Eight event coordinator and receptionist trainees from Comwell have been on a joint trainee trip to gain fresh inspiration for their day-to-day work and build strong relationships across the hotels.
Most recently, eight event coordinator and receptionist trainees came together for a two-day trip to Zealand, where the programme was packed with valuable professional input, inspiration and team-building activities.
“It’s been two days where we’ve been challenged professionally, gained new inspiration and had a really good time together. It’s precisely that combination that makes the trainee trip something special,” says event coordinator trainee Emma Marie Ansager Lynghøjen from Comwell Holte.
According to Jane Mayes Harkes, HR consultant at Comwell, who organised the latest trainee trip in collaboration with Dorthe Friis – head of reception at Comwell Kellers Park and training manager for receptionist trainees across the Comwell Group – the trainee trips are about much more than simply getting out of the office;
“When we bring trainees from different hotels and professional groups together, we create a space where they can learn from one another, exchange experiences and build relationships that they can draw on in their training and work here at Comwell. So the trainee trips help to foster both professional and personal growth,” explains Jane Mayes Harkes.
The trip began in Roskilde with a visit to the Liljeborg Julemærkehjem. Here, the students were given a guided tour and an insight into the foundation’s work. Comwell collaborates with the Julemærkehjem, and will, amongst other things, be hosting a charity dinner at Comwell Middelfart later this year.
“The Julemærkehjem clearly made one of the biggest impressions on me. It was both fascinating and moving to hear about their work and the difference a stay there can make to the children. I’m proud to work for a company that supports precisely this sort of organisation,” says Emma Marie Ansager Lynghøjen.
After a lunch break in Roskilde’s creative district, Musicon, the students were given a guided tour focusing on modern urban development and innovative architecture.
The first day was rounded off with a visit and a tour of The Rox Hotel in Køge, where the students had the opportunity to see how others in the industry work with the setting and the guest experience.
“From a purely professional point of view, there are many things I’m taking away with me. I also thought it was great to discuss things with the other trainees regarding our respective workplaces, and I’ve learnt that even though we’re part of the same chain, we do things very differently in some respects,” says receptionist trainee Alexander Rogild from Comwell Kolding.
The second day of the student trip began with a talk by Camilla Schram, founder of HUMDAKIN, a company that produces personal care and cleaning products. The company is also a supplier to Comwell. She spoke about her personal journey as an entrepreneur and the process of building a business.
The group then travelled to Comwell Køge Strand for a guided tour and an exchange of experiences, before the student trip was rounded off in an active way with a group canoe trip on the Køge Å.
For the students, the trip has not only provided new experiences and professional knowledge to apply in their day-to-day work at the reception and in the meetings department – the social benefits have been just as significant.
“I love going on trips where you meet new people and chat with all sorts of people. I think it’s absolutely brilliant that Comwell organises trips like this for us students, because it really makes a difference to be able to have a chat with other students and hear how they, too, are finding the course and their workplace,” says Alexander Rogild.
He is backed up by Emma Marie Ansager Lynghøjen:
“When you experience things together, eat together, go canoeing and have time to chat with everyone, the bonds automatically grow stronger. It gives you a real sense of being part of a student community, and that sense of community is one of the things I love most about Comwell.
In fact, several of us would have liked to have had one more day.”
About Comwell Hotels
Comwell is a Danish family-owned, nationwide hotel chain with hotels throughout Denmark, as well as ODEON in Odense and Centralværkstedet in Aarhus. For over 55 years, Comwell has been operating meeting and conference hotels and has won numerous awards over the years for its meeting, service and dining concepts.
Comwell was the first to introduce Danes to the modern meeting package back in 1969. Today, this remains Comwell’s core business. Comwell also caters for training and course programmes, workshops, job interviews, board meetings, exhibitions and events, and has over 2,500 rooms and 320 meeting and conference rooms at its disposal.
See, taste, experience, learn, understand – and network. That is the essence of Comwell Hotels’ trainee trips, when trainees visit some of the suppliers. The aim is to help trainees understand the ingredients and instil in them a respect for the journey the products take from farm to table.
A year ago, Comwell launched a new professional training programme: the Comwell Talent Academy. This in-house training programme is aimed at generalists across the hotel chain and is run in collaboration with an external trainer from IBC. The first cohort of participants has now received their certificates confirming that they have successfully completed the programme.
The message that Comwell is keen to include more green dishes on its menu was certainly emphasised at Madens Folkemøde, and with plenty of visitors, tastings, lively discussions, debates and workshops, Comwell’s participation in the event was a great success.
