Hilton Metropole host Career Academy

Posting by Ranjit Hayer, Career Academy Manager

Year 13 Business Career Academy students visited the Hilton Metropole this week and met with Liz Watson, the firm’s Director of Business Development.

The students were welcomed into one of their meeting rooms to get the idea of what a meeting at the Hilton would be like. They were greeted with tea/coffee and some festive mince pies and chocolate brownies, which went down very well.

The students then listened to a short talk about how the Hilton used to be two hotels called the Warwick & Metropole. The students were taken on a tour and whilst on the tour, we bumped into the new Executive Chef, as he was preparing a big convention for that evening. The students learnt about head-hunting, as the Chef explained how he had been asked to move from the London Metropole to Birmingham, due to all his hard work and experience this term. The students were amazed to hear how many meals are served during busy weeks.

Whilst on the tour, the students saw some of the rooms the hotel offers its business clients, as well as the Executive lounge, which is open to its VIP clients. The students walked through lots of conference rooms and learnt how important it is for the Hilton to keep up to date with changes in the way businesses operate, to ensure the services that they offer are correct.

The hotel has a range of facilities including the largest indoor swimming pool in a hotel and a gym that the students visited. The Hilton also has air hosts/hostess staying from the airport. As such, they have to serve breakfast at all sorts of hours to ensure all their guest get the best experience.

It was an informative visit for the students, who got a real behind-the-scenes taste of what business is like in the hospitality sector. Visits such as these form an important part of the Career Academy scheme, with mentoring, guru lectures and paid internships also forming part of the initiative.