16 June 2008

A group of UQ students promoting touch screen tables, automatically moulding beds and 3D conference call technologies has won the second annual Holiday Inn Hotel Technology Competition.

The competition is part of the UQ School of Tourism’s Hotel Management Technology Applications course and has hospitality management students competing to win a fictitious consultancy contract for a hotel.

The students work in teams or “companies” to design a company name, branding and mission; and research, analyse and make recommendations on technological systems for a fictitious South Bank property; “The Holiday Inn Virtuoso Hotel”.

The event is sponsored by Holiday Inn Brisbane and was the culmination of the students’ work over the semester.

The top three student groups were invited to present their technology concepts to a judging panel comprising Holiday Inn Brisbane General Manager, Raymond Faulkner; Holiday Inn Brisbane Information Technology Manager, Duncan Stevens; and School of Tourism senior lecturer, Dr Noel Scott.

The winning group Future Intelligence Technology (or F.I.T.) presented several innovative ideas including touch screen tables, automatically moulding beds, 3D and holographic conference call technologies, automatic-opening hotel room doors, self check-in/out kiosks and biometric security systems including face-scanning technology.

Head Judge, Mr Faulkner, said the judging panel were impressed by the standard and professionalism of the presentations, particularly in relation to their consideration of the “triple bottom line”, which looks at environmental, social and financial impacts.

“Certainly all of the big international hotel groups have a growing interest in the triple bottom line focus,” Mr Faulkner said.

“Sustainability doesn’t just cover green solutions; it covers an interest in the social responsibility to the community around you. It makes sure you take an interest in recycling and landfill and certainly goes beyond water and energy savings. We don’t see that as a marketing edge, we actually see that as being the right thing to do.”

Dr Scott said the value this type of collaboration added value to both students and industry in an ever-changing environment.

“This is a wonderful example of universities and business working together for the benefit of the next generation of tourism professionals,” he said.

“The technological and indeed global environment is changing rapidly and we have new challenges to face as an industry. Global warming, carbon based energy scarcity, and other trends present challenges while our increased life spans and biological knowledge offer amazing opportunities.

“Dealing with such change and opportunity requires keen, intelligent people who can manage technology and people. At the School of Tourism we aim to provide an education that is relevant to industry but also relevant to the future. I think this event today represents in a tangible form, the delivery on these aims.”

Media: Kate Derbyshire (3346 9989, k.derbyshire@uq.edu.au)