Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia –
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How to turn a trout farm into a gastronomic theater? Why should a hotel guest earn "wings"? And what is an AI assistant for in a hotel? The answers to these questions are in the projects of RUDN students, which they developed during the summer school "Together V Sochi".
Since July 14, online, and since July 21 — on the territory of Krasnaya Polyana — participants of the laboratory of tourism of the future have been gushing with ideas. The summer school was organized by RUDN and Sochi State University with expert support from Mantera Group (a leading operator of premium hospitality). In total, 40 talented students from Russia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Zambia, Nepal, Syria, Suriname and Turkmenistan gathered here.
Mantera Group provided students with relevant cases on modernization of their resorts. Students, united in several teams, worked on three areas:
hotel business and eco-design (implementation of AI and “green” solutions in hotels); organic cuisine and restaurant business (creation of concepts at the intersection of tradition and innovation); tourism of the future (design of unique “ecosystems of experiences”).
Trout Ice Cream
One of the projects that impressed the experts was an immersive gastro show for the restaurant Trout Gallery by Mantera, whose dishes will be made from products of a local trout farm. The team of guys came up with a new format for the establishment, having conducted a study of the territory where the restaurant is planned to be opened, and its closest competitors.
"We came up with the idea of making a crystal cube inside the premises, which would represent the transparency and uniqueness of nature, as well as the naturalness and freshness of the establishment's products. Inside this object, we proposed placing a black cube, which would become a space for an immersive show based on artificial intelligence. The first show we developed is called "The Birth of Trout" and will tell the story from the egg to the big fish. Our project combines creativity, environmental friendliness and an educational component, which makes it unique and attractive to visitors," – Nikola Balev, Bachelor of the Higher School of Management of RUDN (Tourism, 4th year).
According to the team's idea, the establishment's guests will be able to see the history of each ingredient in the dishes, the process of their preparation, and the cultural traditions associated with it using AR technologies. The team included bright and interesting items in the menu. For example, trout ice cream with freeze-dried strawberries. It has a delicate texture and a light salty taste that goes well with the sweetness of the berries.
"Our show's menu also includes a smoked trout dish with sour cream and herb sauce. Smoking fish is an ancient tradition used in many cultures to preserve the product and give it a unique taste. We will tell the show's viewers how trout smoking has been practiced for centuries and how this process can vary depending on the region and the ingredients used. Each dish will be accompanied by interesting stories about its ingredients. For example, we will tell you how our herbs are hand-picked in the surrounding mountains and how they affect the taste of the fish. Viewers will also be able to learn about the importance of using environmentally friendly products and how this affects health and the quality of food," Kirill Kovalev, Bachelor of the Higher School of Management at RUDN University (Hotel Business, 1st year).
"Golden Ring" Mantera
The next team of students developed a gamified loyalty system for guests of Mantera Group resorts. Based on the preferences and previous experiences of users, the Mantera Wings app can build personalized itineraries for trips and holidays.
"In our project to develop an innovative loyalty system, we sought to unite all Mantera Group facilities that are scattered across different regions (Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana, Arkhyz, Crimea). The goal was to create a kind of "golden ring" for Mantera Group, so that tourists could regularly visit different company facilities, each time choosing a new place. We also included a function for collecting and exchanging points in the application, it was developed taking into account the diversity of facilities. At each of them, points are formed according to a different system, which makes the process more interesting and individual for users. For visiting certain locations, excursions, participating in activities, you can earn "wings" to then exchange them for privileges and bonuses. We are confident that the proposed loyalty system will help increase the flow of visitors and create strong ties between Mantera Group facilities," – Daniil Silin, a master's student at the Higher School of Management of RUDN University (Tourism, 1st year).
According to the student, the company representatives highly appreciated the concept developed by his team, and there is a chance that it will become the basis for the future loyalty system of Mantera Group.
AI assistant at your service
The third team of students presented Mantera Group with a smart hotel tablet with an AI assistant that analyzes the behavior and emotions of guests in real time to provide personalized recommendations and additional services. The service takes into account the booking history and previous requests of visitors.
"For example, if a guest prefers active recreation, the assistant can offer options for excursion programs, sports events. If he is interested in gastronomy, the AI assistant will recommend restaurants based on his taste preferences and even help him make a preliminary order. In addition, the assistant can provide information about cultural events in the hotel city, weather, local attractions, offer special promotions or hotel events. Such a personalized approach makes guests' stay more comfortable and memorable, which, in turn, helps to increase the level of satisfaction and loyalty from customers. During testing the service, we received valuable recommendations and ideas for further improving the functionality of the AI assistant, which will make it even more useful for guests and hotel employees," – Arevik Sargsyan, Bachelor of the Higher School of Management at RUDN University (Tourism, 3rd year).
More than just studying
In addition to project work, the summer school in Sochi was memorable for the students for its deep immersion in the tourism industry. Thus, the guys visited one of the Mantera Group hotels, where the operations director told them about the pre-opening system, that is, about the process of opening a new hotel. In addition, the students attended master classes by leading industry experts, such as Dmitry Batalov (Director of the Mantera Academy), Lev Shagarov (Director of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Krasnaya Polyana Resort) and Tovmas Darbinyan (Manager of the Rixos Krasnaya Polyana Hotel). The professionals told the students about modern approaches to creating integrated resorts, implementing premium service standards, developing resort infrastructure and organizing themed entertainment spaces.
"At informal meetings with school participants, we discussed current trends in our industry: sustainable tourism, the use of technology to improve customer experience, the importance of a personalized approach to each guest. These discussions helped us better understand how to adapt to changes in the industry and offer new ideas for our projects. Overall, the summer school was rich and diverse, leaving behind a lot of positive emotions and useful knowledge," — Sofya Kargapolova, Bachelor of the Higher School of Management at RUDN University (Tourism major, 4th year).
Photo by: Dmitry Goryachkin
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