Dakota Hotels
A
LBA BRUNO GRADUATED with a BA (Hons)
International Hospitality and Tourism
Management in July 2017. It was a double
celebration for Alba on graduation day, as she
also won the annual Dakota Award for Innovation
in Hospitality Dissertations for her research. Her
dissertation looked at possible factors that impact
upon labour turnover within Edinburgh’s hospitality
business, The Vittoria Group, in order to find a
suitable solution to reduce employee turnover.
Commenting on her graduation achievement and
Dakota Hotel award, Alba said: “I’m so flattered to have
received the Dakota prize and I’d like to thank all lecturers
at QMU for their vital support and guidance. I would not
have been able to graduate and being awarded with
such an honourable prize without them.
"My QMU experience has changed me and the way I
look into the future. It gave me the confidence to pursue
my career goal of working in human resources. I’m now
ready and excited to start a new chapter of my life."
The Dakota Award for Innovation in Hospitality
Dissertations is part of wider support package from
Dakota Hotels to sponsor talented students studying
on QMU’s hospitality and tourism degree programme. ❒
Future Awards
T
HIS YEAR’S STUDENTS are in an incredibly fortunate position with
several new awards on the table. In addition to the ongoing support
that exists, there are exciting new packages of support from the
Lord Forte Foundation, the Scotsman Hotel and the Kitchin Group.
The partnership with the Kitchin Group will offer QMU’s budding restauranteurs
and hospitality professionals with financial support, as well as the opportunity to
gain valuable work experience and potential employment within the Kitchin Group’s
portfolio, including The Kitchin (a Michelin starred restaurant), Castle Terrace
Restaurant and The Scran & Scallie. Led by the internationally acclaimed Scottish
chef, Tom Kitchin, these three businesses are considered as ‘Best Practices
Businesses’ in terms of service, food and drink, both in the city of Edinburgh and
the rest of the UK.
The Lord Forte Foundation is the charitable arm of the famous hotel group
that boasts Edinburgh’s prestigious Balmoral Hotel as part of its portfolio. The
Foundation wishes to support final year students on hospitality pathways with
funding to help with fees (in the case of international or RUK students), living
expenses and other costs, in order that the students can focus on academic
excellence as a priority without having to commit disproportionately to part-time
employment.
We look forward to bringing you news of the students who will benefit from these
new partnerships in upcoming issues of QMYOU.
These partnership developments make an important contribution to QMU’s links
with industry and help to strengthen the University’s already robust employability
strategy.
For more information any of the above projects email
E: [email protected] ❒
Money worries can also force students to focus too much on
paid work at the expense of their studies. As well as affecting
their grades negatively, this can lead to them dropping out of
university altogether, or even prevent them accepting a university
place in the first place.
The Crerar Hotels Hospitality Bursary is available for prospective
students like Megan, who are accepted onto the IHTM degree
at QMU and who have the ability and potential to benefit from
higher education, irrespective of their background or economic
circumstances.
Uniquely, up to 50% of Crerar Hotels’ distributable profits are
donated to charities operating within areas where Crerar Hotels
are based. The Trust, which is chaired by Paddy Crerar, has
awarded £7m of grants to over 400 organisations over the last
16 years. This forms part of a commitment to re-invest in the
communities in which the group’s hotels and inns are based.
Paddy Crerar, Chairman of The Crerar Hotels Trust and Chief
Executive of Crerar Hotels commented: “We’re delighted to
have made this award to QMU’s student, Megan Gillis, and look
forward to hearing how this funding helps impact her university
studies.
“Crerar Hotels is committed to giving back to the local
community to help it grow and thrive, and provide opportunities
that may otherwise seem out of reach. For every stay our
customers have with us they are supporting others, who really
need it. It is great for our folk in the hotels to see their hard work
and efforts helping people in their own communities as well as
those from throughout the whole of Scotland and Yorkshire.”
Megan added: “I’m really grateful to The Crerar Hotels Trust
and QMU for their support and for helping me secure my place
at university.”
“I now feel able to achieve my full academic and career potential
without the financial constraints. My hope is that this course
will allow me to not only progress towards my career, but also
gain valuable insight into how the hospitality industry works.” ❒
Botanical exhibition raises
funds for students’ big ideas
T
WO AWARD WINNING
botanical artists turned
QMU into an art gallery
to mark World Earth Day in
April. Friends and graduates
were invited to the opening
of the exhibition of work
by QMU’s former Head of
Nursing, Dr Kathleen Munro,
and Atholl Crescent alumna,
Lady Ann Fraser. Together,
the artists displayed over 20
pieces of original work with
the proceeds going towards
the Student Development
Fund.
Local resident Ann studied
drawing and painting at
Edinburgh College of Art
and went on to specialise in
botanical painting at the Royal
Botanic Garden, Edinburgh.
Following retirement from
QMU, Kathy also took the
opportunity to hone her
painting skills at the Botanics.
Both artists created several
exquisite pieces which
transformed QMU’s piano bar
into a colourful floral spectacle.
Many of the drawings have
been inspired by flowers
and plants in the artists’ own
gardens.
Guests at the event were
given the opportunity to
purchase the original artwork
with the ‘gallery commission’
going directly to the Student
Development Fund. The
Student Development Fund
provides QMU students with
the opportunity to get their
big ideas off the ground and
to develop projects that reflect
their enthusiasm, creativity and
initiative.
Sir Charles and Lady Fraser
also very generously donated
one of the framed pieces
called ‘Flaming Tulips’ to the
University. This artwork now
takes pride of place in the
main foyer as a bright, colourful
welcome to all visitors to QMU.
❒
QMYOU / Development & Alumni News
25