I. Metshin: “Kazan will be the most hospitable city by our joint efforts”

(KZN.RU, April 16, Alina Berezhnaya). Today, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, awarded the winners of the contest of professional skills among employees of the hospitality, restaurant and hotel industry “Stars of Hospitality”. The award ceremony took place in the column hall of the Kazan City Hall.

For the fourth time, Kazan chose the best waiters, cooks, maids and other professionals in the restaurant, tourist and hotel industry. Every year the number of participants in the competition is growing. This year 130 people competed for the title of the best in 9 nominations. The participants of the professional skill contest showed not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills. From 12 to 14 of March, 39 representatives of the best hotels, restaurants, travel companies of the city, as well as specialists from specialized universities evaluated how waiters fold napkins, communicate with guests, managers of domestic and inbound tourism make up a tourist program, porters solve conflict situations with guests and the bartenders make the original cocktails.

Ilsur Metshin noted that the tourist attractiveness of Kazan depends on the experience and professionalism of tourism and hospitality workers. “You reveal the potential of the city. Every year, your skill grows, which allows us to occupy leading positions in prestigious ratings”, said the Mayor. According to him, this year Kazan will once again have to show its friendliness at the 45th World WorldSkills Championship. “With specialists such as you, we will hold this event decently. By our joint efforts, Kazan will be the most hospitable city”, concluded the Mayor of Kazan.

Ilsur Metshin awarded the winners of the competition diplomas and statuettes in the form of stars. The best in their nominations were Anna Apresyan, a cook of the Department of Food and Social Catering, Elvira Vakhitova, a waitress at the Riviera Hotel, Daniil Latipov, a bartender in the Riviera Hotel, Ruslan Kamalov, a manager of the restaurant “Mili”, Aigul Salakhova, a maid in the Mirage Hotel, Sofia Fedorova, a tour operator guide of the OOO “Alena”. Luisa Kamalova, a production manager of Megapolis Cafe, became the best chef. Ekaterina Pastushkova, the hotel receptionist of the Ramada Kazan Hotel, and Airat Nurkhamatov, a manager of the travel agency “Mysteries of Kazan”, were among the winners. Partners and expert jury of the competition also received the awards.

For some participants, winning the competition has become an impulse for further growth. For example, bartender Daniil Latypov is sure that he found his calling in the restaurant service. “I did not expect to win. I am just 19 years old, and I have been a bartender for two years. For me, this victory is very valuable. Now I want to develop more, strive for even greater victories and do everything so that Kazan won the status of the most hospitable city”, said D. Latypov.

Evgeniya Lodvigova, the first deputy head of the Kazan Municipality, Daria Sannikova, the director of the Tourism Promotion Committee of Kazan, Ildar Shakirov, the deputy head of the Kazan Executive Committee, and heads of district administrations of the city also took part in the awarding ceremony.