Hospitality Management Education Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

HAAGA-HELIA's hospitality management education celebrates its 40th anniversary on October 22nd, 2009. During the festive event, honorary titles will be awarded and a celebratory book on the history of hospitality education will be unveiled.

HAAGA-HELIA's Haaga campus will have been operating for 40 years this autumn. The first students of hospitality management started at the campus in 1969.

“Throughout all these years our basic mission has remained the same: to have our students promote leadership, energy, new ways of thinking and courage for change in the hospitality management field,” says programme head Jouni Ahonen.

Honorary titles and a celebratory book
Honorary titles in hospitality management have been awarded by the Haaga unit since 1989. During this year’s festivities, four honorary degrees in hospitality management will be awarded. The Hospitality Manager of the Year will also be named, now for the tenth time.

The celebratory book “HAAGA – 40 years of stories” consists of a collection of reminiscences from across the years.

“The stories cover the entire 40-year history and include both recollections of events and happenings as well as reflections by seasoned professionals about the field and its development. You won’t find official events or figures listed in the book, as we wanted it to encapsulate the renowned Haaga spirit,” says Risto Karmavuo, the book’s editor.

The celebrations will take place in an international atmosphere as HAAGA-HELIA is simultaneously hosting the EuroCHRIE conference, which this year focuses on the production of experiences rather than services.