Service with a smile

A splash of order, pinch of patience and dollop of organised chaos made for a unique breakfast experience at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality this week.

Guests from across Dubai filled tables at the Jumeirah Village academy and waited in anticipation to taste the efforts of 13 second-year students.

The smiling team appeared calm as they floated effortlessly through the restaurant but behind the scenes you could feel the tension building.

A culmination of more than two years' hard work, the students were set the challenge of organising, marketing and then finally, pulling off, the four-day breakfast event which started on Sunday and finished yesterday.

Success

The event was planned like a military operation and was a huge success. Marketing officers, promotions, menu layout and logos, kitchen help, waiters and waitresses, chefs, front of house and even the washing up all had to be taken care of to ensure the students achieved highest marks for the practical assessment.

Student Zina Sorensen, 20, said she enjoyed every minute of the assignment.

She said: "This task has given us a challenge like no other. We have had to pull together as one big team while we still retain our position in the group and various personal responsibilities. Having to arrange everything has given us total ownership of the project which has been very exciting."

The future

The 20-year-old added that although everyone was nervous at the start, they had done very well overall.

Sorensen has high hopes for the future but says her love is dealing with people at the forefront of the customer service experience and said: "I am very passionate about helping people and being that friendly face to put a mind at ease.

"It's not an academic quality and not everyone possesses it. I love working with people and would love to specialise in hospitality management to become front-of-house manager or the like."

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management was established in October 2001 with a vision of providing the thriving hospitality industry with a ready supply of talented and qualified management personnel.

Supported by Jumeirah, the academy students have access to the group's properties and a first-hand practical experience of the working in this dynamic industry. It also guarantees the academy's graduates promising careers within Jumeirah and other reputed hospitality and tourism organisations.

Attracting students from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and many other countries, the academy ensures a healthy sharing of cultures and ideas.

Pressure

Sorensen said: "The breakfast mornings are important for us to learn about the pressure. You can learn about anything from books and teachers but you don't get very far until you have the chance to put them into practice. We have the chance to make mistakes and learn from them.

"A large part of this process will be reports and breakdown from everyone so we can improve."

Guests had smiles on their faces and the team received a string of compliments as people began to leave.
The team looked cool on the outside but a layer of tension was clearly floating somewhere between the shoulders and ears of most students. But then who said customers were easy?

Courses of choice

The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management offers students four main programmes of study. Each is highly specialised and provides students with a solid foundation in the discipline of their choice.
BSc (Hons) in International Hospitality Management
BA (Hons) in International Tourism Management
ASc in International Hospitality Operations
AA in Business and Tourism

For more detailed information about Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, visit: www.emiratesacademy.edu