Every year this conference bears its hallmark of friendship, cordiality and open exchanges. And this year, 2002, more so than ever, because not long before, the unspeakble had happened : the 11th September terrorist attacks in the USA. In some way, these attacks had made participants’ European spirit yet stronger than usual.
This 14th version of the conference will also go down in the annals as the one which came before the introduction of the euro. The euro will beyond any doubt be another unifying factor, because, whatever one says, for an association like the AEHT, with its European calling, the euro will make many things simpler in the future.
But Linz and the warmth of the Austrian welcome will also be an enduring memory, thanks to Adolf Steindl’s team, bringing together the Austrian Hotel Schools in the first instance, and an especially efficient ‘hard core’ always there, smilingly solving the thousand and one little problems that inevitably arise during such an event.
The programme put together by the organisers seemed to have just one minor drawback : supply outstripped demand in certain parts of what was on offer, and it was a shame about all the effort that had gone into the plans to offer the participants as many opportunities as possible to discover the delights of Linz in particular, and of Austria in general.
But what we will all remember about this 14th Annual Conference is the wide range of excellent contacts made during these few days spent away from the constraints of often overloaded school timetables. The general opinion was that Linz had fully lived up to its promises with that panache, professionalism and charm that only the Austrians can give us.
The Sommerhaus, student hall of residence, which becomes a hotel during the vacations.
There is always the same throng as delegates arrive.
The broad smiles of the AEHT reception team enabled many little problems to be solved.
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