IFITTtalk @Opatija took place on 7 October 2023 at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management (University of Rijeka) as a special event within the Wave 4 Tourism student conference in Opatija. Six teams presented their final solutions, i.e. ideas for using new and unique technologies in the hospitality industry to improve internal and external communication, make the guest experience more pleasant or increase employee productivity. The students’ written work and the presentation of the final solution were assessed. The evaluation considered the originality and relevance of the idea as well as the feasibility and clarity of the implementation plan.
Third place with the same score went to the team from the University of Novo mesto (Slovenia), consisting of Urška Longar, Lea Juršič and Urška Ambrožič, and the University Mahasarakram (Thailand), consisting of Natthida Inthawong, Kittiphat Thiamchai and Julalak Chaiyaphet. Second place went to the team from the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Tourism at the University of Primorska (Slovenia), consisting of Katja Kosem, Katarina Tomović and Milena Ninković, while first place went to the team from the University of Singidunum (Serbia), consisting of Emilija Ljubinković, Mateja Krstić, Dejana Vasiljević.
All participants received a certificate of participation, while the first three places received a certificate indicating the place achieved and a prize sponsored by Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa.
After the presentations of the final solutions, there was an interesting panel discussion moderated by Jelena Dorčić with the following panellists: Nataša Kovačić Stilinović, Human Resources Manager of Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, Barbora Hroššová, Rooms Division Manager of Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, Miha Bratec, senior lecturer and researcher at the University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, Adriano Požarić, editor of Turizam info magazine and marketing specialist and Jelena Mušanović, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management. The panellists shared their views on the technological trends that will shape the future of the hotel industry.
