Holmesglen has won the Tourism Education and Training category at the Melbourne Airport 2008 Victorian Tourism Awards.

Holmesglen was commended for its state-of-the-art facilities and its engagement with industry and the local community.

Ross Digby, Associate Director for Hospitality, Cookery and Bakery, believes recent improvements in kitchen facilities, technology (including industry-current software), and innovations such as the quarterly Farmers’ Markets and Sensation Tasting Dinners were also instrumental in the win.

Hospitality and tourism facilities on campus include three unit kitchens, a patisserie kitchen, a bakery training centre and two student training restaurants.

The restaurants attracted more than 3,000 diners during the award assessment period of 2007.

Students also have access to simulated tourism offices, equipped with the latest travel reservation software; a simulated housekeeping training room; an event management system; property management, and sales and catering systems; point-of-sale and materials control systems; and a Learning Commons.

Perhaps most impressively, Holmesglen is the only TAFE provider to own and operate its own hotel and conference centres: the Hemisphere Conference Centre and Hotel; and the Holmesglen Conference Centre.

Ross Digby said the result was a great recognition of Holmesglen’s efforts in the areas of tourism and hospitality. ”We pride ourselves on producing industry-ready graduates who recognise the standards required at a professional level. We have done this, in part, by forming close ties with the tourism and hospitality industries, with primary producers and with our local communities.

“It is a great reward for our hard-working staff, both teaching and non-teaching, and our wonderful students.

We would like to thank all of our industry partners for helping us to achieve this award.”