CAREER - WORLDSKILLS LYON 2024, EXCELLENCE WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY (France)
Numerous visitors gathered at Eurexpo Lyon to watch the competition reserved for young professionals under the age of 23, competing in a variety of technical and vocational disciplines. |
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CAREER - WORLDSKILLS LYON 2024, EXCELLENCE WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY (France)
Numerous visitors gathered at Eurexpo Lyon to watch the competition reserved for young professionals under the age of 23, competing in a variety of technical and vocational disciplines. |
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Article written by Romane Le Royer on 2024-09-30
 Team France shone at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, winning a total of 37 medals, including six golds
Photo credit © WorldSkills France
With six categories, representing six trade clusters (technology, construction, art and fashion, service, creative industries and transport/logistics), the competition took place over four days of technical and situational tests.
To take part in these international finals, participants had to compete in regional events, where competitors are judged on their mastery of fundamental skills in their trade. The best from each region are then selected to take part in the national phases, where the competition becomes more intense. At the national level, candidates compete in practical scenarios that simulate real-life situations in their trade.
With a total of 37 awards, Team France shone during the competition, coming third in the medals table, behind China and South Korea. The service trades division stood out, taking three of the six gold medals won by French competitors.
Muriel Majorel, “hotel receptionist” trade expert for the French Team since 2020, reflects on this “Made in France” success for Journal des Palaces: “France's success can be attributed to several factors: firstly, the quality of technical and vocational education in France within our hotel high schools, which focuses on both technical skills and the development of a strong culture of service and quality.” She adds: “The institutional support of the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry has been a major factor in our success. She adds: “Institutional and financial support for these competitions also enables candidates to prepare rigorously. Last but not least, French know-how in service trades such as the hotel industry is recognized worldwide, and this tradition of excellence is reflected in Théo Chiquet's gold medal results.”
Théo Chiquet, a third-year Bachelor's student in hotel administration and management at the Centre de Management Hôtelier, distinguished himself by winning the gold medal in the hotel receptionist event, ahead of his Swiss, Austrian and Indian competitors. For four days, he slipped into the shoes of a receptionist at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle, which he had visited this summer to prepare for the competition. He also benefited from invaluable advice from experts in the concierge sector, such as François Méquinion, head concierge at the Villa Maïa, and Justine Dervieux, concierge at the Shangri-La.
In Lyon, each morning, participants read the instructions and e-mails received (customer requests, opinions, internal requests such as those from RM, HR, marketing, reservations, concierge). They then consulted the “Asterio PMS”, a tool specially designed for the competition, containing all information: arrivals, departures, room occupancy, reservations, customer profiles.
During the day, each member, chosen at random, had to go to the reception desk to manage situations with actors playing customers. They were observed by international experts, with a precise scoring system and microphones to capture all exchanges.
For Théo, this medal “represents the reward for more than a year of effort, sacrifice and hard work on an unknown subject, city and hotel. A hard-working and motivated team, committed professionals and incredible support from everyone. For me, it's the best feeling, knowing that I've been able to showcase the excellence of France, of young people, of the apprenticeship route, against 21 countries, on the international stage.”
The WorldSkills Competition is an opportunity to showcase the skills of young craftsmen and professionals, both in France and internationally, as Théo Chiquet confirms: “Service trades aren't highlighted enough and aren't offered to young people enough, which is why I loved being able to show young people that anything is possible and that service trades are also trades of passion and something to be proud of”.
Muriel Majorel, the “hotel receptionist” trade expert, also pointed out that the competition “raises the profile of manual and technical trades, and promotes non-academic career paths.
This year's competition will have highlighted the importance of digitalization in the hospitality industry on a global scale, and the impact of the customer experience on the performance of hotel establishments”.
For future participants in the WorldSkills competitions, we look forward to seeing you at the national championship in Marseille in autumn 2025, and in Shanghai for the global competition in October 2026.
 Théo Chiquet, 20, won the gold medal in reception service, after four days of intense competition
Photo credit © WorldSkills France
 Situational tests in English to demonstrate technical and interpersonal skills as a hotel receptionist
Photo credit © WorldSkills France
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