Categories
Company / Partner Congress Industry Trends News

Meet Nicolas Decloedt: Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022

Nicolas Decloedt is bringing plant-based cuisine to new heights. Awarded a Michelin Green Star in 2021 and voted Best Vegetable Chef of 2019 by the renowned culinary guide Gault & Millau, his restaurant humus x hortense was voted the worldโ€™s Best Vegan Restaurant, ranks 9 of the Top 100 Best Vegetables Restaurants worldwide by Weโ€™re Smart World, and was awarded with 3 toques by Good Food (Brussels), the highest achievement for a sustainable restaurant.

At Worldchefs Congress 2022, he’s bringing a love for nature to the table, showing how vegetable and plant varieties can offer a wealth of inspiration.

Tell us a bit about your cooking demo, Evolution in the Future of Gastronomy: We’re Smart Green Guide:

We will reveal how we work with vegetables and how we bring them to another level.

Why should chefs attend Worldchefs Congress 2022?

To broaden their horizon.

What advice do you have for young chefs today?

Be curious. No prejudices.

Any final words of wisdom?

“If it is worth the going, it is worth the ride.” – Tom Waits

Don’t miss the biennial event for industry leaders and culinary innovators. Register now for Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022 and expand your professional bonds in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 30 May to 2 June 2022.

Learn more about Chris and our other keynote speakers at www.worldchefscongress.org/speaker.

Categories
Press Releases

Worldchefs Welcomes Detroit Institute of Gastronomy as Education Partner

Worldchefs Welcomes the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy as Education Partner

  • A leader in culinary apprentice programs, the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy has joined Worldchefs as an Education Partner.
  • The Institute has been accepted as a Recognized School and is a part the landmark Recognition of Quality Culinary Education program officially recognizing educational institutions with a commitment to the highest standards in culinary education.
  • With a comprehensive hands-on approach, the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy couples online learning with on-the-job experience, offering a network of approved placements with industry partners to support and empower student achievements in knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

Paris,ย 30ย ofย Marchย 2022ย โ€“ The Detroit Institute of Gastronomyย (DIG)ย has joined Worldchefs as an Education Partner. The partnership unites theย Michigan-based andย U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprentice Programย with an international network of hospitality educators leading the future of culinary education and training.

Accepted as a Worldchefs Recognized School, the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy fulfills the criteria for the Recognition of Quality Culinary Education program. Launched in 2010, the landmark Recognition of Quality Culinary Education officially recognizes educational institutions committed to the highest standards in culinary education. Recognized Schools represent excellence in culinary education on a global scale. 

The Detroit Institute of Gastronomy culinary arts program is a comprehensive hands-on program designed to expand the studentโ€™s understanding of cooking and gastronomy through apprenticeship. With industry partners, the Institute leads the way in preparing students by supporting and empowering their achievement of knowledge, skills, and abilities. 

Coupling online education with real-world experience, DIG creates opportunities in the industry with quality on-the-job learning. The โ€œlearn while you earnโ€ motto and model provides students with career-building support for experienced mentors and approved job placement to teach culinary skills.

Building productive culinary careers with a competitive edge, the Instituteโ€™s results are realized in students and alumni who contribute to their community, continue lifelong learning and become global citizens.

Students can also earn up to seven globally recognized certifications and credentials through the program, giving alumni a competitive edge in the workplace and building a progressive path for continuing education and career growth.

โ€œWorldchefs is proud to welcome the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy as an Education Partner. DIGโ€™s commitment to accessible, student-centered, and globally minded culinary education complements Worldchefsโ€™ vision to strengthen opportunities and provide industry-recognized skills,โ€ says John Clancy, Worldchefs Education Director. โ€œDIG and all Worldchefs Education Partners play a crucial role in fostering industry leaders.โ€

To learn more about the Detroit Institute of Gastronomy, visit www.detroitgastronomy.org

To learn more about Worldchefs Education Partners, visit worldchefs.org/education-partner

-end-

ABOUT WORLDCHEFS

The World Association of Chefsโ€™ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a dynamic global network of 110 chef associations worldwide. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries 91 years of history since its founding at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier. Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.

Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:

Education โ€“ Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculums, and the worldโ€™s first Global Hospitality Certification recognizing on-the-job skills in hospitality; 

Networking โ€“ Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;

Competition โ€“ Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge;

Humanitarianism & Sustainability โ€“ Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.

For more information about Worldchefs, visit us at www.worldchefs.org.

For press and media inquiries
hello@worldchefs.org

Categories
Certification

Alshaya Groupย Provides First Batch of Global Hospitality Certification, Recognizing Skills in MENA

Alshaya Group Provides First Batch of Global Hospitality Certification, Recognizing Skills in MENA

  • Alshaya Group has issued their first batch of Global Hospitality Certification, recognizing the skills of 154 chefs with quality-assured digital credentials.
  • Alshaya Group, one of the worldโ€™s leading brand franchise operators with an award-winning portfolio including The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Changโ€™s, is the first in MENA to offer Global Hospitality Certification to help develop the careers of its employees.
  • The event marks a major step forward in recognizing skills in the industry and progressing talent with industry-assured recognition and Worldchefsโ€™ global quality mark.

Paris, 21 of March 2022 โ€“ Alshaya Group, one of the worldโ€™s leading brand franchise operators, has issued the first batch of Alshaya Global Hospitality Certification (AGHC), a unique international culinary certification to help develop the careers of its professional culinary employees.

Developed for Alshaya and endorsed by City & Guilds and Worldchefs, AGHC is the first of its kind in the region. The customized certification programme provides employees in Alshaya hospitality division with professional recognition for their skills and achievements, benchmarked to international standards.

The first group of 154 Alshaya chefs have received their AGHC certifications and were issued digital badges that represent their Certification achievements, allowing earners to showcase their skills. AGHC will make it possible for Alshaya employees to get recognized for the skills and experience they have developed and will help them stand out from the crowd as their career develops.

“Too often chefs do not get truly recognized for what they do or what they have accomplished with their culinary experience,โ€ says Bill Zito, Head of Culinary Operations at Alshaya Group. โ€œPartnering with Worldchefs allows us to truly certify and recognize chefs for what they have done, and gives them something to be proud of. Itโ€™s been a great journey and we are very happy to offer this unique experience and see so many talented Chefs get certified.”

AGHC is fully funded by Alshaya for its employees as part of Alshayaโ€™s ongoing investment in its people and provides a fully portable, practical, and professional qualification. Certification is broken down into five levels, depending on the employeeโ€™s expertise and level of responsibility. No exams or study time is needed, with certification based solely on experience and level of responsibility and assessed by an independent panel. Certification is made in the form of a customized digital badge, which provides a portable secure method to showcase achievements.

Certified Chef de Partie Christopher Subho Gomes

“I felt very happy when I came to know that I am now a certified Chef de Partie through the Worldchefs Global Certification made possible by Alshaya. It has given me the motivation and enthusiasm to develop my career within Princi and Alshaya, and to further my culinary journey,โ€ shares Certified Chef de Partie Christopher Subho Gomes.

With a wide portfolio of award-winning restaurants including The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Changโ€™s, Texas RoadHouse, Ashaโ€™s, Dean & Deluca, Bouchon Bakery and Princi, Alshaya Group has a strong hospitality footprint in the MENA region. AGHC represents a major step forward in recognizing skills in the industry, and progressing talent with industry-assured recognition and Worldchefsโ€™ global quality mark.

– END –


ABOUT ALSHAYA GROUP 

Alshaya Group is a dynamic family-owned enterprise which was first established in Kuwait in 1890. With a consistent record of growth and innovation, Alshaya Group is one of the worldโ€™s leading brand franchise operators, offering customers an unparalleled choice of well-loved international brands, including: Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare, Debenhams, American Eagle Outfitters, P.F. Changโ€™s, The Cheesecake Factory, The Body Shop, M.A.C, Victoriaโ€™s Secret, Boots, Pottery Barn and KidZania. 

Alshaya Groupโ€™s portfolio extends across MENA, Russia, Turkey, and Europe, with thousands of stores, cafes, restaurants and leisure destinations, as well as a scale online and digital business.โ€ฏ  

Operating in multiple sectors including Fashion, Food, Health & Beauty, Pharmacy, Home Furnishings and Leisure & Entertainment, Alshaya Group colleagues are united by a commitment to delivering great customer service and brand experiences.

Fresh, modern, and relevant, Alshayaโ€™s constantly evolving retail portfolio reflects the choices and lifestyle of its customers. From flagship stores and restaurants in prestige malls, to local coffee shops, drive-thruโ€™s and online, Alshaya Group brings customers the brands they love in the places they want to be.โ€ฏ

ABOUT WORLDCHEFS

The World Association of Chefsโ€™ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a dynamic global network of 110 chef associations worldwide. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries 91 years of history since its founding at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier. Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.

Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:

Education โ€“ Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculum, and the worldโ€™s first Global Hospitality Certification recognizing on-the-job skills in hospitality; 

Networking โ€“ Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;

Competition โ€“ Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge;

Humanitarianism & Sustainability โ€“ Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.

For more information about Worldchefs, visit us at www.worldchefs.org.


Categories
Blog

Hospitality Graduates in High Demand Outside of Traditional Roles

Service management is the new buzzword on the business scene, and is destined to become one of the most sought after skill sets across business sectors, says an education expert.

Corporate sector companies are increasingly appointing Hospitality Management graduates to senior positions outside of their traditional roles, particularly due to their ability to interface effectively with the public and handle diverse crises, an education expert says.

โ€œIn the wake of the pandemic and lockdown measures, the hospitality and service management industry has grown and evolved tremendously, and to paraphrase the famous saying โ€“ reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated,โ€ says Candice Adams, Academic Development Manager at The IIE School of Hospitality and Service Management, a brand of ADvTECH, Africaโ€™s largest private education provider.

Adams says that in recent years, the definition of hospitality evolved beyond the traditional one of receiving and welcoming guests and visitors and provisioning services in traditional hospitality environments such as hotels and restaurants.

โ€œCustomer-centricity has evolved, building a whole new perception of what it means to live and work in the โ€˜hospitality industryโ€™,โ€ she says.

โ€œDue to an increase in expectations regarding what constitutes good customer service on the part of the general public, a wide range of companies look for those leaders who have a track record of being able to fulfil the needs and demands of their customers, and a hospitality management background is emerging as just the qualification that encapsulates the diverse range of skills required to do so.โ€

Candice Adams, Academic Development Manager at The IIE School of Hospitality and Service Management

Adams says that this broadening of the understanding on the part of employers, of the skillset held by Hospitality Management graduates, is translating into opening an abundance of career opportunities for graduates.

โ€œService management is the new buzzword on the business scene, and is destined to become one of the most sought after skill sets across business sectors as businesses adapt their strategies to differentiate themselves from their local and international competitors following the pandemic and the massive acceleration in globalisation that has resulted.โ€

New job titles and roles are being created in businesses โ€“ focusing on guiding, supervising, curating or managing the customer journey โ€“ such as customer success consultants / managers, customer experience consultants, customer relationship managers, client services representatives, service managers, customer value representatives, and client innovations representatives/ managers to name but a few. 

โ€œAdditionally, in the traditional hospitality industry, we are seeing that change is happening faster than ever before. The travel industry is one of the largest and most influential on earth, and is starting to pick up again globally, not just locally. While we may not be at the point of beds that make themselves or self-cleaning bathrooms, technology and innovation are bringing new and exciting changes for hoteliers and guests. 

โ€œIn addition to forward-thinking hotel tech, weโ€™re seeing changes to the workforce and work culture, shifting guest preferences, and an increased focus on eco-friendliness.โ€

So what will the hotel of the future look like?

โ€œBased on research focusing on new trends, hotel designs will be a lot less big box and a lot more out of the box,โ€ says Adams.

โ€œHotel design trends now show a different approach, focusing on art, community, and uniqueness. In some hotels, the space itself is what drives uniqueness, with creative lobby ideas or public areas that showcase nature, for example.โ€

The internet of things is spreading not only into homes, but also into hotel rooms, adds Adams.

From access to streaming services to a room key on your smartphone, the essential hotel amenities in a guestroom are becoming increasingly digital.  Guests want concierge services or temperature controls at the push of a button (or tap of a finger), and voice-activated controls are expanding beyond simply asking Siri / Google or Alexa to play your favourite song. These trends might sound futuristic, but it wonโ€™t be long before guests will expect them, rather than these features being a nice-to-have.

โ€œThese automations arenโ€™t going to automate themselves. Ensuring that the hospitality experience โ€“ whether in restaurants, for functions, or hotel stays โ€“ continue to deliver and delight, will always require a human with the right skills and leadership qualities.

โ€œSo for those students interested in studying Hospitality and Service Management, the message is clear โ€“ your options are good and growing not just in the traditional environment, but are also expanding into other career paths with great prospects.โ€


This article was originally published by the South African Chefs Association.

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You can hear more from South Africa on World on a Plate. Tune in to Episode 31: The Tipping Point with James Khoza, President of the South African Chefs Association

Categories
News

Mourning the Loss of Nouhad Dammous

Paris, 8th of March 2022 – It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the passing of the visionary founder of Hospitality Services, Nouhad Dammous.

We will remember Nouhad as the the godfather of the Lebanese hospitality industry and a great mentor. Known as a visionary man, Nouhad was instrumental in shaping hospitality in the region, particularly education. Heย dedicated his life to hospitality and Lebanon. believing in the talent, potential and energy of its people. He always emphasized the importance of empowering tomorrowโ€™s talent and developing the creative and innovative potential of young people throughout the education and training sector.

He leaves behind a beautiful legacy of hospitality excellence through his lifelong projects, namely Hospitality Services. He will forever be known for his dedication, perseverance and wisdom.

He will be greatly missed by his family and the community he served with passion and dedication.

Worldchefs President Thomas A. Gugler wishes a personal and heartfelt farewell for his last journey for a long term friend and colleague with sincere condolences for his family.

Our thoughts go out to all those who loved him and we wish them strength at this difficult time in dealing with his enormous loss.


Categories
Company / Partner Congress Industry Trends News

Meet Christopher Koetke: Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022

Christopher Koetke is an umami expert and so much more. For well over 3 decades. Heโ€™s worked in some of the finest kitchens in the US, France, and Switzerland, and taught at world-class institutions around the globe.

At Worldchefs Congress 2022, he’s taking us through the intersection of science and taste to demystify this often misunderstood 5th taste.

Tell us a bit about your presentation, Harnessing the Art and Science of Umami to Make Superlative Cuisine.

While umami is our fifth taste, it is less commonly understood than the other 4 basic tastes. At the same time, it has significant potential to unleash new and deeper levels of flavor in your cuisine.  Join me for an in-depth look at the science behind umami and the art of using it consciously and in balance with other tastes. This presentation will deepen your knowledge of umami and provide ideas and insight for your cooking.

What will be the key takeaways?

  • the science behind umami
  • the art of balancing umami with other flavors
  • how to unleash new and deeper levels of flavor in your cooking

Why should chefs attend Worldchefs Congress 2022?

It has simply been too long since we have all been together. We crave human connection and seeing friends and colleagues in person and not via zoom. It is also a great opportunity to learn from true experts and deepen the knowledge of our global impact.

What advice do you have for young chefs today?

Talk to everyone! Introduce yourself. You will see that there are many professionals who are deeply committed to your success and are happy to provide guidance, etc. Get lots of business cards and follow them up after the Congress. 

Any final words of wisdom?

We need to always keep a focus on sustainability and act as professionals. With every passing day, it is more urgent.

Don’t miss the biennial event for industry leaders and culinary innovators. Register now for Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2022 and expand your professional bonds in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 30 May to 2 June 2022.

Learn more about Chris and our other keynote speakers at www.worldchefscongress.org/speaker.

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