The HTMi Event team is in London and on 27th June we had the great privilege of visiting the headquarters of the London Organizing Committee of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) in the Canary Wharf district of London. This was a rare treat and opportunity to see inside the buzz and excitement of how the world's greatest sporting event comes together, where two of our students Melody and Aleksandr are working .
Says HTMi Hotel School , Anthony Lack: “The HTMi Team feels so special to have been invited by the London Olympics Organising Committee to visit their Headquarters, spread over the top four floors of the Barclay's Bank HQ building this is where thousands of people work since the past seven years when London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. It is here where every aspect and logistical issue of putting together such an event takes place. We are totally amazed at the sheer depth of planning that has gone into this event. On each floor were row after row of people working at computers and were divided into every department responsible for the Olympics, from transport, security, logistics, stadium planning, anti-doping to name a few. ……….Very few people are allowed inside this amazing operation. To see it all first hand and experience the excitement was a great chance. In two weeks the HQ basically moves out for the final stages in time for the start of the games on 27th July 2012. On the 23rd floor of the building visitors have a fascinating panoramic view of the entire Olympic Stadium and Olympic Park from a huge floor to ceiling window.
We were fortunate enough to have the special privilege of conducting an interview with Ms. Jules Mantle, Senior Manager of the London Organizing Committee of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games who is responsible for the Olympic Family Hotels. During the interview Mrs. Mantle speaks about the challenges of organising the games over the past seven years and her hopes and aspirations for the success of the games. The full interview will soon be released on HTMi's TV Channel, “
http://www.youtube.com/user/HTMiSwitzerland/featuredAs part of our HTMi Event Team at the London Olympics , HTMi students Melody Wong and Aleksandr Gorbenko are working in in the final planning of the games before moving into the operations of the Olympic Family Hotels where they will work prior to and during the Olympic Games. The feedback from their respective managers is very positive and they said how highly impressed they are with the high standards, professionalism and training of the HTMi students. Congratulations to Melody and Aleksandr.
"This is a completely new and unprecedented environment that I have ever been in, and I enjoy working and contributing to this huge Olympic Games in such a friendly and closely-related team like LOCOG", Aleksandr Gorbenko, HTMi student
"I am having a great time here working with the best event and hospitality in the world! It is an honour to be here working with the Olympic team after four years with the HTMi family. I enjoy my work everyday and I am so excited for the Olympic Games", Melody Wong, HTMi Student
(Pictured from left to right: Ms. Lea Despeysses, Meeting & Events Manager LOCOG, Mr. David Clark, Venue Manager LOCOG, Mrs. Jules Mantle, Senior, Mr. Anthony Lack, HTMi Training & Events Manager, Melody Wong, Aleksandr Gorbenko)
Anthony Lack, Training and Events Manager, HTMi, June 2012, London.
