HCIMA: Coming Together Of Hospitality Professionals

EH&C Staff - Mumbai

One of the key events of HospitalityWorld 2005 is going to be the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) seminar, which is being hosted in India for the first time for Indian hospitality professionals. Moreover, the seminar is also the first time that both the HCIMA India Chapter and HCIMA Sri Lanka International Group have come together to host along with Express Hotelier & Caterer an event of such magnitude. HCIMA has already made its mark in other parts of the world. The present initiative is an indication of the growing recognition of HCIMA as a body for hospitality professionals in the Indian subcontinent.

Since its inception in 1971, HCIMA has today become a body whose membership spans the entire hospitality industry. The association reflects on issues, views and needs across sectors which include hotels, contract catering companies, restaurants, pubs and clubs, as well as leisure outlets, theme parks and sports venues. It has 17 international groups at present.

According to its mission statement, 'The Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) promotes the highest professional standards of management and education in the international hospitality industry.'

The objectives of HCIMA are:

• For every practising manager in the hospitality industry to be a member of the association
• To win greater recognition for managers throughout the hospitality industry, to represent their views and lobby on their behalf
• To help members develop and maintain their knowledge, skills and ability
• To provide an interface between education and industry
• To set recognised educational standards and assist in the mobility and recruitment of labour
• To enhance members' career prospects

HCIMA Accreditation

The HCIMA has a role as an international professional body 'to set recognised educational standards'. This is achieved through the accreditation and recognition of programmes delivered by educational establishments or by industry employers and training providers.

HCIMA accreditation and registration confers on the organisation or companies the international recognition of a quality standard in respect of programmes that are relevant to the needs of the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries.

This recognition provides a 'kitemark' to demonstrate that the programme(s) accredited meet recognised levels and standards of professional knowledge, skills and understanding.

Accreditation of programmes and the registration of providers are quality assurance processes that protect the standing of HCIMA and the high quality reputations of the organisations. It provides both assurance and confidence that HCIMA accredited programmes are:

• Appropriate for professional career development within hospitality, leisure and tourism.
• Meet international benchmarks for hospitality, leisure and tourism programmes.
• Meet the core components identified in the HCIMA Corpus of Management Excellence.
• Provide continuing professional development requirements towards HCIMA grades of membership.

HCIMA has accredited programmes in numerous countries including Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. In order to facilitate the achievement of its corporate aims and objectives the HCIMA operates an accreditation system for company training programmes which helps to promote recognised quality standards, assists in the mobility of labour and facilitates global recruitment.

Company training courses which receive HCIMA accreditation are considered to be relevant training for the HCIMA Continuing Professional Development scheme and are recognised as contributing towards progression for enhanced grades of membership (based on the content and duration of the course).

HCIMA Business Affiliates

The HCIMA Business Affiliate scheme was launched in 1991 with four basic objectives:

• To provide a mechanism for communication between the professional body and companies who supply goods and services to the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries
• To create a more effective consultation process with suppliers regarding important industry issues
• To provide business with a valuable but controlled means of access to HCIMA members who have considerable purchasing power, and other supplier companies
• To raise additional revenue with which the HCIMA can broaden and improve its range of services and activities for the benefit of the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.