Entertainment of Friday, 1 August 2003

Source: Heritage

Golden Tulip Wins Waiters’ Race

Golden Tulip, Accra, last Saturday put up a splendid performance to recapture the waiters race title they lost to the SSNIT Guest House last year. For their prize, Golden Tulip took home one million cedis cash, Domod Products and other products from sponsors.

New entrants, the Hotel Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT), pulled a surprise when they placed second, beating defending champions, the SSNIT Guest House, to third place.

HOTCATT received ?750,000 and Domod products while the SSNIT Guest House took home ?500,000 and products from Domod.

The most Exciting Team award sponsored by the Awuku-Family went to another new entrant, the Social Advance Institute, while the Smartest Waiter's Award went to the Imperial Peking Chinese Restaurant.

The 7th waiters' race, organised by the Golden Tulip Hotel under the theme "The Waiting Profession and the Tourism Industry' was aimed at improving service standards in the hotel industry.

In all 12 hotels and institutions participated in the event. They were, Novotel Hotel, Greenland Hotel, Airside Hotel, Imperial Perking, Hotel Wangara, SSNIT Guest House, Erata Hotel, Accra Polytechnic, HOTCATT, OIC, Social Advance Institute and the Golden Tulip Hotel.

The competition involved, a quiz, combining names and items, Napkin folding service test and the waiters' race.

Later in an interview with The Weekend Heritage, Mr. Sander Neu, Food and Beverage Manager of Golden Tulip, expressed satisfaction at the level of performance displayed by the waiters.

He said the waiters showed a high sense of enthusiasm which is good for their development, adding that there are lots of talents among them who need to be motivated. Mr. Neu said it is important for management of hotels to keep their staff motivated to bring out their best.

He was full of praise for the confidence displayed and said he was planning to visit schools once a week to help teach the students studying food and Beverage. By this, he said, he would be adding a little knowledge to what they know.

He said Golden Tulip was able to win the race because the management at the hotel had provided the facilities for the waiters to learn and develop their skills, adding that their experience in the industry also urged them on.

He said next year's event would be an improvement on this year's. The Golden Tulip Waiters' Race was co-sponsored by Domod Aluminum company, Cake Teckuiks Limited and Fathers Home.