COVID-19’s surge in 2020 halted everything and forced numerous shutdowns, from workplaces to schools. One of the hardest hit industries are tourism and hospitality, with hotels forced to close their doors and lay off hundreds of workers.
Many have thought it the end for the hospitality industry and its services like culinary schools and hospitality management studies, but hoteliers saw an opportunity to operate and adapt to the New Normal’s requirements to battle the effects of the pandemic. Hotels, together with the local government and health professionals, created health protocols to ease guest concerns. Astoria Hotels and Resorts or AHR, for example, has upgraded its operations to face the challenges brought about by COVID-19.
The improvements Astoria Hotels and Resorts made to bolster its operations was not restricted to its hospitality services alone. Astoria Culinary and Hospitality Institute (ACHI), AHR’s culinary and hospitality school, has had its own improvements to face the challenges of learning all about tourism and hospitality studies. In the past, ACHI conducted its hospitality studies by having instructors and students work together in a classroom setting. But with COVID-19 protocols, ACHI developed a way to reach and teach students online using tools and technology for a seamless learning experience. Now how did ACHI enhance its culinary and hospitality learning services for online use?
Digital introduced online tools for learning to be delivered in more ways than one.
With the uptrend of online activity like interaction via video conferencing, video consumption on social media, and file sharing, ACHI was able to integrate its existing learning syllabus to video format. This was possible for live teaching, webinars, or even for later consumption. Its offer of asynchronous and synchronous teaching has made it possible for students to learn without having to worry about their Internet bandwidth.
Digital has made learning safe and practical.
While physical interaction is important, the challenge COVID-19 placed on culinary learning institutes like ACHI has prompted it to offer its services in a safe and practical manner. Actual demonstrations of culinary and hospitality processes, like how to prepare food and interact with guests at a hotel’s front desk are done on video format for students to observe and learn. With ACHI’s new developments online, students and faculty can access learning content from the safety of their homes and at any time they choose.
Digital has advanced to optimize learning.
ACHI has foreseen the demand for culinary and hospitality learning online and worked with its Information and Communications Technology group to create ways to optimize the delivery of its learning services like website load times, video buffering rates, and accessibility. This optimization has also played a big role in formatting content for ease of use, from computer screens to mobile phones.
Digital allowed teaching to be marketed farther.
All the developments created by ACHI to reach its online potential would have been stagnated if it were not for the power of digital marketing. With tools like social media marketing and targeting, advertising, and production of collaterals such as e-books and e-brochures, it has become possible for ACHI to reach its potential customers and students wherever an internet signal is present. With digital marketing’s sophisticated expertise in reaching the right people online, signups are faster, and registrations are more accurate.
COVID-19 may have forced changes in how culinary and hospitality institutes operate, but it is a welcome change that has turned a challenging issue into a service as concise, affordable, and dependable as what ACHI offers. With the services of the internet almost available to most, the resurgence of the tourism industry this 2021, and the need to develop culinary and hospitality skills, it is without a doubt that Astoria Culinary and Hospitality is the right choice for you.
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