News Releases

PARIS (November 13, 2009) – Hyatt Hotels & Resorts is currently preparing the second edition of the “Hyatt Student Prize,” a prestigious award dedicated to hospitality students across Europe. A total of 17 schools in Europe specialising in Hospitality Management have been selected to be represented in this competition: ESHOTEL Paris, ESTHUA – University of Angers, Ecole de Savignac, EMH Strasbourg, IMHI Paris, Institut Paul Bocuse, Vatel International, La Rochelle Business School of Tourism, Centro Superior de Turismo y de Hosteleria de Galicia, Internationale Fachhochschule fuer Touristik- und Hotel-Management Bad Honnef, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Glion Institute of Higher Education, the Hague Hotel School Institute of Hospitality Management, Maastricht Hotel Management School, Oxford Brookes, Surrey University and Brighton University.

Following the guidelines set by Hyatt, in which competitors must be a minimum of 21 years old, hold a Master’s degree and speak fluent English, the participating schools have pre-selected their most talented students to represent the institution. The jury will review the candidates from the 17 schools, and will then select ten schools that will be present in for the final selection and the award ceremony on 16 December.

During the event in December, the students will demonstrate their motivation and adaptability, and most importantly, they must show their respect for the profession and Hyatt’s customers. Each student will meet individually with the members of the jury, consisting of renowned television personalities such as Anne-Sophie Lapix, Nikos Aliagas, and other top names in the entertainment business, the arts and literature. Chaired by writer and journalist Daniel Picouly, the judges name four finalists before selecting the final winner, who will be awarded a trophy created especially for the occasion by boutique crystal specialists Baccarat.

“Our objective is to reward the most talented student in our industry, while offering them the chance to meet with the top corporate leaders of an international hospitality corporation,” said Michel Jauslin, area vice president and general manager, Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme.  “We also aim to enhance the image of our profession and its related studies, which is essential to encourage younger people to want to work in the service industry.”

The award was launched last year in and was given to top student Laure Brovelli.  “Winning this award has given me the unique opportunity to meet and learn from senior management,” said Brovelli. “I am extremely grateful to have been part of the first edition of the ‘Hyatt Student Prize’ and I think that this initiative by Hyatt helps shine a light on the hospitality industry and motivates young people to join this passionate business.”

The winner of the “Hyatt Student Prize” will be offered the chance to fly business class, courtesy of United Airlines, to , where the Hyatt corporate office is located.  The student will also travel to to visit the team working in Hyatt’s divisional office for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, followed by a stay in , spending time with the general managers of Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, Hyatt Regency Paris-Madeleine and Hyatt Regency Paris-Charles de Gaulle.