COCA-COLA HBC CROATIA PRESENTED THE LATEST TRENDS IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

On Monday, 24 May 2021, Coca-Cola HBC Croatia hosted the 5^th consecutive HoReCa conference gathering more than 200 restaurant, hotel and bar owners from Croatia and the region. At the conference, the local and international professionals presented the global and regional trends in hospitality, gastronomy and tourism, and briefly discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business activities in the sector.

Remy Savage, Creative Director of Le Syndicate and Le Commune in Paris and owner of a conceptual bar, described the process of opening a bar in London in the current situation and pointed out that a unique concept and thinking outside the box can contribute immensely to the success of hospitality entities. Ivana Bekavac, Head Chef and owner of the Kut510 restaurant in Zagreb explained to the participants of the Raise the Bar conference how she managed to successfully overcome the challenges of starting and running a successful restaurant at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the conference, the second and third generation of the Raise the Bar Academy were presented with Certificates of Participation in an educational program developed with the aim of improving the quality of knowledge of hospitality and tourism workers. During the two months of theoretical classes at the Coca-Cola Training Centre and a one-month practical training in restaurants and bars across Croatia, the participants acquired the relevant knowledge and skills, and mastered the modern techniques in line with the latest trends in gastronomy and hospitality.

“Waiters, baristas and bartenders are still among the most sought-after professions in Croatia and the shortage of qualified workforce presents a real challenge in the hospitality and tourism sector. We are proud that the Raise the Bar project is part of the solution to this long-lasting problem, and that over the past three years Coca-Cola HBC Croatia has helped provide professional development training and education to 26 waiters, bartenders and baristas who will contribute to a better future for the Croatian hospitality industry. In cooperation with the Budi Foodie foundation, two years ago we awarded three scholarships for education at prestigious academies and I’m proud to announce that this year we will provide support for professional development of young talents in gastronomy at the world’s best culinary schools through our own Raise the Bar Foundation,” said Filip Verbanac, Director of the Premium Spirits, Coffee and HoReCa Department and Raise the Bar Project Manager.

Ruža Tomić Fontana, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC for Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia, briefly commented on the current situation in the market and gave a brief overview of the latest consumer trends, pointing out that:

“Besides soft beverages, coffee and premium spirits, Coca-Cola HBC Croatia ensures its HoReCa customers in Croatia and the region continuous support in business development as well. I am therefore pleased to announce that we have endorsed the first issue of Setting the Table, a book by Danny Meyer which the hospitality workers around the globe call the Hospitality Industry Bible. Today, when we are facing the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has primarily affected the hospitality community, it is important to find and recognise successful examples and direct our knowledge and experience towards the recovery and development of hospitality, gastronomy and tourism in Croatia and the region.”

Raise the Bar is a strategic platform launched by Coca-Cola HBC Croatia with the aim of raising the quality of education of hospitality and tourism workers, which aim has been actively pursued since 2019. The platform includes an academy program for waiters, baristas and bartenders, a scholarship program for chefs, pastry makers and waiting staff, and collaboration with regional centres of competence. As such, the Raise the Bar platform ensures that the knowledge and skills of hospitality and tourism workers are aligned with the needs of employers.

Find out more about the conference and the project on raisethebar.hr.