The signatories of the Memorandum agreed to develop cooperation and mutual enrichment in the field of secondary vocational education in gastronomy and tourism, and to promote closer cooperation between Hotel Lomnica**** in Tatranská Lomnica and the Secondary Vocational Hotel School in Horní Smokovec, and thus to participate in raising the level of services provided in tourism in the High Tatras region.

"We are glad that the students have chosen the prestigious Tatra Hotel Lomnica **** for their practice, where they can translate their knowledge and connect it with practice to be an important carrier of the message in the field of development, education and training of pupils. Our dual education students are directly involved in the work process and we are delighted that they will be part of our team. We want to educate the next generation of knowledgeable professionals, develop their potential in gastronomy, promote natural talent and help the tourism industry in this way too. We are sincerely happy that these ambitious students are not afraid of challenges and are willing and eager to work hard. We believe that the lucrative environment under the Lomnický štít and, of course, fair working conditions will help," said the chairwoman of the board of Mores Resort, a.s. Zuzana Semanová.

"Students can find their role models and inspiring examples that if they work well, look up to the best in their field and learn from them, success is guaranteed. Peer communication, interaction and learning new things are the foundation for our students to be as prepared as possible for their profession and to become fully contributing members of our team. We are already able to offer them state-of-the-art technical equipment and attractive benefits: benefit and company scholarships, rewards for productive work, free meals, reimbursement of travel expenses for transportation as well as protective working conditions and a certificate of completion of dual training. The added value of this apprenticeship with us is the opportunity to grow professionally in the midst of a family of diverse brands and to get acquainted with professions such as sommelier, winery production technologist, brewery brewer, event manager, etc. By having a broad business plan also in the agronomic sector, students have the opportunity to have an exclusive experience of working in a winery or a brewery. Such interesting opportunities to combine product production in conjunction with services in one place are not very common in dual education in the private sector," adds Peter Mudrý, director of Hotel Lomnica****.

As Mudrý further said, dual education provides benefits and students are not only dependent on acquiring theoretical knowledge, but real skill picking thanks to certified instructors and chefs with extensive foreign knowledge. "As an employer, we provide top facilities to students and we also feel that the tourism industry needs to nurture and support the development of key professions such as chefs and pastry chefs. We can further develop their knowledge and professional skills through information workshops, conferences and professional meetings," concluded Mudrý.

Dualist Viktória Orolínová from the Secondary Vocational Hotel School in Horný Smokovec sees the dual system as an opportunity for self-realization in an exclusive environment. "The dual as such opens the door to the kitchen of interpersonal relations and at the same time the possibility to look into the complex functioning of the hotel industry. One positive aspect of the project is that the employer financially relieves the parents of the burden of studying. Of course, I can also meet interesting people and participate in the creative processes of unique tasting menus or pastry creations, as well as presentations, workshops or conferences, as was the case a few days ago in Hniezdno at the sectoral conference Seasonality - Localism - Sustainability in Gastronomy. At the same time, I feel that it will help me to cope better with the final exam and just the connection with the work experience with the employer will give me valuable experience that I do not have the opportunity to gain in the normal school process. I think that the basis of good interpersonal relations is open communication and I am convinced that if I learn to communicate and react properly to less pleasant situations, which I can handle appropriately and which also belong to my work, it will help me a lot in my personal development and maybe even in my private life. Thanks to the work experience with an employer, dual education definitely gives me an edge over other peers without work experience."

In the Prešov Self-Governing Region, in five years they have gone from 84 pupils in dual education to 1 300 students. "From the position of the Department of Education, we welcome these activities and we actively participated in the creation of the memorandum. Our ambition is not to just stay with it because it is just an act that starts a practical reality. We want the graduates of secondary vocational schools to be employable in all hotels in the Tatras. For us, this is the beginning of a more active cooperation within the High Tatras. Such a memorandum of cooperation with Hotel Lomnica is a kind of first swallow and I believe that this cooperation will be very beneficial," concluded Ján Furman, Head of the Department of Education of the PSK.

Although the coronavirus pandemic and the turbulent situation in Europe have contributed significantly to the overall instability, the departure of employees from the services as well as the weaker interest of students in the gastronomy professions, the representatives of Hotel Lomnica**** believe that with motivating conditions, professionals from practice, the support of the school and the Prešov Self-Governing Region as well as responsible candidates in the dual education project, they will return the tourism industry to its proper attention and importance.