Welcome!
UPCOMING EVENTS
We are looking forward to the following events for Summer 2020
Curriculum
In order to assist individuals around the world who are looking for learning activities and programs to offer their students, we have created several resources for teachers. Please visit TeachingMVP.com for some materials specific to teaching online.
You are also encouraged to visit HospiGo for a curriculum on tourism entrepreneurship. While it is tailored for Ghana, it can be adapted for students around the world.
TEW6 - Feb. 22
For the sixth edition of this event we are going to do things a little differently.
- Tourism Outlook for 2024-2025
- Getting Visitors to Tip Well
- New Revenue Opportunities
After attendees receive 2024-2025 tourism industry data, we will work together to determine ways that gratuity can be implemented in various businesses.
Lastly we will explore new opportunities in tourism, especially as it pertains to using technology to attract new customers (digital engagement) and offer experiences on new platforms (Metaverse).
Frankenstyle MARCH 24'
A slightly different fashion contest. The goal is to encourage designers to make something beautiful out of upcycled materials. Over 15 million garments are dumped into Ghana each week, so we wanted to think differently.
In February 2023, eighteen teams designed new fashion pieces using second-hand clothing purchased from the markets.
The next contest in Ghana will take place this March!
The HospiGo Project
In June 2018 the first batch of HospiPods were distributed to attendees of the second annual Youth in Tourism conference in Ghana. These chips were given to young attendees so that they can explore domestic tourism and think more about the industry. Since then, smaller batches have been distributed in June 2019 and February 2020. The next batch will be distributed in 2023.
Sign Up for The Waitlist
We'll let you know when it "ships"Signature Programs
Over ten years, the following programs have been created under the Hospitalented flag.
BlockVariable
(technology)
An iteration of the 'Bitcoin Meetup' held originally in Ghana, this event went further to separate cryptocurrencies from blockchain technology. Participating students learned about how the technology can be applied to a variety of industries; hospitality, tourism, fashion, medicine, real estate, etc.
Not So Scary Foods
(alternative foods)
I wanted to help students discover the world of alternative foods. The future is uncertain in terms of access to traditional proteins, so we focused on insects, plant-based and other food options. We also addressed sustainability through the lens of "use the whole beast." Students and other attendees were able to sample roasted and ground insects, as well interact with live insects (for the courageous).
Airline Expo
(airports and airlines)
This event has taken place twice now, each time exposing students to careers in the airline industry. The second event expanded beyond just traditional careers in aviation/airports to include journalism and media roles. In both events students had a chance to win $25,000 in our paper airplane contest. MORE
Tourism Entrepreneurship Workshop
(tourism)
This edition will focus on the WTTC projections for tourism in Ghana. The country has fallen short in most years over the last decade, We will explore how they could be reached in the near future. We will also discuss pricing for services and tipping from the perspective of visitors.
Frankenstyle Contest
(fashion)
Millions of clothes are dumped into Ghana on a weekly basis. While there are incredible organizations that are tackling this monumental issue, we have created a contest to bring attention to new audiences. This is an effort to provide a creative approach to upcycling through fashion.
Art in a Bottle
(food & beverage)
I am passionate about beverage marketing so I created an event that speaks to a part of the industry rarely discussed. AIAB gets into the business and marketing behind beverage and condiment brands. We bring together the top people in the business; those who can tell practical stories about how they built their brands. MORE
Nightlife Academy
(careers in nightlife)
This event was the inaugural showcase of elements within the nightlife industry. Three panels were delivered virtually; history/future, food & beverage, and DJs/entertainment. In all there were fourteen panelists and over fifty students who attended. What an amazing collection of experience!
Interview360
(career paths)
Prompted by a concern about the lack of interview preparation for high school students, this event was created to fill the void. The result was an event that combines speed-mock interviewing, networking and group interaction activities. The first year we had 25 students, and last year it jumped to 75.
HospiChallenge
(skill development)
This event is known as the 'hospitality Olympics,' requiring students to complete a number of written and physical challenges that span the full hospitality industry. We were able to host the eighth iteration of this event just before COVID-19 hit New York City. We matched our record for involving seven different high schools from around the city.
MORE INFO
Stay tuned as we update our next trip in May 2018
Big Idea Contest
Happy to announce the 1st winner of
#GHBIGIDEA. Please join us in congratulating David Agyeman Duodu! @AgyemanduoduA contest in cooperation with PathToGhana.com & GhanaAlliance.org
With the hope of inspiring people to love and visit Ghana, we will continue to have contests to generate ideas for this great country.
Chapters
While the organization's projects are still very young, they are executed with the help of individuals from around the world.
Alpha
St. Joseph's College - Brooklyn, NY
The first official chapter was founded on October 5th, 2016 after a vote to change the name of their hospitality and tourism club. The students of SJC Brooklyn were only in the second year of the Hospitality & Tourism Management program. Alpha chapter is where HospiChallenge, Airline Expo, Not So Scary Foods and Art in a Bottle first took place.
Beta
New York City - United States
This chapter was founded in 2016, retroactively including students and professionals within the New York City metro area.
Gamma
Accra, Ghana - West Africa
Our third chapter was founded throughout 2016, based on the work of two individuals who have been helping expand hospitality and tourism in Ghana. The collective community has grown significantly, thanks in large part to the success of the TEW, or Tourism Entrepreneurship Workshop.
Delta
San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Caribbean
The fourth chapter was assembled in 2016, amassing over 200 members throughout the island of Puerto Rico. In the wake of Hurricane Maria, the chapter became dormant but will come back soon!
Epsilon?
Your City, Your Campus - The World
Who will be the next chapter founded? If you are interested please email info@hospitalented.org
F.A.Q.
Answers to some common questions.
HospiChallenge?
In a world that is dominated by cooking competitions we thought it was important to give students and staff a chance to show their skills. Each HC is created for the people who will participate in it. Some traditional challenges include:
- Table Turnover - Teams race to clear and reset a table for a restaurant
- Luggage Stack - Teams find the most creative ways to pile luggage
- Bottle Presentation - Individuals open and serve a bottle for a guest
In addition to these 'active' challenges, teams may work together to solve problems, come up with ideas, and develop solutions to issues in the industry. Participants represent different schools or organizations.
Global hospitality education?
Hospitalented engages in programming and education that can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone around the world. Too many people do not have access to formal education as they should, so we try to bridge the gap by creating curriculums and packaging them in a way that is more accessible.
Are you a non-profit?
While we do not have the official designation of 501(c)(3) entity, Hospitalented is largely not for profit. Funding for various programs is thanks to affiliations and collaboration, while certain projects like HospiGo and Frankenstyle are largely funded by the executive director.
Who are you?
While we work with a number of colleagues throughout the world, Hospitalented was founded and is still operated by Dr. Damien L. Duchamp. Learn more about 'ProfD' on his website.
What We Do
Hospitalented is about global hospitality education. We do this a few ways...
Events
What is HospiChallenge?
In a world that is dominated by cooking competitions we thought it was important to give students and staff a chance to show their skills. Each HC is created for the people who will participate in it. Some traditional challenges include:
- Table Turnover - Teams race to clear and reset a table for a restaurant
- Luggage Stack - Teams find the most creative ways to pile luggage
- Bottle Presentation - Individuals open and serve a bottle for a guest
In addition to these 'active' challenges, teams may work together to solve problems, come up with ideas, and develop solutions to issues in the industry. Participants represent different schools.
About Us
Who we are...
Hospitalented is dedicated to providing hospitality education for a global audience.
We do this in a variety of ways - through programming, consulting and advising. There are great Associate, Bachelor and Master degree programs and we encourage those seeking to improve themselves to first consider formal education opportunities. For those that cannot afford to go back to school, have challenging schedules or just want to stay current with hospitality trends, we will try to fill that void.
We also aim to complement the education that students are already receiving, as well as the training professionals are getting. To do this, we have local organizations (known as chapters) in metro areas and on college campuses around the world. We also engage in consulting projects, putting to work students and professionals who want to be involved with more than their 'day job.' At the global level and through our chapters we provide a range of programming where hospitality professionals (and students) can shine!
We have and will continue to host various gatherings around the world - some small and some large. Each fall and spring we host HospiChallenge, a competition for students.
We are creating a curriculum dedicated to enhancing hospitality in places like West Africa. While other projects develop, we encourage you to follow us on social media. That's where you'll find out about everything we're working on.
Consulting
What we can do...
Depending on the problem, we can engage in a variety of consulting functions. Our team consists of hospitality talent (hence our name) from novice to sage. What we can do:
- Formal and informal focus groups
- Call center research
- Event planning
- Promotions
- Event staffing
- Longer-term studies
- Venue visits
We recognize that there are a zillion ways to approach these problems, so the first step is to determine a best course of action. Please use our contact page to reach out and we can see what path makes the most sense!
Training
Let's learn together
Symposiums and workshops are held in partnership with different organizations, offering opportunities for hospitality students and professionals to learn new practices and strategies.
In recent years we have held Tourism Entrepreneurship Workshops, the Ghana Tour Guide Competition, and even a Crypto-Blockchain Conference.
In the not so distant future we will hold the Ghana Symposium. The conference consists of three days dedicated to two levels of hospitality professionals; those that are new or 'emerging,' and those that have been in the industry for many years who we consider 'seasoned.'
We designed the curriculum so that local residents don't have to miss more than one day of work, but we are open to those who want to attend all three days in some capacity.
The format of each day will consist of a mix of large and small group sessions. We will assign 8-10 attendees to a small group mentor, and each small group will work on activities together. We will have breaks and lunch together, so there will be plenty of time to network and get to know each other. We will also host a small job fair so that participants have access to new opportunities.
The topics for each Symposium will include most of the following:
- The American Customer
- FOH Technology
- Payment Systems
- Gratuity & You
- Beverage Marketing
- Crypto Currencies (Bitcoin)
- Satisfying Service
- Trends in Hospitality
Following each Symposium we will help you stay connected with your group and mentor. We will have ongoing conversations for as long as you want to stay involved!
If there is a topic that you feel should be addressed, please let us know! We want the conference to be as comprehensive as possible! Email us HERE.
The Team
Hospitalented is Powered by Women
Erica A.
Creative Passion
Meet Erica A. An aspiring event planner and licensed bartender, she specializes in putting smiles on people's faces! Passionate about all things beautiful and creative, Erica loves to help people clarify their vision for some of the best moments of their lives. If you are looking for fun, positive energy, look no further- she'll be there, waiting to help you plan your big day!
Jane P.
Hostess with the Mostest
Meet Jane. A corporate event planner for almost six years, she now freelances with various organizations in addition to Hospitalented. An accomplished planner that can stretch the almighty dollar, she would describe herself as a food enthusiast and James Beard House member!
Tezra B.
Southern Hospitality
Meet Tezra. With more than two decades experience in the food & beverage industry, she has worked in various areas in the restaurant as well as catering and events covering many different aspects of the industry. She's a restaurant operations consultant, brand builder and trains in organizational and employee development. She has worked extensively with the world famous Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant, Doug E. Fresh's restaurant and a host of others. She holds an MBA in Hospitality and Project Management from Keller University.
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