Early days for bistro move

BY PRIYANKA BHONSULE - HUTT NEWS

Talk that WelTec's high-profile hospitality programme and Bistro 107 might move to the training institute's Wellington's campus have been dismissed as premature by the executive dean, Julia Hennessey.

"Yes, we know we'll be establishing a hospitality school in Wellington ... [but] at the moment we're working through the issues [like] whether it's stand-alone or part of Wellington [CBD campus]."

Ms Hennessey says this process is part of their two-year plan and no students will be affected just yet as it'll be done in phases.

"We're still in early stages of identification of a site [in Wellington] and what would be shifted and what stays. There'll be a better idea of progress in a couple of months."

The current CBD campus is on Church St in Wellington. Parts of the hospitality degree, such as the Bachelor of Hospitality Management, Graduate Diploma in Event Management and half of the Diploma in Hospitality Operations Supervision, are delivered at the CBD campus already, with 197 students enrolled this year.

In Petone where certificates in food and beverage, cookery and hotel reception are run, 580 students are enrolled.
Bistro 107 restaurant on Petone campus showcases the training offered in the courses and gives trainees "real world" experience.

Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard said on Friday he'd be "very concerned from a Hutt perspective" if the School of Hospitality's presence in Petone was diluted.