For the past 9 years the International Hotel School has been running the “Ticket to Life” Bursary Competition at all three South African campuses.

 

IHS realized that there was a need in the market for students wanting to attendIHS and they wanted to give bursaries to deserving students in each region. Deciding to adopt a ‘get to know you’ approach rather than a random selection, the competition was born. The successful candidates would be those who would represent the IHS brand in a positive light, was deserving and who showed true passion for the industry. These students would become the IHS brand ambassadors.

In light of this unique selection process, the IHS embarks on a countrywide search for enthusiastic matric learners who have an appetite for the hospitality industry and this year the talent in Durban was so exciting that they decided to up the ante and increase the value of the prizes. The elimination process was grueling but after tough preliminary rounds, the Five finalists were then put through their paces in a real-life work environment

 

This year, the prestigious National Boot Camp, which forms the last week of the bursary competition, was held at The Gateway Hotel in Durban, Mount Grace Hotel in Magaliesburg which forms part of the African Pride Hotel Group and the Three Cities Peninsula All Suite Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town.

The eco-friendly Gateway Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban played host to the final round and with lots of enthusiasm and zest all the finalists were eager to show their talent, spending time in all the different departments, Kitchen, Banquetting, Housekeeping and Front of House. The Deputy General Manager, at the Gateway Hotel and the esteemed Chef Darshan enthusiastically welcomed the finalists and were eager to get them involved in the daily running of the hotel. One week, sore feet and not much sleep later and one would think that someone in the group would have changed their minds about being a part of the industry which requires long hours and a steady smile, but no…every single one of the participants said the same thing, “their career choice had been confirmed”

 

The five finalists, Elvette Cronje, Micheala de Villiers,Raymond Cronje, Anderson Pillay and Sarina Naidu, had certainly proven their worth. They cleaned toilets, waited tables, smiled at reception and showed exactly why they were Top 5. But there was one in particular who shone in all areas. Helpful, eager to learn, intuitive and with a strength of character,quite rare in one so young. Heads of Department glowed when they spoke about him and staff members smiled with pride when they said his name. He would be an asset to the industry they said. This young man has beaten the odds of his past, put himself through school and is set on being a GM of a leading hotel someday. And no doubt he will. His work ethic is unparalleled and his attitude is so positive and upbeat that one cannot help but wish him the very best for his future. This young man of course is the winner of the IHS Bootcamp challenge, Anderson Pillay.

 

One HOD, when she spoke about him called it “The Anderson Moment” . I was blessed and fortunate to be  part of the final judging panel and I must say , each and every finalist impressed us all in different ways. They soaked up the experience and I am convinced that each and every one of them will be names to look out for in the future. As for Anderson, this young man is definitely destined for great things and his first prize of a 100%  3 year bursary with a traineeship is just the first stop on his road to success.

 

 

The top 3 were :

Anderson Pillay 1st place - 3yr traineeship (100%)

Raymond Cronje 2nd place - 1yr Christina Martin Culinary Arts Program (100%)

Elvett Cronje - 3rd place - 2yr traineeship (100%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Durban judges included Aaliyah Mia (Editor of Deelish Life ‘n Style Magazine), Genee’ Griffiths (IHS Durban Campus Principal) and Bronwyn McLeod (General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express, Umhlanga)