Accor invests in the future of Australian hospitality with launch of first
national in-hotel training academy
27 November 2000: Accor, the largest hotel and tourism group in the world,
today launched Academie Accor, Australia's first nationally-based in-hotel
training establishment. The Academie was inaugurated by the Hon. Dr David
Kemp, Federal for Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
Academie Accor will set new benchmarks in hospitality training and provide
participants with the opportunity of hands-on experience and the potential
for placement at one of Accor's 100 hotels and resorts around Australia. The
Academie will also be launched in New Zealand in early 2001.
The Academie will initially operate in five locations:
* Queensland - Grand Mercure Broadbeach, Gold Coast;
* New South Wales - All Seasons Premier Menzies Hotel Sydney;
* Victoria - Hotel Ibis Melbourne;
* Western Australia - Hotel Ibis Perth; and
* New Zealand - Novotel Auckland.
While this is the first dedicated training establishment Accor has opened in
Australia and New Zealand, the organisation can draw on the considerable
experience of its renowned Academie Accor in France and its association with
leading European business school INSEAD to provide truly international
training that is unmatched in this country.
Academie Accor Universite du Service was created in 1985 by Accor
co-founders Paul Dubrule and Gerard Pelisson and is now the leading tourism
training institute in Europe, with more than 10,000 students every year.
Academie Accor in Australia and New Zealand will provide a range of
certificate-level courses and short programs, all with nationally-recognised
qualifications. From half-day programs through to Certificate 4 Level in
Hospitality Supervision, the Academie caters for those who wish to start a
career in hospitality right through to management level. There are also
future plans to offer a Diploma of Hospitality Management and Certificate
Courses in Commercial Cookery.
Courses and training programs are open to anybody wishing to start a career
in the industry, to Accor staff and also to staff from other organisations
in the hospitality industry who are seeking cost-effective training. To
ensure students get personalised attention and to preserve the integrity of
the training, classes are kept to a maximum of 16 participants.
The launch of Academie Accor has already created enormous interest in the
tourism and hospitality industry, with Tourism Training Australia (TTA), the
leading tourism training advisory body supporting the project. TTA will
combine its considerable experience and knowledge of the industry with that
of Accor to set new national standards.
Mr Bill Galvin - OAM, Chief Executive of TTA, said Academie Accor would
greatly advance the hospitality and tourism industry in Australia.
Academie Accor will significantly increase professional training in tourism
hospitality for the benefit of the industry and the nation, he said. This
is a good example of an innovative partnership led by Accor.
Mr Michael Issenberg, Accor's Managing Director for Australia, New Zealand,
the South Pacific and Japan, said Academie Accor would elevate the
hospitality profession to a new level.
We are proud to launch Academie Accor in Australia because it will provide
a strong foundation for the region's rapidly growing hospitality industry.
The Academie will promote the development of hospitality staff and address
the shortage of professionally trained workers in the industry, he said.
This initiative provides participants with nationally recognised
qualifications that will lead to unrivalled opportunities in this exciting
and dynamic industry.
Accor is already known as an innovator and leader in tourism - now we are
putting something back into the industry by using our experience and
knowledge to provide first-class training that will set new standards and
provide career paths for young people in Australia and New Zealand, he
said.
The Olympics has not only encouraged international interest in Australia as
a destination, but has also seen a massive investment in new tourism
infrastructure. We now need to ensure we have professionally trained staff
who can deliver world-class service across all sectors of the industry.
Accor already employs more than 10,000 people in Australia and New Zealand
and with the launch of Academie Accor we will continue to be at the
forefront of developing staff. This initiative will provide the impetus for
continuing advancement of tourism in Australia and ensure we are well placed
to take advantage of future growth in the industry, Mr Issenberg said.
Accor is the world's largest hotel and tourism company, operating in a total
of 140 countries, employing 130,000 people. The global group is a leader in
travel, tourism and corporate services with two major international
activities:
* hotels: 3,500 hotels (385,000 rooms) in 90 countries, including over
100 hotels in Australia under brands such as Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, All
Seasons, Ibis & Formule 1
* services: each day, over 11 million people in 30 countries use a
broad range of services (vouchers and cards, online services) developed,
issued and managed by Accor on behalf of corporate clients and public
authorities.
|
Post Release
Get Content
Email News Brief
Saved Articles
Advertising
Handheld
XML/RSS
Post News