School of Hospitality and Tourism Management students win prestigious international hospitality competition

June 19, 2023

2023 Accor Take Off winners D'accord team from Ted Rogers School

Congratulations to Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management students Alicia Gan (external link) , Janice Sham (external link) , and Casey Vo (external link) for winning the Accor TakeOff! Challenge.

The Take Off! Challenge 2023 (external link) , hosted by Accor, is an international competition that challenges students to come up with solutions to issues facing the future of hospitality, from loyalty programs, to food and beverage services, to corporate social responsibility or talent. The competition has been organized by Accor for 12 years. Accor (external link) , a French hotel company, is the sixth largest hospitality company in the world, operating in over 110 countries.

This year, 324 students from more than 170 schools across 32 countries participated. The topic was innovation and digital, and the students were asked: What memorable digital & innovative experiences could Accor offer to its guests to develop and ensure their loyalty?

“Our students competed in the finals against schools from the Netherlands, Malaysia, and France,” explained Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “They presented a very innovative AI Concierge solution that pleased all judges.”

Alicia Gan, Janice Sham and Casey Vo are fourth and fifth-year BComm Hospitality and Tourism Management students at the Ted Rogers School.

“Our journey throughout this challenge has been nothing short of inspiring, and we are incredibly excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. This achievement serves as a testament to our team's expertise, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Sham wrote on LinkedIn (external link) .

The winning team wins a trip to Paris to work on their concept (external link) of using artificial intelligence to enhance guest experiences with the global team at Accor headquarters.

The Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University is the oldest hospitality management school in Canada. It was created over 75 years ago and continues to be the leading school in the country.