Macdonald Hotels Opens Training Academy

Macdonald Hotels is launching a new £700,000 education and training centre in Scotland.

The Centre of Applied Tourism and Hospitality Management will be based at the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort and aims to help combat the growing skills shortage within the hospitality industry.

An initial 24 students will be using the centre, but within three years this number will increase up to 120 national and international students. Craig Thompson, who has trained many of the world’s finest hospitality managers, will be running the programme.

“As a leader in the market, we can offer students a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as the chance to gain hands-on skills through working in hotels across the country,” said David Guile, deputy chief executive of Macdonald Hotels and Resorts.

Over 20,000 tourism vacancies are currently waiting to be filled in the UK, and this situation is set to worsen as the industry grows and the country hosts major events such as the 2012 Olympics.