17th Annual Conference

AC 2023

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AC 2023

MORE INFO

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RESULTS

BAR

1st place
Andrea Kovacs, GIORGIO PERLASCA KERESKEDELMI, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Kevin Proust, LYCÉE TECHNIQUE HÔTELIER SAINTE-ANNE, SAINT-NAZAIRE CEDEX, FRANCE

2nd place
Kevin Hickey, CORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BISHOPSTOWN, CORK, IRELAND
Marko Kosednar, VOCATIONAL COLLEGE FOR CATERING AND TOURISM BLED, SLOVENIA

3rd place
Filippo Gadani, IPSSAR »BARTOLOMEO SCAPPI« CASTEL SAN PIETRO TERME, ITALY
Dominik Bednar, HÖHERE BUNDESLEHRANSTALT FÜR TOURISMUS, RETZ, AUSTRIA

RECEPTION

1st place
Alberta Drevenek, VOCATIONAL COLLEGE FOR CATERING AND TOURISM MARIBOR, SLOVENIA
Anna Schiavone , IPSSAR »A. PEROTTI« BARI, ITALY

2nd place
Caterina Grisanti, IPSSAR »G. MOLINARI« SCIACCA, ITALY
Despina Magiaki, ORGANISATION OF TOURISM EDUCATION AND TRAINING, ATHENS, GREECE

3rd place
Sophie Höglund, HOTELL - & RESTAURANGUTBILDNINGEN I ARE, ARE, SWEDEN
Peter Zwickl, TOURISMUSSCHULEN, BAD LEONFELDEN, AUSTRIA

3rd place
Hanne Frederikke Gaarn–Larsen, AALBORG TEKNISKE SKOLE, AALBORG, DENMARK
Sergio Fiorentini, IPSSAR »G. PASTORE« VARALLO, ITALY

TOURISM PROMOTION

1st place
Francesca Romano, IPSSAR »A. CELLETTI« FORMIA, ITALY
Gudrun Birna Brynjarsdottir, KOPAVOGUR SCHOOL OF HOTEL, CATERING AND TOURISM, KOPAVOGUR, ICELAND
Casandra Van de Weerd, VAKSCHOOL »WAGENINGEN«, WAGENINGEN, THE NETHERLANDS
David Kuanic, HOTELIJERSKO TURISTICKA KOLA U ZAGREBU, ZAGREB, CROATIA

2nd place
Linnea Johnsson, LEKSANDS GYMNASIUMS HOTELL & RESTAURANGSKOLA, LEKSAND, SWEDEN
Michaela Hiden, ZILLERTALER TOURISMUSSCHULEN, ZELL AM ZILLER, AUSTRIA
Fanny van der Valk, MONDRIAANCOLLEGE, DEN HAAG, THE NETHERLANDS
Alessia Sgarbi, IPSSAR »L. CARNACINA« BARDOLINO, ITALY

3rd place
Ildikó Kovacs, GIORGIO PERLASCA KERESKEDELMI, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Vera Cajsovį, INTEGROVANA STREDNI SKOLA CESTOVNIHO A VYSSI ODBORNA SKOLA, CESKE BUDEJOVICE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Manon Wagenaar, ROC AVENTUS – SECTOR HORECA, TOERISME & RECREATIVE, APELDOORN, THE NETHERLANDS
Davide Canale, IPSSAR »MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI« FIUGGI, ITALY

PASTRY

1st place
Edgars Ozolins, RIGAS PARTIKAS RAZOTAJU VIDUSSKOLA, RIGA, LATVIA
Seb Smit, FRIESLAND COLLEGE, MBO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, LEEUWARDEN, THE NETHERLANDS

2nd place
Svanur M. Skarphedinnson, KOPAVOGUR SCHOOL OF HOTEL, CATERING AND TOURISM, KOPAVOGUR, ICELAND
Elena Esposto, IPSSAR »E. MATTEI« VIESTE, ITALY

3rd place
Nathalie Fleury, PHI – PIVA, ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM
Johann Eisl, HÖHERE BUNDESLEHRANSTALT FÜR TOURISMUS, BADISCHL, AUSTIA

COOKERY

1st place
Andrea Franca, IPSSAR »SANTA MARTA« PESARO, ITALY
Roisin Horsom, WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WATERFORD, IRELAND

2nd place
Thomas Christiansen, AALBORG TEKNISKE SKOLE, AALBORG, DENMARK
Cian Mulholland, GALWAY MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, GALWAY, IRELAND

3rd place
Frej Holmberg, ALAND POLYTECHNIC, MARIEHAMN, FINLAND
Tove Antonsen, LADEJARLEN VIDEREGAENDE SKOLE, TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

SERVICE

1st place
Maria Mauracher , ZILLERTALER TOURISMUSSCHULEN, ZELL AM ZILLER, AUSTRIA
Simoes Pedro Alexandre Oliveira, ESCOLA DE HOTELARIA E TURISMO DE COIMBRA, COIMBRA, PORTUGAL

2nd place
Janus Oesterskov Christiansen, AALBORG TEKNISKE SKOLE, AALBORG, DENMARK
Marika Kruusman, TALLINNA SCHOOL OF SERVICES, TALLINN, ESTONIA

3rd place
Wytze van der Zweep, FRIESLAND COLLEGE, MBO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, LEEUWARDEN, THE NETHERLANDS
Antonio Latrofa, IPSSAR CASTELLANA GROTTE, CASTELLANA GROTE, ITALY

SERVICE - COOKERY

Service/Cookery, team best together
1st place

Team 19
service
Noora Lindborg, CULINARY SCHOOL PERHO, HELSINKI, FINLAND
Sandra Frigaard, ESTER MOSESSONS GYMNASIUM, GÖTEBORG, SWEDEN

cookery
Thomas Christiansen, AALBORG TEKNISKE SKOLE, AALBORG, DENMARK
Cian Mulholland, GALWAY MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, GALWAY, IRELAND

BLED , LJUBLJANA , POSTOJNA

Conference organisers make a point of including excursions in the programme so as to make their guests want to come back … in Bled their mission was accomplished!

If we disregard the lack of sunshine, everyone agreed that the town of Bled and its immediate surroundings are in every respect ideal as a tourist destination, even during all four seasons if we are to believe the magnificent tourist brochures. A superb lake, no shortage of good quality hotels, no shortage of sports facilities of every kind, etc. – a real post-card destination. But that is not all. For example, Bled hosted the international chess tournament starring Gary Kasparov in 2002, and the Young People’s Winter Olympics in 2003, and in 2005 Bled will host the World Fireman Conference. And Prince Charles of the United Kingdom, Madeleine Albright American Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and others have stayed here or at least passed through, if we are to believe the photographs displayed in the Toplice hotel. So it is hardly surprising that Joze Antonic, mayor of the town of Bled, which is celebrating a thousand years since its foundation, always wears a broad smile. And to welcome the participants in the AEHT conference, Bled had pulled out all the stops, raising almost everywhere the flags of Slovenia, of Bled and of the AEHT

But in a small country like Slovenia the capital is never very far away, so a visit to Ljubljana (300.000 inhabitants) was on the programme for Saturday October 16th, leaving Bled at 8am to arrive in Ljubljana at around 9am. First a quick visit by bus, then a tour on foot in the old town around Congress Square and along the river, led by local guides who were fascinating in general. The Roman wall, the embassy quarter, the brightly coloured market, the city hall and other sights now hold no secrets for our visitors who could appreciate – despite the rain - the charms of this city with its 2000 years of history!

Another short drive in the bus took us, 50 kilometres down the road, to the Postojna caves, the biggest and among the most beautiful in Europe. By now it was midday, and the rain was coming down hard. Next, after a seven minute journey in a little train, the joyful band met up again at the heart of the cave complex for a good hour’s walk through the skilfully organised and well signposted maze. Each language group had its own guide, and we were treated to lessons in extraordinary facts which, we should mention as an aside, makes mankind pale into insignificance compared with the magnificence of nature and its vitality. The smallest stalactite is the work of thousands of years. Then came an added treat – a deeply moving vocal concert performed beneath the vaults of these veritable underground cathedrals. We emerged back into fresh air at 2pm, and all met up for a solid and nourishing lunch in the nearby restaurant.

But all good things must come to an end, and after some people had finished their shopping in the shops around the caves, the programme dictated our return to Bled by 5pm, to allow everyone to relax before the gala evening scheduled for 8pm.

As well as this day’s excursion full of enriching discoveries, the organisers had also planned several other sorts of tourism during our stay in Bled. For example there was a video presentation of Bled shown several times at the Bled hotel school. Or a guided walking tour of Bled, or, for the more energetic among us, a walk around the lake. And finally, once night fell, the students did not hesitate to throw off the stress of the competitions in the nearby ‘Shinjuku’ discotheque in Lesce, where they bathed in decibels, spotlights and … perspiration!

PRIZE-GIVING AND FAREWELL UNTIL ANTALYA

There has been a scenery change in Bled’s sports hall and ice rink in preparation for the gala evening and farewell ceremony for participants in the 17th Annual Conference in Bled. On the evening of Saturday October 16th guests were shown into premises which had been transformed into a dining room for 600-plus people. Tables had been arranged in style on a wooden floor which completely disguised the ice just beneath. And as befits such an occasion there was a beautifully laid-out buffet.

View of the transformed sports hall! Who would have thought that the ice of the ice-rink is only five centimetres below the guests’ feet?

To the sound of the famous song ‘We are the world…’ and to welcoming greetings, this gala evening got off to a good start with a dynamic and astonishing performance from the ‘Hip Hop Mammas’, followed by a performance from their daughters! As well as a remarkable barman with unbelievable skills!

The Hip-Hop Mammas

And their daughters!

What a fine introduction for the guests who listened with pleasure as Alfonso Benvenuto welcomed them to the gala dinner, congratulating the organisers on fulfilling their promises, and on enabling everyone to meet, to share experiences, to form friendships – and expressing the hope that everyone would take with them from Bled the best of all memories of this event. Among the guests was a whole array of dignitaries, including Elido Bandjeli, secretary of state for education, together with his wife as well as the sponsors of the various competitions.

The prize-giving ceremony was another high moment of this gala evening. Headed by president Alfonso Benvenuto, each member of the Presidium took it in turn to present the medals to the happy winners, who were applauded as is fitting in an atmosphere of sometimes delirious joy (see Results); and the presentation of the prizes was rounded off with the same song, ‘We are the world, We are the champions….’

Alfonso Benvenuto made a point of thanking from the bottom of his heart all the Bled teams for their commitment and their hard work, for the wonderful gala evening and their warm welcome. ‘Thank you to Janez Solar and Jana Spec and to all those who have worked so hard; thanks also to the mayor of Bled. My thanks go to the dignitaries and to the members of the special competitions commission. Don’t forget the excellent moments you have spent here, and don’t forget the pleasure of the students, whether or not you won a prize – each one of you holds our future in their hands. Many thanks also to our speakers and contributors: Georges Asseraf, Régine Davroux, Gilles Honegger, Jean-Michel Wautelet, Sibylle Schoch, Marco Otten, Christiane Keller, Jo Laengy. Thanks to the members of the Presidium and .. see you in Antalya!

After a brief presentation of the CAT by the commission’s chairman Louis Robert, gifts were presented to all those who had made this superb Annual Conference possible: Janez SOLAR, the school director, Jana SPEC, vice-director, Peter MIHELCIC, bar & service competition, Marijan LEBAR, service competition, Nikica ZORC, cookery & pastry competition, Janez PRISTAVEC, cookery competition, Anton TUSEK, pastry competition, Jana VIDIC-STRNAD, tourism & reception competition, Emira MUHOVIC, tourism promotion competition, Tadeja KRASNA, reception competition, Silva GOMZI-PRAPROTNIK, promotional material, Peter MARKIC, additional events, Gordana VULIC, additional events, Milan KRISELJ, additional events, Rozica Slavica FERJANCIC, students’ placement, Tina HITI, transfer & excursions, Ciril URH, evening receptions, Veronika ZUPAN, administration, Milena PETEK, administration, Urska SCHIFFRER, administration (accountancy), Petra POLAJNAR, administration, Mojca JOST, general secretary. And of course the guests applauded loudly as the gifts were presented.

presents for the linchpins of this Conference!

The last official act of the evening was the arrival of the AEHT flag which was solemnly handed over by the Bled team to the Turkish team, consisting of Kemal Topaloglu, Levent Tolay and Nadire Gunes who will organise the 18th Annual Conference next year in Antalya! Each year this is an important occasion, now greeted with loud applause.

The AEHT flag is handed from Bled to Anatlya – an important occasion during the evening

And just as in previous years, the moment came for the first departures, but also the moment for dancing to begin, now that the pressure was off. It was especially the students who took delight in creating a discotheque atmosphere, unleashing their energies in farandoles and ‘sirtakis’. Come on then. It’s time to leave. The bus transfers will be there early in the morning. But goodbye, see you next year in Antalya!

A finale in true AEHT tradition: full of joy and rhythms. Goodbye!

Presents

Each organising school takes it upon themselves to present a gift-cum-souvenir to all the participants. This time the present was a handsome and very ecological cardboard briefcase containing several splendid books and tourist literature – about Bled, the Postonja caves, including a DVD. There was also a ball-point pen in the AEHT colours and a medallion with the AEHT logo mentioning the name of the event. And for the hungry participants, a chocolate broach and a little box filled with chocolates. Many thanks to the organisers

Intelligent Badge

As usual each participant received on arrival a laminated badge with all the necessary information: nationality, director, teacher, student, guest, organiser, etc. But what was novel was the information printed on the back of the badge, where and when the important events for each day were taking place. And a telephone number in case of problems. What a good idea!

Pious Wishes

During the General Assembly president Alfonso Benvenuto made the meeting laugh when discussing the AEHT’s website, especially when he said, ‘All the reports are on the website. You should all consult it every day!’ Adolf Steindl intervened to advise consulting the site once a week, meaning that that often would be already quite good!

Flag Stories

Each year the presentation of the national delegations is always an important part of the Conference; and (almost) every year there is a little ‘hiccup’ which slips into the ceremony arrangements. This time it was caused by the appearance of the American flag which drew comments from several people, who thought that since we are a European association, this flag should not be displayed among the others. And then there were the Aland Islands, officially part of Finland, which were represented by a participant who, with great courage, had come to wave little flags symbolising this small island off the coast of Finland, which is seeking its independence.

Weather

The Bled tourist brochures are splendid: blue sky, snow-capped mountains, light blue lake etc. So it was bad luck for the participants in the 17th Annual Conference – someone was having fun playing with the thermometer. The result was a thick covering of cloud over the whole region with mist, intermittent rain and low temperatures. The only little bright period happened as we were returning from the Postojna caves, when a few kilometres from the capital Ljubljana the sun put in an appearance.

Anthem

The AEHT is a great European association and because of this some organisers make a point of including the playing of the European anthem, taken from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. We missed this in Slovenia, which became a member of the European Union as recently as the Spring of this year. What a shame!

Slightly forgotten Students and Teachers?

Generally speaking the students and crafts-men and -women are asked to undertake a considerable amount of work during the event – to be available at information points, to works as guides, to prepare rooms, to serve meals, prepare the gala dinners, etc. And traditionally during the gala dinner the students and their teachers are asked to perform a march past, so that the delegates can express their thanks for all the hard work they have contributed. But this time there was no such parade, except at the Astoria hotel during the Slovenian evening, when of course they were loudly applauded. But although many delegates were obviously expecting a parade on Saturday evening, apparently no-one had taken the initiative to arrange this

Zell am Ziller

Whenever the Zell-am-Ziller school (from Austria) leaves home, its students and teachers never forget to leave their mark. Not only do the director Alfred Muller and his ‘troops’ wear their uniform at each official occasion – they also place at each ‘strategic’ position brochures and posters proclaiming the charms of the Tyrol. That is what you call marketing …

Absence of Raoul and Françoise Hurault

‘I say, the Huraults aren’t here this year …’ – say those who have been attending the Conference for years. The Huraults were an almost legendary couple at the Conferences (see Interviews at the Linz conference) and took pleasure in attending, hardly missing any seminars, lectures or the General Assembly. Françoise and Raoul Hurault were quite simply part and parcel of the Conference. Let us hope that nothing serious has happened to prevent them from coming to Bled.

Future leaders!

Two students from the Bled school took charge of the animation of the major events of the Conference. Katja Pretnar and Gregor Silc are without a doubt among the future leaders of their profession. They are totally natural in the way they smile and welcome their guests, and were two superb ambassadors of Bled and Slovenia, bringing their contagious enthusiasm whenever they performed. Well done!

Katja Prenar and Grégor Silc : leaders in the making!

THEME EVENINGS

Each year the Conference organisers go to great lengths to provide their guests with a range of high quality cultural and gastronomic offerings. Bled was no exception to this, and organised not only the gala evening (of which more later) but also three particularly attractive theme evenings..

CONCERT IN SAINT MARTINS CHURCH

Bled’s beautiful neo-gothic St Martins church was packed to capacity on October 13th at 9pm for the fine concert given by three talented musicians: Mojca Brus on the organ, Janja Hvala soprano and Eva Jurgec oboe.
Taking as their theme a journey through the church music of the various periods, the three musicians gave free reign to their talents in an atmosphere of attentive reverence, such as is fitting when the organ and church singing combine to enchant an enthusiastic audience – especially with various versions of the ‘Ave Maria’: the various different settings gave a rare insight into the state of mind of each composer. It was a truly beautiful evening in this sacred building with perfect acoustics. At the end of the concert the performance was greeted with warm applause. And in accordance with tradition the three musicians acknowledged the applause in the church’s crossing, and received bouquets of flowers.

THE SLOVENIAN EVENING

The following day, Thursday October 14th at 7pm, it was the Hotel Astoria which ‘put a quart into a pint pot!’ The tables were beautifully laid and decorated with autumn colours; the students from the Bled school greeted us with broad smiles; we were served with excellent Slovenian specialities, including a penny bun mushroom consommé served in a much admired transparent pastry bowl. We were also treated to highly dynamic entertainment dreamed up by the students: a cock and hen sketch, followed later on by a team which performed a sketch outlining all the things that tourists can do in the Bled region; there was Slovenian singing and zither playing, and in conclusion a march past by the kitchen and restaurant teams who were loudly applauded by all those present – the guests had been enchanted by the relaxed and charming atmosphere.

Hilarious sketches

Behind the scenes of the evening 's entertainment

Slovenian folklore

At the official table

The students march past

THE MAYOR'S RECEPTION

A change of scene for the reception on Friday October 15th – this time we were at the Golf Hotel as guests of the Mayor of Bled, Joze Antonic, to taste typical Slovenian produce. Milan Kriselj, a teacher of tourism geography, greeted the guests in the name of the Bled school and presented Simona Strauss, 2003 wine queen of Slovenia. Joze Antonic expressed his great pleasure at hosting such an international gathering in Bled, and wished everyone a pleasant evening and an excellent stay in Bled, while Alfonso Benvenuto took pleasure in handing out some presents. The wine queen presented the various wine producing regions of Slovenia, before passing the microphone to Alès Kristancic, inheritor of the Movia 1820 wine cellars, who had brought us three very superior wines from his own cellars, which were served at their best and accompanied by cheeses, ham and other pork products from the region. This great expert had the task of presenting Slovenia’s vineyards, accompanied by particularly attractive Slovenian music played by a local band. What a fine evening, with no formality, in keeping with the straightforward nature of Bled’s first law officer, and what a great communicator!