When hospitality education meets sustainable tourism…

One thing I really find important in life is to be useful to others, which is, after all,  the basis of any hospitality related activity, wouldn’t you say? At least, it’s the reason why I chose to work in this field many years ago, besides an insatiable urge to explore this world!

In this regard, I have always considered myself fortunate to be able to travel and work in so many places, and to learn so much from others…

During my hotel years, having worked in many underprivileged countries, I was witness to many lives being changed through hospitality training. So when I first heard about Sumba Hospitality Foundation, www.sumbahospitalityfoundation.org , through the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne network, I contacted their management team to find out how I could help in any way.

And, last month, I was given the opportunity to deliver a two week wine production course to their students.

The Sumba Hospitality Foundation, which is located on the beautiful island of Sumba in Indonesia, was founded in July 2016 and is dedicated to educating underprivileged students from the four regions of Sumba.

Students are able to train in real life industry conditions, as the school has 5 guest rooms, a bar and restaurant. The facilities are very cleverly designed, all made of bamboo. Everything you would expect from a luxury hotel is there : comfortable bedding, wonderful outdoor shower, laundry service, and great on site grown organic food served at the restaurant. Furthermore the Foundation recycles water and produces its own electricity through solar power.
But what truly sets Sumba Hospitality Foundation apart is the atmosphere felt on the hotel school. Management and teaching staff are genuinely dedicated to their task, which is to help those young Sumbanese students improve their lives through hospitality education.

For my part, sharing some of my knowledge with them is an experience I will never forget, and I am grateful I was able to be part of their learning journeys in the rich world of hospitality!

The school is only a year old, but some of the graduates have already secured jobs in the hospitality industry, in renowned hotels or restaurant, mostly on nearby Bali island… such as Jeffrey, pictured here during dinner service at Nusantara Ubud, one of the best restaurants in town!