A team featuring UCS students has been shortlisted for the finals of the Institute of Hospitality Business Game Competition 2014, following successful completion of the first online phase.

The first stage of the competition was an online challenge which tasked teams to use HOTS (Hotel, Operations, Tactics and Strategy) business simulation to successfully manage a 125-bedroom virtual hotel, focussing specifically on teams making successful business decisions across 11 key management areas, including human resources, finance and marketing.

The shortlisted teams will now participate in the live final of the Business Game Competition, which takes place at University College Birmingham on Monday March 17, competing for the honour of being crowned Best Hotelier 2014.

The UCS team, led by management lecturer Stephen Sawyers, includes five students on Business and Event Management degrees; Thomas James, Tuba Simsek, Hannah Palfrey, Margaux Deygat, and Perrie Collier.

Lecturer Stephen Sawyers said: “It is very exciting. The finalists included some high-powered competitors from places like Leeds and Manchester.

“We have been told to turn up with two empty lap-tops, and no internet acccess, ready for the finals.

“There are two events on the day, a public speaking competition and this one.

“We have a very interesting group of final years students and whatever happens, it is fantastic to have this on their CV when they later go for jobs or interviews.”