MTLHC : a new international competition created and led by ITHQ students
New international competition led by ITHQ students:
The Most Talented Leaders Hospitality Challenge
The Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) is pleased to reveal the winners of the first edition of the Most Talented Leaders Hospitality Challenge (MTLHC) competition, which ended on January 14, 2021. Spread over two months, this new international and fully online competition organized entirely by ITHQ students had nine teams from eight different schools around the world go head-to-head in a friendly competition. First place honours went to the French team from the Ferrandi hotel school. The jury awarded second place to the German team from the IUBH University of Applied Sciences. The ITHQ-UQÀM team also stood out, as its team proudly went home with third-place honours!
Students from different academic institutions in Canada, the United States, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany and India did excellent work to come up with solutions for two case studies on leadership. With a respective focus on operations management and high-level challenges in the current health crisis, the case studies were presented by the EPIK Collection Group and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Both institutions generously volunteered their time and shared their experience with competition participants, as they firmly believe in the importance of training the next generation in the industry.
“For months, students at the ITHQ poured their hearts into organizing this international event. We are proud of their initiative and happy to support their efforts to kick off this first edition of the MTLHC. This innovative competition gives the next generation of hospitality managers an exceptional opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, which will be essential to their success, especially in the current context.” - Liza Frulla, General Director of the ITHQ
A prestigious jury
The jury for this first edition of the MTLHC included 9 renowned professionals from the Canadian hospitality industry: Florence Barbeau (MT Lab), Chantal Casavant (ITHQ), Daniel Gallant (EPIK Group), Ken Hall (Château Frontenac), Pierre Jotterand (Château Frontenac), Christina Poon (W Montreal), Bill Stone (Knightstone Hotel Group), Ghani Kolli (HumanYo+Impact) and Olena Zamkova (EPIK Group).
“On behalf of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and Accor hospitality group, I want to express what a real privilege it was to be a judge and mentor for the first Most Talented Leaders Hospitality Challenge, which was brilliantly organized and orchestrated by ITHQ students. As the tourism industry begins charting a new course, I was thrilled to see the incredible talents of today and tomorrow come together to share their visions and solutions! Congratulations to everyone who participated, and especially to the Aether team from the Ferrandi hotel school in Paris, France.” - Ken Hall, General Manager of the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.