For the first time ever the Girl‘s Model GNVQ (Intermediate) Leisure & Tourism class has been getting professional help with their studies from the staff at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast.

Rosie McCartney from the Holiday Inn‘s Human Resources Department offered seven pupils the chance to visit the Hotel one day a week to learn the ropes and get a taste of what it is like to work in the Leisure and Tourism industry.

The lucky girls are Colleen Bell, Melissa Croft, Jade Crossett, Courtney Maguire, Samantha Dougan, Sarah McIlveen-Wright and Laura Rankin. Each girl has an opportunity to experience working in the Hotel‘s various departments, including Reservations, Reception, House Keeping and the Restaurant.

Apart from getting a free fry for their break if they are lucky enough to be on the restaurant‘s rota, the girls have been kitted out with a proper uniform worn by staff of the Hotel, and very smart they look too!

This is an opportunity for the girls to sample the very hard world of work and it has been a bit of a shock for some but a chance to shine for all of them!

Each and every girl is learning though and where better to do it than in an actual hotel.

”This will be a challenging year for all involved but will definitely be memorable. I know that I‘ll never forget the sight of Laura in her Chef‘s hat and whites, brandishing a frying pan on the ages of the Business Telegraph“

By Mrs McKeever

When we were leaving for the Holiday Inn hotel, we were all a bit nervous because we didn‘t know what to expect. While on the other hand, we were excited to get it started because we didn‘t start it until two weeks into the school term.

When we first walked into the Holiday Inn Hotel we were very impressed by the standard, because it was lovely and the Reception staff were very nice. When we arrived we were shown into one of the conference rooms and told a bit about the hotel and its history. Then a photographer came into the room and asked if he could have two pupils for a few publicity shots - Sarah and I were selected to do it. It was a bit like being a film star!

Next we were given our staff uniforms which varied depending on where we were to work. Melissa got a Receptionist‘s uniform, Sarah got a uniform for the Reservations staff, Samantha and Courtney got the nicest uniforms for the Waiting Staff in the restaurant. Laura and Jade got Housekeeping uniforms. The uniforms made you feel more important.