Passion 4 Hospitality debate is about Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

At this year’s Institute of Hospitality‘s student event the Passion 4 Hospitality debate is about Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. There were five universities competing to debate this in front of a live audience and I was on the judging panel together with Howard Field FIH and Robert Richardson FIH.

The teams that entered were from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Surrey, University College Birmingham, University of East London and University of Central Lancashire. Each team was made up of three students and they had to prepare arguments both For and Against the motion: ‘This house believes that Artificial Intelligence and Robotics are a serious threat to the Hospitality Industry’.

Each team took it in turns to argue their points either For or Against the motion to us in a closed door session and were marked on the relevant quality and content of their argument put forward, robustness of evidence and research, and their debating and communication skills.

Having heard from all five teams, as judges we deliberated and decided on the two teams that would go through to the final to debate in front of a live audience full of their peers and potential employers. The two teams that went through were Hong Kong Polytechnic University and University College Birmingham. The teams were not told if they would be debating For or Against the motion during the final until it was announced that they had made it through to the final.

University College Birmingham had to debate For the motion and Hong Kong Polytechnic University were debating Against the motion during the final. Both teams brought up valid points backed up with research and after hearing from their proposer and seconder, they were asked questions from the audience. They then had to give a summary of their points and the audience then voted on who they believed gave the most convincing argument.

The winners for the 2019 Passion 4 Hospitality debate are Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

What is Passion 4 Hospitality?

Passion 4 Hospitality started as a debating competition seven years ago and it has grown from strength to strength. It is now an annual event that is free for hospitality students to attend and also incorporates a career fair, with guest speakers, speed networking with employers and the HOTS hotel simulation competition. Find out how previous winners of the Passion 4 Hospitality debating competition have progressed in their careers.