Travel and tourism students at Tameside College have secured paid work experience with prestigious hospitality venues this summer.

Six students will take up roles at the five-star Royal Lancaster Hotel in London and the Devonshire Arms Hotel in Yorkshire.

They are former Copley Academy pupils Amelka Mas and Sherelle O’Rourke, ex-Wright Robinson College student Aaliyah Blyth, former Longdendale High School pupil Lewis Morgan, ex-Glossopdale School student Jennifer O'Connor and former St Thomas More RC pupil Romana Matthews. 

The Royal Lancaster Hotel is one of the best hotels in the UK, directly overlooking Hyde Park. It regularly welcomes VIPs and dignitaries and even featured in the film The Italian Job. The prestigious Devonshire Arms sits in the grounds of Bolton Abbey.

The students will spend their summer holidays living and working at the hotels, experiencing a variety of roles such as room attendant, porter, valet and front of house. They will return to the college in September to start their second year.

Each student went through a rigorous interview and application process to be offered the roles, which will provide them with valuable industry experience and skills.

Aaliyah Blyth, cabin crew student at Tameside College, said: “I was shocked to be offered such an amazing opportunity at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.

"Not many people can say that they have worked in a 5-star hotel, so I am very excited to get started and learn new things. Eventually, I would like to work as air cabin crew and the skills I will learn at the hotel will help me to achieve this.”

Aaliyah Blyth

Andrea Tindall, travel and tourism teacher at Tameside College, said: “This is an amazing opportunity for these learners to gain valuable skills needed for working in the travel industry. Travel and tourism is all about the customer experience and hospitality is a big part of that.

"Working in the hotel industry will test skills and qualities that have been nurtured within the classroom and provide further employment opportunities. Congratulations to the students.”

To find out more about travel and tourism courses at Tameside College, visit www.tameside.ac.uk or call 0161 908 6600.

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