North Parks and Tourism Board hosts 2nd International Hotel Schools Research Conference

The North Parks and Tourism Board’s Hotel Schools Division and the Association of Hospitality Schools in Africa (AHSA) will jointly host the 2nd International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Research Conference on the 18th to the 20th November 2009, at Mafikeng Hotel School.
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With this years’ Conference being the second to be held in South Africa, the conference will once again bring together 250 academics targets from educational and other institutions from Africa and Europe  to engage in pure, applied and inter-disciplinary research and consultancy projects in the events, hospitality, leisure, and tourism industries respectively. The conference will also explore and examine issues, problems and questions related to local, regional, national and international topics of importance in the African context including research and projects.  Non-African contexts will be included to encompass the global aspect.

Invitations have been extended to learning institutions and participants in the hospitality, tourism, events research and education, including new and experienced researchers, postgraduate researchers and other postgraduate students.

The conference will amongst others seek to achieve the following:

• Provide an international environment for different academic/professional approaches and discussions on recent developments in research in the hospitality, tourism, events and related subjects arena.
• Provide the opportunity for academics, practitioners, students and all other parties to promote and enhance the quality of research and education, in hospitality, tourism and events management and related subjects;
• Facilitate the sharing of good practice, interests, ideas and experiences amongst the academics, researchers and practitioners;

The conference offers an opportunity for researchers to share their ideas with each other and have their work validated and benchmarked within the benevolent academic and professional community of colleagues from different international contexts. The AHSA member associations attending the conference are learning institutions and professionals from Angola, Kenya,Namibia, Zambia,Maalwi, Ghana, Teran-Iran, Maurituis, Uganda, Tanzania, Ruanda, Nigeria, and some provinces in the country.

Speakers range from the AHSA Chairperson, Mr Mansa, Chairman of the conference scientific committee, Prof. Stephen Ball, International Guest Speaker, Dr Zerrabini, AHSA  Secretary,  Dr K. Mbongi.  UNIWEST PHD and Masters Students have been invited to a presentation workshop by Prof Steven Ball. There will be six abstracts presentations and other related topics presentations for delegates to participate in. Amongst the special guests will be Dr B. Gallagher, the MEC for Economy Developemnt and Tourism, Ms Wendi Matsemela, including the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the North West Parks and Tourism Board, Mrs Mamokwena Gaoretelelwe.

North West Parks and Tourism Board was chosen to host in recognition of its quality learning and specialty in the Hotel and Tourism Training Institute. The Mafikeng Hotel School staff and task team in consultation with AHSA Executive members has worked hard in ensuring that the conference is a success.  Delegates will be treated to a feast of activities including a Tour of the Mafikeng Heritage Trail, a welcome cocktail dinner and bush braai at the Mafikeng Game Reserve. Local traditional dancers, Opera singers, crafters, artists and hospitality service providers have been invited to exhibit during the conference.

AHSA formally known as AHSSA, the Association of Hotel Schools in Sub Saharan Africa, came into existence in 1994 after collaborating with Kenya Utalii College, Nairobi and Messrs Tourist Consult of Basel, Switzerland during the Kenya Utalii College inaugural seminar hosted on the 30th October and 5th November, 1994.  The seminar attended by representatives from twelve hotel schools of the Reunion, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mauritius and Kenya developed policy guidelines, constitution and broad objectives for the association.

The AHSA mission and vision is to be an internationally recognized Association of Hospitality Schools, which reflects products and services of the highest standards through the commitment of its member schools, being the leading professional organization in tourism and hospitality education, training and development in Africa.
Registration forms and information on the conference are obtainable from:

http://active.cput.ac.za/ahsa20009/public/index.asp?pageid=645
OR
www.tourismnorthwest.co.za and www.northwesthotelschools.co.za

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