A coffee and the secret of your success, please

A team of researchers from four United Kingdom universities has landed the plum job of eating, drinking and sleeping for their country in a bid to learn the secrets of the worldwide hospitality trade. Britain's hospitality sector is worth Pounds 50 billion and is one of the country's largest employers. The team from the universities of Strathclyde, Bournemouth, Oxford and Surrey will trot the globe assessing international standards of food, drink and accommodation.

On behalf of the Joint Hospitality Industry Congress, they will also seek examples of progressive employment practice, legislation and partnerships between industry and education. The research will focus on the United States, Ireland, Germany, Spain and Singapore.