Hilton's Simon Vincent to lead newly-established Hospitality Guild
The new organisation, which launched at the beginning of this year, brings together 12 industry associations and professional bodies, including People 1st, the BII and Springboard UK.
As chairman, Vincent, who oversees more than 225 Hilton hotels in Europe, will be responsible for streering the guild in its aims of helping employers develop staff, strengthening the customer experience and improving the professional image of the sector.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining the guild in its formative year to shape the projects that will make a difference in our industry. At Hilton Worldwide, we pride ourselves as being leaders in the training and development of our people.
"As a collective, we must make it easier for employers to develop their staff and ensure that many of the great independent initiatives in place can be resourced and promoted to benefit the entire sector. The guild provides a new way of collaborative working that employers have been looking for and we must seize this opportunity to create a lasting hospitality skills legacy."
Hospitality collective
Earlier this week, chef Raymond Blanc underlined the importance for those entering the industry for the first time of finding an employer to work with who would develop their skills.
The Hospitality Guild, which was founded by 12 partners earlier this year following the successful award of government funding from the GIF bid by sector skills council, People 1st, has collectively committed to help improve skills across the sector.
The partner organisations are: Academy of Culinary Arts, AICR, Academy of Food and Wine Service, BII, the Institute of Hospitality, HOSPA, the National Skills Academy for Hospitality, People 1st, Professional Association of Catering Educators, Springboard UK, UK Housekeepers Association and the Worshipful Company of Innholders.
Membership of the guild will be open to employers, individuals, industry bodies and approved learning providers and programmes of work to achieve its aim will be done through a partner organisation in its own right, or by one working on behalf of the guild.
