compulsory internships as part of their courses, even though internships are an important factor of employer recruitment strategies.
  • It was agreed that industry partners and academic staff/institutions need to cooperate in order to revive the TH&E industry, focusing on the needs of future employees and students.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

Click here to view additional resources and information on upcoming webinars in THE-ICE Webinar Series.