UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague Team Up to Innovate the Hospitality Industry

In a significant move to advance the hospitality sector, UN Tourism and Hotelschool The Hague have announced a new partnership. This collaboration is centered around a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to foster innovation, support entrepreneurship, and enhance educational opportunities in the hospitality industry.

The partnership is designed to tackle the high failure rates of startups in the hospitality sector, where approximately 90% do not succeed. By leveraging UN Tourism’s innovation network, the initiative will connect startups with potential investors and industry experts, facilitating joint events and skill development sessions.

Key to this initiative is the emphasis on practical education and real-world experience. Hotelschool The Hague is renowned for its commitment to blending academic knowledge with direct industry engagement, preparing its students to become leaders who can drive sustainable and innovative practices in hospitality.

The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge, hosted by Hotelschool The Hague, exemplifies this approach by encouraging students to develop projects that advance sustainability in the industry. This competition aligns closely with UN Tourism's goals to promote innovative and environmentally friendly solutions.

Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, highlights the importance of integrating technology into tourism, noting that it currently influences 70% of the sector. She sees this partnership as a crucial step in ensuring that startups can thrive by connecting them with the right resources and opportunities for real-world application.