Career Opportunity Announcement by Konstantinos Kyriazis, Operations Manager, Caffe Nero Cyprus

ANNOUNCEMENT for the Alpiners

As you already know I am working in the biggest F&B company in Cyprus. I am the Ops guy for Caffe Nero and Cool bar and really soon for Paul that is coming to Cyprus. 
 
I am really happy and I would like to thank Alpine Center once more for all your help and continuous support.

Since people is one of my main interests, my team here is really good and I am also helping my company in recruiting good professionals from abroad as well and I would like your help on this.

Currently we are having 100 outlets and by 2020 the target is 200 outlets (BIG expansion plan). So we are thinking of doing at some point something like a career day and have people interested in coming and work for us in Cyprus as Restaurant managers, Chefs and other managerial positions in general. 
 
Some of our brands are Wagamama, Caffe Nero, KFC, Pizza Hut, local brands, Jamie oliver Italian and Paul are coming this fall and more ...

If you are a graduate/professional between 30 - 40 years old, eager to learn, move and work in a really fast growing and very successful environment please do let me know and I will come in contact with you.
 

Konstantinos Kyriazis

Operations Manager

Caffe Nero Cyprus

k.kyriazis@phc.com.cy

Testimonial * Joseph Chalfoun

Joseph Chalfoun, Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management, BA(Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management, Master’s in International Hospitality & Tourism Leadership (2005)


Head of Operations - Middle East & Greece, Food Fund International, UAE

'In 2002, 

I walked into Alpine, 

a young student hungry for knowledge. 

In 2005, 

I left with so much more 

than simply having my hunger satisfied'.

 

I graduated first with a Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management, then a year later with a BA(Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management, and finally, 12 months later with a Master’s in International Hospitality & Tourism Leadership.  

During my years at Alpine I had the opportunity to put into practice what I learned and to practice the leadership skills I acquired.  As a result I served as the President of the Alumni Association.  I also had the great fortune of doing my internship in 5 star establishments that paved the way to the career opportunities I received upon graduation.  

In a few years, Alpine has shaped the way I think and the way I regard the hospitality industry. It has instilled in me the right values and disciplines I needed to get me from one success to another. The passion and dedication the faculty showed me and my fellow students, taught us to regard each and every day as a chance to make a difference in the lives of people we meet. And that in itself is the essence of our industry. 

In my current position, now, I attend Alpine’s Annual Career Day, to recruit student trainees and graduates for our thriving company, just because I know those students and graduates have been trained the same way I have been, trained and educated to succeed and make a difference!

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Hotel Security Seminar for Hotel Managers and Hotel Management Students in Greece

ALPINE CENTER SWITZERLAND in cooperation with "PROTECT-Security Solutions" is organizing a one day Hotel Security Seminar for Hotel Managers and Hotel Management Students in Greece.
Date: Friday 30. January 2015
For more info, please send e-mail to: admissions@swissalpinecenter.com

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Study Hotel Management in the UK

 

Warnborough College is a premier institution in Canterbury, England. It delivers unique learning experiences through study abroad, British qualifications, and English language courses. Courses are taught in Canterbury, at partner campuses around the world, or through distance learning. 

Swiss Certificate in Hotel Operations

Enrolling now

Autumn:     8th September to 28th November, 2014

Warnborough College and Alpine Center (the Swiss Business School for Hospitality & Tourism Management) have forged an alliance to launch an intensive Swiss hospitality management programme in Canterbury (UK). This course is conducted through blended learning: E-Learning and on-Campus.

This intensive hotel operations certificate programme equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge for working in the hospitality industry. The programme consists of 12 weeks of courses/training AND one paid industry placement of 20 weeks.

The Swiss Certificate in Hotel Operations programme offers students opportunities for learning by doing, with hands-on experience in real hotels i.e. the respected Swiss education model. Equal emphasis is given to acquiring knowledge on the hotel operation and hotel management of different departments and to applying it in a real business environment.

Certificate students learn about hotel operations such as front office, housekeeping, food and beverage production and service by working on duty teams and running the hotel campus operations under the supervision of expert instructors at the same time as attending theory classes.

In this way, students are not only taught ‘theory’, but combine theoretical and practical knowledge, followed by actual industry practice.

Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management

This intensive hotel management diploma programme equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge for working in the hospitality industry. The programme consists of 12 weeks of courses/training AND one paid industry placement of 20 weeks.

The Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management is delivered with real hotels as ‘classrooms’ – students learn by doing, i.e. the respected Swiss education model. Equal emphasis is given to acquiring knowledge of hotel operations and the management of different departments. Learning is far better when it is conducted in a real business environment.

To achieve the Diploma in Hotel Management, students must first achieve the Certificate in Hotel Operations. During the second year, students become more involved in the managerial aspects of hotel operations by undertaking supervisory responsibilities such as quality control, shift plans etc.

In this way, diploma students are taught to combine theoretical and practical knowledge with actual industry practice.

Why it’s great to live in Britain (despite the recession)
Despite the current gloomy backdrop, Britain is still one of best places in the world to live. Here are 50 reasons why it's great to live in Britain.

1. The NHS/free medical care for all
2. Equality
3. Access to education
4. The weather (no extremes)
5. Triple-A credit rating
6. Democracy
7. GDP per capita (economic output per person)
8. Food (the variety, the number of Michelin star restaurants and British classics like the Sunday Roast)
9. The Royal Family
10. The BBC
11. Pubs
12. Globally competitive universities
13. The countryside
14. Location in relation to the world
15. The High Street
16. Free press
17. The pound
18. British humour/sarcasm
19. Minimum wage
20. Infrastructure
21. Free contraception
22. Working hours
23. Security
24. Culture
25. History
26. Housing benefits/generous benefit system in general
27. Freedom of speech
28. Arts – music, film, TV
29. Climate – diverse enough to grow pretty much anything
30. Strength in technology, engineering and medical research
31. Multi-cultural – and embrace eccentrics
31. High life expectancy
33. Real ale
34. The British passport
35. Low crime rates and fear of crime
36. The English language
37. Architecture
38. Low infant mortality rates
39. Reliable and safe water, gas and electricity supply
40. Low VAT rate
41. Good roads and access to transport
42. Corner shops
43. London
44. Shakespeare
45. The state pension
46. Orderly queuing
47. Allotments
48. Politeness
49. Cups of tea
50. The premier league

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Google Starts Street View in Greece After Spat

Google launched its Street View map service in Greece on Thursday after winning approval from the country's privacy authority, which had blocked the ground-level map application five years ago.

Company officials said the service went live after "extensive and detailed" negotiations with the country's Data Protection Authority, which last year lifted objections made to the project in 2009.

Culture Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos attended a launch event in Athens and said the map service would help the crisis-hit country's vital tourism industry, describing Greece as an "endless archaeological park."

"We have so much to show off. This is a godsend," he said. "Everyone knows how difficult things are, with all the obstacles that are there when dealing with the Greek state. We are trying to overcome these difficulties."

Google was allowed to gather photos for Street View while waiting for formal approval to start the service in Greece, the 56th country where it is now available. The company also had been permitted to display cultural sites on a related service.

Company officials said the service covers about two-thirds of the area that Google plans to map in Greece, and includes most of the mainland and popular holiday islands. It currently does not include many more sparsely populated islands, for example.

Nearly 18 million tourists visited Greece last year, according to official figures, while the government and industry officials say the number on track to rise to 20 million in 2014.

In its ruling in November, the Greek privacy watchdog said Google had responded to earlier reservations — such as about whether the images of people's faces and vehicle license plates displayed on its service get blurred out, to protect their privacy.

"The DPA wanted to see that our blurring technology works — we have demonstrated that it does work in 55 other countries — and safeguard the right of Internet users to report any complaints," said Dionisis Kolokotsas, a public policy manager for Google's Greek operations.

ATHENS, Greece June 5, 2014 (AP)

By DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press

source: abc NEWS

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European Business Awards and World Travel Awards this year in Athens, Greece

Two significant award ceremonies will take place in Athens, Greece this year.

European Business Awards

Since 2007, the European Business Awards has been shining a light on the most innovative businesses on the continent by promoting success, innovation and ethics in the European business community.

In 2012, the EBAs engaged with over 17,000 organisations in over 31 countries. Showcasing the best in class, the winners from a diverse range of industries including cosmetics, engineering, fashion, online businesses, manufacturing and transport, were congratulated by an audience comprising heads of state, leading industrialists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, media owners and academics from across 31 European nations.

Participants represented a combined turnover of over €1 trillion Euros (8.23% of EU GDP)*, employing over 2.7 million people.

The 100 Ruban d’Honneur recipients and 30 National Public Champions will be celebrated at a gala event reception that will be held at The Westin Astir Palace Resort, Vouliagmeni, Athens in Greece on 27th May 2014. The event promises to be the biggest ever with networking sessions and seminars taking place over 2 full days.

European Business Awards Head of Events Jacqueline Yanko said, "We are absolutely delighted to be hosting our prestigious gala event in Athens this year. The continued and increasing success of Greek businesses in the competition showcases perfectly our aim to recognise and promote excellence, best practice and innovation in the European Business community”.

The 10 category winners and 1 European Public Champion will be announced in front of an audience of business leaders, academics, media and political representatives from across Europe.

Athens is a fantastic city, steeped in history and regarded as a foundation stone for so many elements of modern society. The European Business Awards is proud to welcome business leaders from some of the very best organisations across Europe to sample the famous Greek hospitality and we look forward to seeing you there!

source: www.businessawardseurope.com

World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards (WTA), the "Oscars of the travel industry", has unveiled plans to visit Greece for the first time, with Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, Athens, set to host its Europe Gala Ceremony on 2nd August 2014.

Senior representatives from Europe's finest travel brands are scheduled to attend WTA's Europe Gala Ceremony 2014 as they vie to win the most coveted accolade in the industry.

The red-carpet evening is being held in partnership with the Greek Tourism Ministry, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises and Divani Collection Hotels, and will include a gala dinner, top entertainment as well as the presentation of the most coveted awards in the industry.

Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a full itinerary over the weekend, a "journey through Greece," giving an insight into both its illustrious history and its vibrant contemporary culture.

The WTA organisers highlight the significance of hosting the VIP ceremony in Athens.

Graham E Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, says: "We are delighted to host our first ceremony in Greece, a decision that reflects the crucial contribution that tourism makes to the national economy. The Greek tourism sector is enjoying a renaissance, with last year's double-digit growth predicted to continue in 2014 as it continues to grow market share."

He adds: "The selection of our hosts is fundamental to the success of our awards programme, and Athens possesses all the ingredients to rise to the challenge of hosting our Europe Ceremony 2014. As Europe's oldest city, Athens beautifully balances its 2,500-year history with a vibrant contemporary culture scene."

The ceremony will take place at the luxury beach resort of Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso. Situated in the exclusive area of Vouliagmeni, just 18km from Athens city centre, the resort's stunning beachfront location combined with one of the most luxurious Thalassotherapy centres in Europe make it a destination for well-being and relaxation.

Niki Fotiou, Marketing & PR Manager, Divani Collection Hotels, says: "Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso is privileged to host the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony. We are proud to bring this event to Greece for the first time and to offer an impressive 'journey' through Greece to more than 500 travel tourism and hospitality professionals."

The Europe Ceremony 2014 will mark the third leg of WTA's Grand Tour, a global search for the world's finest travel brands, which also includes regional heats in Dubai, Ecuador and Anguilla. The winners of these regional heats will progress to the Grand Final, which will take place in December 2014.

source: www.worldtravelawards.com

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Themis Trakas success story

Inside HVS

Personality Profile of the Month - Themis Trakas

By Dorothy Jennings

Tuesday April 8, 2014

Themis Trakas

The fictional character of Eloise captured the imagination of millions of readers based upon her elegant address. The idea of a little girl residing at w hat some people refer to as the ”Greatest Hotel in the World”, the Plaza Hotel located in New York City, w as a divine escape from the mundane. Fashioned after a French Chateau with a marble lobby, mahogany doors and 1,650 crystal chandeliers, the Plaza is quite unique … .. and w hat could be more fun than dining at the Palm Court on rainy days? Today, an oil painting of Eloise hangs outside this restaurant, and is visited by many elegant ladies-w ho-lunch holding the hands of their darling granddaughters. 

Well, HVS’ own Themis Trakas experienced childhood at numerous five-star luxury hotels including Sheratons, Mandarin Orientals, Fairmonts, Carltons, and Hiltons as he traveled the globe with his father, an Olympic Airways Boeing 747 captain.

As a military and civil aviation pilot for 41 years, Themis’ dad infected his young son with a fascination for aircraft and aviation as they regularly visited New York, Toronto, Montreal, Singapore, Johannesburg, and Sydney. Themis dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps as a pilot, having become quite comfortable in the cockpit.

At 15, Themis was at home in the cockpit of a Boeing 747 cruising over the Atlantic Ocean on the way to NYC from Athens, Greece, with his father, the Captain!

However, as he neared the end of his high school years in the late 80’s, his father recommended that he explore the idea of pursuing a career in the hotel industry. Upon serious reflection, he had vivid memories of the hostelries where they had stayed, and this suggestion began to percolate in his thinking.

Paris Air Show

After completing his mandatory military service, Themis enrolled in the Swiss Alpine Center hotel school of higher education based in Greece in 1989 to determine if the hospitality industry would be a good fit. For the next six years, he pursued his education in Greece, Switzerland, and the U.S.A., followed by a 2-year program for an MBA in 2001. Everything clicked, and he garnered 10 years of experience in hotel operations, ultimately finding himself in an ideal position to accept the offer from HVS in Athens in 2006.

Demetris Spanos, Managing Director of HVS Athens, gives Themis the highest accolades, “Themis is a definite asset for our office. He was the first to join the group, when the legal entity of the HVS Athens was originally introduced. He is enthusiastic and knowledgeable regarding the industry. I can always depend on Themis to produce a quality assignment, and he is always willing to share his expertise with his colleagues. His sense of humor puts things in perspective. I really trust this individual and I consider him as a member of my family."

Themis is serving as Vice President of the Cornell Hotel Society, Pan-Hellenic Chapter in Greece.

Still passionate about discovering new world venues, HVS has provided Themis with amazing opportunities. The most exciting destinations, and the assignments he has particularly enjoyed, include Morocco which he visited on three separate occasions in 2008; Kuwait, Mauritius; Antigua; the City of Pozzuoli in Italy; Tel Aviv; and Croatia.

Greek Mirage 2000 Fighter Jet

Though he did not fulfill his youthful fantasy of becoming a pilot, Themis developed a strong enthusiasm for aviation photography. He is an avid fan of military air shows and while living in the United States from 1992 to 2003, his weekends were devoted to traversing the East Coast to attend every air show scheduled to photograph the exciting exhibitions.

 

 

Sybil Hofmann, President International Programmes at Swiss Alpine Center, The Swiss Business School for International Hotel & Tourism and Director at City Unity College/International Hospitality & Tourism Management Department, says about Themis:

“Themis Trakas is an exemplary alumnus that is the dream of every college. We were so happy to have Themis as a student in the very first two years of his formation in the field of hotel management after which he transferred to our Swiss school in Switzerland to complete the third year of his studies.  His ultimate dream was to have a Cornell education and that’s where he headed next. Working in the US was another goal he had set and he further combined this with furthering his education to the MBA level in New York. What happened next is he planned to return to Greece, a great move because Greece needs such professionals to drive its hospitality industry to newer heights. Themis lost no time in visiting his alma mater and offering his services. He was appointed as a member of the Advisory Board and not only. He joined the academic team as a guest lecturer, launching second year students into their Integrated Project at the beginning of the year, counselling them during the year, and acting as a panelist at the end of the year when the teams presented their projects.

I have no words to describe Themis’ commitment, devotion and loyalty to his first alma mater, Alpine Center!!  I only wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to a young man who believes in the future of the tourism industry in Greece and in contributing to the professional development of the new generation of hospitality management professionals".

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