The competition was fierce when Hospitality Management students came together to prove their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in service, tourism, and hospitality.

“Who is the Chief Tourism Officer at Rwanda Development Board?”

“Which hotel in Rwanda is currently number one on TripAdvisor?”

“Where in Rwanda can you go ‘glamping’?”

It’s the finals of the annual Hospitality Management Competition, and the three remaining teams, which beat out their fellow students in the semifinals the week before, are being tested on their general knowledge of tourism and hospitality in Rwanda. The groups take turns eagerly answering general quiz questions during the second of three tests in the final competition.

The competition opened with a case study on customer service. The groups shared their findings on why customer service was important and recommended best practices for serving clients.

“The mere fact that we are here is because of our customers. Building loyalty, trust, and getting constructive feedback is what it takes to demonstrate a strong customer service mindset,” said one group’s student presenter.

The Grand Finale

After completing the theoretical part of the competition, the three groups prepare for the grand finale: the practical test.

The test includes napkin folding, cocktail preparation, table setup and service — this is the time for the groups to show their competencies on the floor. They must execute each task while remaining professional, prepared, and efficient.

After two teammates from each group demonstrate their abilities to fold napkins and prepare cocktails, it’s time for the remaining two teammates to set a table and serve the faux menu of the day — a lavish three-course dinner — while being timed and meticulously observed by the judges, members of the Hospitality Management faculty.

According to Allen Ingabire, who will graduate from Akilah’s Hospitality Management program this year, the competition is tough but also a great way to practice her knowledge under intense circumstances.

“I gained a lot of skills — like critical thinking and how to remember things when you’re under pressure. Some of the things they tested us in, we learned in our first semester — so we had to work hard to remember them on the spot.”

Students strategize during the finals of the Hospitality Management Competition.

A World Cup Win

Allen is convinced that tests like these will make her perform well in her future jobs in the hospitality sector.

“A lot of these skills will benefit me in my career. The case study for instance — we need to be prepared for all types of situations in the industry.”

Allen and her team ended up taking home the victory. And after hours of hard work, winning felt like a huge accomplishment.

“We celebrated like we had won the World Cup!” she said.

Interested in becoming a Hospitality Management champion? Apply for Akilah’s Hospitality Management program: www.akilahinstitute.org/apply.