On May 21, 2025, the School of Hospitality and Tourism at Almaty Management University (AlmaU) successfully hosted the IX Student Olympiad “24/7”, bringing together the most active, creative, and driven students from the educational programs “Restaurant and Hotel Management” and “Tourism”.
This year’s Olympiad focused on a highly relevant and strategic theme: “The Future of Tourism and Hospitality: Digital Technologies and Sustainable Development.” Participants were tasked not only with demonstrating theoretical knowledge of the industry but also with proposing innovative concepts capable of transforming the sector amid rapid technological progress and the increasing importance of environmental and social responsibility.
Each team presented a unique project that combined creativity, analytical thinking, a professional approach, and practice-oriented ideas aimed at enhancing the customer experience, integrating digital services, promoting sustainable tourism models, and improving service quality.
Eight teams from leading universities across Kazakhstan took part in the Olympiad, confirming the growing interest of students in practical learning formats and the development of competencies in demand in the modern hospitality and tourism industry:
- Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages (Almaty) — Team Warmix
- Almaty Technological University (Almaty) — Teams HospiVerse and ATU Travel
- L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana) — Team NOMADIKA
- M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University (Shymkent) — Teams LocalSoul and BlockPortal
- Eurasian Technological University (Almaty) — Team ETU SMART
- Almaty Management University (AlmaU) — Team SmartStaf
Each team demonstrated a deep understanding of current trends in the industry, a high level of preparation, and excellent teamwork.
The jury unanimously acknowledged the Olympiad’s success and noted:
- The high level of participant preparation;
- The relevance and professional depth of the projects presented;
- The originality in solving real-world industry challenges;
- The students’ ability to think systemically, sustainably, and embrace digital transformation.
Recommendations included:
- Expanding the number of categories and topics, covering various aspects of hospitality and tourism;
- Encouraging inter-university collaboration and knowledge sharing between teams and faculty members.
The organizing committee expressed sincere gratitude to the faculty of the School of Hospitality and Tourism, academic advisors, and event organizers for their contributions to the high-level execution of the event, which became a memorable highlight in the academic life of students.
1st Place — SmartStaf, Almaty Management University (Almaty)
The team presented a highly innovative and well-developed project featuring a virtual hotel concept integrating AI, ESG standards, and personalized guest experiences.
2nd Place — NOMADIKA, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana)
The team proposed a creative concept for the development of sustainable tourism in Kazakhstan’s regions, focusing on cultural authenticity and digital navigation.
3rd Place (shared by two teams):
- BlockPortal, M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University (Shymkent)
- ATU Travel, Almaty Technological University (Almaty)
Both teams presented strong solutions in digital visualization of tourism products and adapting hotel services to the needs of the new generation of customers.
The IX Olympiad “24/7” once again proved that Kazakhstan’s youth possess tremendous potential, a passion for growth, and a readiness to transform the hospitality and tourism industry for the better.
We are proud of each participant and look forward to future educational and professional events!