Last updated 11:46, Friday, 05 December 2008

FOREIGN language students are using their expertise to help attract overseas guests to South Lakes hotels.

VISITOR GUIDES: UVHS foreign language students pictured during their trip to various South Lakes hotels SUBMITTED PICTURE

Sixty year 10 modern languages students from Ulverston Victoria High School have been set the task of creating an online French or German visitor guide for four hotels, in Grange and Kendal.

Hotel bosses believe a page on their websites aimed at European tourists will help them reach the foreign market and provide a vital boost during the credit crunch.

Thirty pupils studying German visited the Grange Hotel and the Netherwood Hotel, both in Grange, last week to research their facilities, prices, menus and special characteristics.

On the same day, 30 pupils studying French went to Kendal’s Riverside Hotel and Stonecross Manor Hotel.

The students, who are working in twos, will present their ideas to staff from the four hotels in January.

The best pair will have their guide uploaded on to the internet to be seen by potential guests all over the world.

Denise Brown, UVHS modern languages subject leader, who organised the project as part of National Enterprise Week, said: “The pupils are learning a bit about hotel management, developing their language skills and developing their enterprise and marketing skills.

“They had to decide which kind of guests would visit and whether it would be for leisure or business.

“One of the hotels said that with the recession and the poor exchange rate at the moment, it’s attractive for them to attract foreign visitors. They said it was a pleasure to have our students and they’re looking forward to seeing their work.

“The incentive for all this hard work, which will mainly take place outside lesson time, is a free meal for the winning pair and their parents, and of course the satisfaction of knowing that their work is attracting foreign visitors to this area.”