r

News

Microcomputers in Catering Education - One-Day Conference, Bedford, U.K.

On Friday 26 June 1987 about 80 caterers and catering lecturers from all over the southern half of the United Kingdom descended on Bedford Col- lege of Higher Education for a one-day conference entitled ‘Microcomputers in Catering Education’.

The conference aimed to encourage and improve the use of microcomputers in catering departments for administration, production and financial con- trol. teaching and learning. It was an interesting mix of short presentations and workshop groups, which allowed an informai exchange of informa- tion, ideas and expertise.

A source book formed part of the conference papers. This was a collection of short articles and information sheets compiled by Dorothy Jamieson, from a variety of sources which included the confer- ence participants, software suppliers and Dr Paul Gamble of the University of Surrey. Copies are still available at a cost of &2.00 each, including postage and packing, from M.A.C.R.U., Bedford College of Higher Education, Cauidwell St., Bedford.

After Mr A. P. Downing. the Head of the School of Social Service Studies, had welcomed the par- ticipants to the college, the morning programme continued with two presentations related to the use of microcomputer systems by catering businesses and colleges. By way of contrast, the two presenta- tions at the start of the afternoon dealt in detail with computer applications at a local hospital and with the use of open-learning to teach computing skills.

The speakers represented different parts of the catering industry and were: Richard Plumb of the Fretwell-Downing Computer Group; Jill Smith of the Essex Institute, currently on secondment to the Danbury Park Management Centre; Alf Snoding, catering manager at the Luton and Dunstable Hos- pital and area catering advisor to the Bedfordshire Health Authority; Alison Surtees, Marketing and Customer Relations Officer with the Hotel and Catering Training Board’s Open Learning Unit.

Richard Plumb drew on his considerable experi- ence, outlining how the use of computers evolved in his company, and describing their application.

Jill Smith gave her presentation on the evaluation of commercial software; delegates were given a detailed check-list for use when selecting software for use in educational establishments.

Alf Snoding described the benefits which the use of computers brings to his unit and discussed the changing training needs for catering students. The use of computers in the industry was only just beginning, and he prophesied that dramatic changes were on the way for caterers and colleges.

Alison Surtees described how one college was providing training in the use of computers for local caterers by the use of the H.C.T.B.‘s Open Learn- ing Management Programme with the college pro- viding the support group.

Three of the speakers also led workshop groups which developed themes from the presentations which they had given.

After both the morning and afternoon presenta- tions delegates were able to participate in vvorkshop groups related either to the use of systems or to less expensive software, making their choice from the following:

‘Catering Management Information Systems’, led by Richard Plumb of Fretwell-Downing Com- puter Group;

‘Menumark Demonstration (Hospital Cater- ing)‘, led by David Warren of B. & W. Electronic Systems Ltd. ;

‘Food and Beverages Stock Control using Catadata’, led by Jill Smith of Danbury Park Man- agement Centre;

‘l~~nu-planning and Costing Using the B.B.C. micro’, led by Tim Baker of High Peak College Buxton;

ht. J. Hospttality Management Vol. 6 No. 4 pp. 249-251 Pergamon Press plc 1987. Printed tn Great Britain

249

‘A Food-ordering System for Colleges Using the Amstrad PC or PCW’, led by Bill Farnslvorth of Birmingham College of Food:

Spreadsheets in Catering’. led by Barbara Robinson, E.S.G., I.T. Co-ordinator at Bedford College of Higher Education;

Computer Awareness for Craft Catering Stu- dents’, led by Dorothy Jamieson, Bedford College of Higher Education. Catering Section;

Craft-based Learning Programs in Microtext’, led by Mike Walden of Aylesbury Coltege of Further Education and Agriculture;

‘Data-base Applications’. led by Ros Krieger of Highbury College. Portsmouth;

Computer Avvareness Through Open-Learn- ing’, led by Alison Surtees of the Hotel and Cater- ing Training Board:

‘Check-in, Hotel Reservation and Management Information System’, led by Martin Street of M.J.S. Enterprises.

The intention was to keep the numbers participat- ing in each group down to 10, but in some cases because of the interest generated. this was not possible.

Delegates had a choice of three workshop groups related to management information systems, or

HOTECH 87

HOTECH is the U.K.‘s annual Hotel Technology Exhibition. an event held since 197s. Originally comprising a conference and exhibition its charac- ter has changed o\‘er the y’ears as attendances at the conference presentations and then the seminars dwindled. This year’s exhibition on the 2Sth and 29th of October. was accompanied by a half day conference on the theme of ‘Checking in Tomor- row’ at which speakers included Eoin Dillon. GM of the London Tara, Tony Potter, Operations Director of Ladbroke Hotels and Peter Chester, Sales and Marketing Director of Crest. A total of II technology companies ivere present for the 2 day exhibition at London’s Kensington Exhibition Centre representing four main groups, Property Management Systems, Catering Systems with Point of Sales, Telecommunications and In-room Enter- tainment.

Attendance at the Exhibition was not as good as in previous years although some 1600 people vsere registered over the two days. Several exhibitors expressed disappointment. It must be acknowl- edged that the Kensington Exhibition Centre is probably a less than ideal location. Not only is it

were able to choose groups using hardware and software which was less expensive and could be used for teaching and learning.

Information collected from the large number of evaluation forms returned. and from conversations with speakers and delegates makes clear that the programme of active participation in a one-day learning exchange has proved very popular. Plans are being made for further conferences next year when the college’s refurbished computer suite will be readywith I.B.M. compatible machines, B.B.C. ‘B’ and ‘Master’ machines, and an R.M. Nimbus network; in addition to the alreadv excellent con- ference facilities.

Dorothy Jamieson w.ould like to hear from caterers and hospitality managers who wish to be included on the mailing list for future conferences or would be prepared to share their expertise and knowledge of computing by leading a workshop group or giving a presentation. She can be con- tacted at: Bedford College of Higher Education. Cauldwell St. Bedford. MK42 9_AH, U.K. Tel., No. 0234 2169%.

Dorothy Jamieson

difficult to find (hardly a big selling point for an Exhibition Centre!) but it is not jvell equipped to recei\,e exhibitors. The loading ba\, can accommo- date only six vehicles at a time. Since another majot exhibition vvas scheduled to close at the same time as HOTECH. the conditions in a certain narroiv, Kensington side street on closure are best left unimagined.

From a visitor’s point of view hovvever. the absence of crowds, the pieasant surroundings. the spacious provision of catering facilities (including a mobile beverage and cakes service) and the fact that exhibitors vvere not too busy to spend time discussing their products. made for a pleasant and productive trip. The most amusing diversion w’as definitely provided by Remanco who had engaged a magician to attract the crowds.

There was little magic elsewhere in the sho\v. Perhaps remarkably, for the first time. IBhf had taken a stand to act as a kind of focus for those vendors using their hardtvare. This included almost everyone. Several of the major PMS vendors showed up. several did not and the pattern of

News 251

exhibitors \vas about as sporadic as the audience. In something of a departure from the past there \\as oni!. one (ne\v) PhlS system being offered by \\ hat might be called a barefoot systems house. The P\IS systems themselves displayed a comforting sense of tradition. Most ivere menu driven. most n’ere in colour (some \\‘ere not) and they mostly offered the same kind of features. Command driven systems. MICE systems kvith sophisticated \vindo\vs. more intelligent decision support and links into profit planning procedures are about as common as a stockbroker \I ho responds promptly to a flurry of sell orders.

The catering systems have also retained their style and approach. Order entry systems on displa! kvere still fairly unfriendly being based on obscure PLU codes &d limited strip window displays. Menu driven systems based on screen lists of

options abound and the thrust of the sales effort continues towards the large. institutional user. There kvas much more emphasis on banqueting and conference administration and most vendors seem to have added this to their product line.

Several low cost call logging systems \v?rs on offer but there \vas an interesting increase in the number of products related to cable and satellite television and guest room service based on tele- visions. This is a growth area worth \L atching.

Whether HOTECH should continue as an annual event is open to question. HOTELYMPIX, the U.K.‘s principal hospitality trade she\\ , is bi-annual and its nest event is scheduled for January 1958. Perhaps HOTECH should alternate with this. In any case some change or \.enue is to be expected.

Paul R. Gamble

HOTECH Information Service

The HOTECH Information Service has been set up by Reed Business Publishing, publishers of the Cnterer nrld Hotelkeeper, in conjunction Lvith the Department of Hotel and Catering Management at Oxford Polytechnic. The Service. using the HOTECH Database. will supply up-to-date infor- mation required by managers in the Hotel and Catering industry lvhen making decisions about computers and IT. This kvill be a quick and efficient kvay to prepare a short list of computer suppliers and products. It will also establish a framework for further research into the application of IT in the industry.

There will be three main aspects of the Service. The HOTECH Directory \vill be published four times a year. giving details of computer suppliers, systems and products available to the hotel and catering industry. The HOTECH Information Desk will provide rapid response to specific enquiries. Finally HOTECH Publications will pro- vide advice and up-to-date information about trends in the use of information technology. The first HOTECH Handbook, HOW to bll~ a Horel md Catering Computer S>*stenz. helps to develop a com- plete specification ot the requirements for a com- puter system.

The launch of this service is the culmination of a number of years of consultancy esperience and

research by Ian hlitchell and Diana Phipps. Esperi- ence led to the proposal to set up an IT database Lvith the purpose of understanding nhat n’as hap- pening in the fast changing and volatile IT market. A series of meetings, ‘The Hotel and Catering Information Technology Forum’. nere held in Osford during 19S6 where this proposal \vas radi- caliy improved through discussions \vith hoteliers, caterers. consultants, system suppliers and repre- sentatives of the trade and professional associa- tions. Participants supported the database. indeed the feeling was that an Information Service was long overdue, but stressed the need for a published guide on ‘how to go about the process of comput- ing’. Assistance in formulating these discussions and assessing the feasibility of an Information Ser- vice was generously provided by the National Com- puting Centre. The three elements of the HOTECH Information Service evol\,ed from these discussions.

The association with the Cnterer md Hotelkeeper (Special Award Winner - IMagazine of the Year) has finally made the plans a reality. If you would like further information about the HOTECH Infor- mation Service please contact: HOTECH Informa- tion Service, Oxford Polytechnic, Department of Hotel and Catering Management. Headington, Oxford OX3 OBP. U.K.