The Caterer Blog

It's kicked off again. The suits at McDonalds - lets call them the McSuits - are up in arms, and quite frankly who can blame them? They say that it's time to show them and their employees (a fine bunch of grafters) a bit of McRespect.

Their beef is with the dictionary definition of "McJob" which first caused Ronald to choke on his Big Mac back in 2001, and which they say today is outdated and inaccurate. In short, they want it changed, and are planning a public petition to that end.

The problem with hotels, you’d have to agree, is that they don’t tend to move about (bar the occasional tremor).

By extension the problem with being a hotel concierge is that although the guests change those four walls around you do not.

Although more practical types would suggest an internal move or a change of hotel employer, I say let us not limit ourselves with such humdrum and earthly concerns and instead turn to Air New Zealand for inspiration.

Yes the airline is introducing in-flight concierges, in a move it describes as a first in aviation. Either way, it could be the perfect way to practice your art and see some of the world.

In-flight concierges will be dedicated to “making every customer journey special – before, during and after flight”, although I’ve no doubt it’s all legal and above board.

Air New Zealand will have 90 concierges, with 22 based in London and they will be a combination of travel advisers, disrupt managers (!), loyalty experts and destinational experts – according to the blurb.

Those interested in changing their scenery should fill out the online application form no later than 27 February.

Compass Group lands BA Terminal 5 contract>>

Tax breaks for budget airlines "damaging" UK tourism>>

Springboard's annual Slingsby Cup takes place on Friday 19th September at Westminster Kingsway College and if anyone fancies pushing their work colleagues around London in a shopping trolley now is your chance.

The fund-raiser for the charitable trust, which works with young people, the unemployed and the disadvantaged in the hospitality industry,  will be awarding prizes for the most originally dressed trolley and the most creatively dressed trolley pushers.

The parade (it's not a race remember) takes place in Vincent Square, outside the Westminster Kingsway College.

To register, in teams of four, click here.

Leading hospitality institution Thames Valley University received some great exposure on the BBC last night when Sir Alan Sugar's Apprentice put its remaining candidates through a full day of tortuous interviews in order to weed out the men from the boys.

But TVU unexpectedly got thrown into the limelight when it became clear during one of the candidate's discussions that he had been fibbing about an HCIMA course on his CV.

Asked how long he had spent at the university, recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen, who was one of four others in the running for Sir Alan's six-figure-salary job, claimed he had spent two years at Slough but had not completed the course.

But it turns out, following some research by the interviewer, that McQueen spent only four months studying for his hospitality-based qualification. How someone who specialises in recruitment thinks this is acceptable is beyond me. What percentage of people lie on their CVs?

Although Sir Alan was shocked to hear about this blatant lying, McQueen remains as one of four candidates now that colour-me-beautiful Lucinda has been fired. 

It must have been McQueen's unusual impersonations of a pterodactyl that saved it for him. Now that's what I'm talking about.