UN Tourism and Hotelschool at the Hague, have agreed to partner around the development and execution of pioneering projects in the hospitality industry.

Global tourism organisation, UN Tourism has signed an agreement with a training school in the Netherlands, Hotelschool the Hague for innovation and entrepreneurship in hospitality industry.

In a press statement, UN Tourism says that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two organisations aims to stimulate innovation and fresh ventures within the hospitality industry, promoting entrepreneurship and education while engaging in open innovation projects that can enhance the tourism industry, with a particular focus on hospitality.

The statement adds that currently, 20 pc of entrepreneurs of the UN Tourism network are directly related to hospitality and are the most dynamic projects including a variety of stakeholders of the industry.
UN Tourism says that building on its established innovation network, this agreement will further facilitate connections between startups and potential investors, as well as promote knowledge and skills through joint events, communication channels, and media interactions.

This partnership not only underlines a commitment to a more sustainable future for the industry but also signifies a shared commitment to providing inclusive opportunities and memorable global student experiences, demonstrated through Hotelschool the Hague’s global ‘Sustainable Hospitality Challenge’.

‘‘Unfortunately, 90 pc of startups within the hospitality sector eventually do not succeed. A decent tourism education and knowledge of the hospitality sector is necessary to develop a disruptive and well-functioning product. Through our collaborative efforts, we aspire to alter this trajectory by offering a more robust foundation, fostering invaluable connections, and providing a conducive testbed for emerging startups. Given that technology now permeates 70 pc of tourism enterprises, it is imperative that these startups are seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, connected with pertinent stakeholders, and afforded the opportunity to validate their solutions in real-world settings before embarking on a larger scale,’’ says Natalia Bayona, Executive Director, UN Tourism.

‘‘At Hotelschool the Hague, we provide our students with the perfect balance of theory, real-world experience and applied research to prepare them for a career in the hospitality industry. We develop leaders who shape our global industry and drive it to give back more than it takes. We are proud to join forces with UN Tourism. We fully embrace their vision to foster innovation in the hospitality industry. In fact, our ‘Sustainable Hospitality Challenge’ is a student competition designed to enhance the evolution of sustainable practices in hospitality, aligning seamlessly with the objectives of UN Tourism,’’ says Regine von Stieglitz, President of the Board of Directors, Hotelschool the Hague.

Founded and funded by the hospitality industry in 1929, Hotelschool the Hague provides high-quality education and cutting-edge research in the field of international hospitality management, with an emphasis on the transformation of sustainability and digitalisation and on developing students into sought-after hospitality graduates who excel in leadership roles worldwide, says the press statement.