Latest Trends and Innovations - a forward looking lecture series

Each fall semester, the incredible source of knowledge from international industry experts fascinates MODUL University students attending the “Latest Trends and Innovations in Tourism and Hospitality” guest lecture series.

The topics of the last LTI series, which took place from October to December 2014, tackled current trends in tourism and hospitality, highlighting the interdisciplinary approach that MODUL University Vienna takes in connecting its programs in tourism, sustainability, new media technology and international management.

The series offered something for many students’ special interests: Youri Sawerschel disclosed “5 Myths about Brand Management”, which was of great interest to students looking at specializing in marketing and international management.

Those fascinated by IT related topics appreciated Jonathon Spada’s lecture entitled "How do you #SAYHELLO?” concerning storytelling through digital profiles for small, independent hotels and restaurants.

With the topic “Our Turn! - The impacts Generation Y has, will have and will not have on the hospitality industry”, Fritz Dickamp challenged exactly his audience’s generation. His conclusion greatly emphasized how technology will play the central role for successful businesses and tourism destinations in the future.

Mary Jane Flanagan illustrated the power of social media, and especially Twitter, in standing out as an individual in her presentation “Stand up and stand out’’ which focused on how important one’s internet personality can be. She encouraged her audience to participate in an E-Value tool defining one’s values, which was later implemented in MODUL Career’s Book for Thoughts – a notebook with inspirational quotes and a link to Purple Cube’s E-Value tool.

Speaker Trent Walsh is the CEO of the internationally renowned Leading Quality Assurance company which specializes in providing quality assurance audits, benchmarking analysis, and training services to the luxury hospitality industry. His professionalism and experience deeply impressed the audience and clarified what the job of a ‘mystery guest’ really entails, and if it adds value to the client in the long term.

Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne lecturer Philippe Ligron gave a fascinating insight into "The development of gastronomy through the centuries: The cuisine in the middle age”, which illustrated how social and cultural habits and traditions have evolved over time.

The fall semester’s Latest Trends and Innovations series concluded with a presentation and a film by producer Pegi Vail. Her film “Gringo Trails” and lecture on “Traveler narratives and tourism impacts” gave an eye-opening overview on how tourism has influenced, and in the worst case, destroyed a region and its natural habitat over the past 10 years. She shared her concepts for a better future by getting all stakeholders, including the government, together for a sustainable tourism development plan with the goal that each of us travels with respect and leads by example.

The next Latest Trends and Innovations series will take place in autumn 2015 and is open to students, alumni, partners and interested external guests.

Photo: Staff and students at the LTI workshop held by Fritz Dickamp, far right.