THE future of the tourism industry in Cebu is made more promising as projects prompt academe to forge partnerships with the private sector.

For one, the University of San Carlos (USC) is contemplating of opening a hotel-school for its courses that will be producing graduates for the tourism industry. 

The Network of Independent Travel Agencies (Nitas) president Robert Lim Joseph announced this during the 888 News Forum yesterday at Waterfront Hotel Lahug.

He said the hotel-school is expected to be a 50-bedroom four-star hotel.

In an interview with reporters, he shared that Nitas, as a conduit in the project, is facilitating the donation of 40 to 50 rooms to USC.

“We asked USC to write a letter to the Ayala-Zobels because they have around 200 rooms they want to sell. I brought the idea that instead of just selling it cheap, they can donate it and have a tie-up. Everything is ongoing.

I’ve talked to Fr. Mark Matthias (of USC) and he said they will send an e-mail,” said Joseph.

This hotel-school will employ hotel industry practitioners who will help equip students with the right skills. A group of these practitioners will come from Cebu City Marriott Hotel.

Roy Abraham, Cebu City Marriott Hotel general manager, said that USC approached them several months ago regarding this project.

Cebu City Marriott Hotel can only come in to provide technical expertise and to talk for different classes, specifically on hotel management, once the hotel-school is established.

Free lectures

Cebu City Marriott Hotel public relations and information officer Joan Danao said the hotel has been conducting sessions for topics related to hotel and restaurant management for free to schools, such as USC and the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

She clarified that Marriott Hotel will not give funding to the hotel-school.

“This is part of our corporate social responsibility. This will really benefit the hotel industry because the students will be equipped with skills with the help of people from the field,” she said.

Sun.Star Cebu tried but failed to reach USC president Fr. Roderick Salazar and Fr. Matthias of the College of Commerce, as they are both in a meeting.

Jay Aldeguer, entrepreneurship conference chairman of the Cebu Business Month, remarked during the same news forum that he is overwhelmed that the private sector and the academe have recognized that tourism is a major thrust in Cebu.

Joseph said USC stands to earn additional revenues from the hotel-school as the facility will accommodate guests so that the students will have hands-on knowledge.

“We are excited because many things are happening fast. This is a partnership between the industry and the academe. We from the industry want to see that before students graduate, they are already effective in work,” he said. (NRC)
 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/05/14/bus/hotel.school.to.rise.html