THE Holiday Inn was taken over by 30 students this week, as part of a programme designed to encourage more youngsters into the hospitality industry.

Teenagers from Bournville College and South and City College in Birmingham spent three days in charge of checking in guests at reception, serving food and drinks, housekeeping and room service, under the InterContinental Hotel Group's National Hotel Takeover project.

Chris Dutton, general manager of the Kidderminster Road hotel, said: "We’re really delighted to be participating in the hotel takeover.

"This is the 18th year this initiative has been running and it’s proven to be a hugely successful recruitment tool.

"Some of our best team members, even a former General Manager, participated in the takeover as students and we look forward to giving the class of 2018 valuable on the job training and experience.”

Shadowed by Holiday Inn staff, students looked after more than 250 conference delegates, and held their own full-day conference on Thursday, March 1.

Kate Keating, head of school for hospitality and catering at South and City College, said: "We are delighted that our students have taken part in this educational partnership with InterContinental Hotel Group.

"We have seen our students benefit from the experience and been able to apply their classroom theory to real practice.

"The hotel has provided the students to further develop and grown their confidence.”