It all began at Turku University of Applied Sciences in 2001. At the time, hospitality management education was not yet widely known or highly valued, and new ways were being explored to increase its visibility and recognition. Finnish chef, teacher and entrepreneur Aki Wahlman had won the Chef of the Year competition in 1996 and represented Finland at the international Bocuse d’Or Competition in 1997. Inspired by competitions, Aki came up with an idea at a teachers’ development day: could competitions be used to increase the visibility and recognition of hospitality management education?
The idea quickly gained support, and the planning of the first RESTO competition began. One of the first challenges was designing the competition tasks. Students with a general upper secondary school background hoped for more theory-based tasks, while students with a vocational education background wanted the competition to place more emphasis on practical skills. The challenge was therefore to bring these different types of expertise together in a way that would be fair and engaging for everyone.
Eventually, a common solution was found, and in spring 2002, the first RESTO competition was held in Turku. Four-person student teams from different universities of applied sciences took part, accompanied by their teachers, known as “colleagues” within the RESTO community. The first competition was a one-day event, but based on feedback, it quickly developed into a two-day event featuring not only competition tasks but also a programme for both students and colleagues.
The RESTO competition is a national skills competition for hospitality management students. It puts to the test the skills needed both in hospitality studies and in working life: expertise, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and the ability to put theory into practice.
Over the years, the competition tasks have evolved alongside the host cities, developments in the industry and current trends. The tasks are often based on real-life assignments from companies and organisations, allowing participants to apply their knowledge and skills in situations that closely resemble the real working world.
Teams get to tackle genuine challenges related to tourism, hospitality, food and beverage, accommodation and service, while showing what they can do. The tasks are also evaluated by professionals from the industry, bringing a real working-life perspective into the competition.
But RESTO is about much more than competing.The event brings together students, teachers and industry professionals from across Finland. It is an opportunity to learn, connect, exchange ideas and gain new perspectives on the hospitality industry – while, of course, having a great time along the way.
One of the defining features of the RESTO Competition is that it moves from city to city. Each year, the responsibility for organising the competition is passed on to a different university of applied sciences offering hospitality management education. This travelling format has allowed RESTO to take on the character of different parts of Finland over the years.
The future hosts are agreed upon within MARATA, the national network of hospitality management educators coordinated by the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (Arene).
The competition has been held annually since 2002, with one exception: the 2021 competition had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Year | Host university | Winner university |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu | Haaga Instituutin ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2003 | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurean ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2004 | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2005 | Rovaniemen ammattikorkeakoulu | Pirkanmaan ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2006 | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2007 | Pirkanmaan ammattikorkeakoulu | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2008 | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2009 | Saimaan ammattikorkeakoulu | Saimaan ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2010 | Mikkelin ammattikorkeakoulu | Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2011 | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2012 | Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2013 | Lahden ammattikorkeakoulu | Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2014 | Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2015 | Lapin ammattikorkeakoulu | Turun ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2016 | Seinäjoen ammattikorkeakoulu | Lapin ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2017 | Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu | Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2018 | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu | Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2019 | Karelia-ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2020 | Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu | Lapin ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2022 | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu | Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2023 | Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2024 | Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2025 | LAB-ammattikorkeakoulu | Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2026 | Kaakkois-Suomen ammattikorkeakoulu | Jyväskylän ammattikorkeakoulu |
| 2027 | Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu | To be found out… |
Haaga-Helia has already hosted the RESTO Competition twice – in 2012 and 2020.
The 2020 competition was particularly meaningful, as it was held during the 50th anniversary year of Haaga Campus’s hospitality management education. The competition’s gala dinner was held at the Haaga Campus just before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic began to reshape the events industry.
In 2027, the RESTO Competition returns to Haaga-Helia – but this time, to the newly renewed RestoCamp facilities at Tripla!
History has been made. And now it is time to make more!
§1 The RESTO Competition is an annual national skills competition for hospitality management students in Finland. The competition is held each spring and hosted on a rotating basis by different universities of applied sciences offering hospitality management education.
The RESTO 2027 Competition will be hosted by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Pasila, Helsinki, on 16–18 March 2027.
The RESTO 2027 Competition will be conducted and hosted primarily in English. However, each competing team may choose whether to present their competition tasks in English or Finnish.
Participating students must be 18 years old or older.
§2 A maximum of two (2) four-person teams may participate from each university of applied sciences. There are no gender requirements for the teams. Participants must be Finnish or international hospitality management students studying at the university of applied sciences they represent. Eligible participants include students pursuing a Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree as well as students enrolled in an open university of applied sciences pathway with the aim of obtaining a degree study right.
All team members must be enrolled at the university of applied sciences they represent at the time of the competition. A student may participate in the RESTO Competition only once during their studies.
The university of applied sciences hosting the competition may not enter a team in the competition.
The university registers its teams and team members using an electronic registration form published on the competition website (resto.fi). The registration period is 9 November 2026–29 January 2027. Each team must have a name and a song that identifies the team.
If a registered team member becomes seriously ill or is unable to participate due to another unforeseen circumstance beyond their control, a substitute member may be appointed to the team with 48 hours’ notice. Dietary changes cannot be guaranteed.
§3 Colleagues must be registered using the electronic registration form published on the competition website (resto.fi). Colleagues must be teachers or staff members of the university of applied sciences they represent. During the competition, colleagues act as supporters and encouragers for the students, but they may not provide advice or assistance while the competition tasks are being completed.
If a registered colleague becomes seriously ill or is unable to participate due to another unforeseen circumstance beyond their control, a substitute colleague may be appointed with 48 hours’ notice. Dietary changes cannot be guaranteed.
The student project manager of the university of applied sciences hosting the following year’s competition may also participate in the colleague programme.
§4 The RESTO 2027 Competition Steering Group appoints the head judge and the judging panel for the competition tasks.
§5 All teams compete in the same category. The competition consists of one preliminary task and three tasks completed during the competition days. All tasks are mandatory for every team. Competition tasks may include mandatory sections in either of Finland’s two national languages or in English. Teams will receive clear instructions with each task regarding which equipment and materials may be used to complete the task. Each task has a specified maximum duration, which may not be exceeded.
The order in which teams present their competition tasks will be drawn in a way that ensures the order is as fair as possible across all participating teams throughout the different tasks.
The assessment criteria will be provided together with the task instructions and will also be visible to the audience. Each team’s competition performance will be supervised throughout the competition by a team-specific guide.
§6 The three highest-ranking teams will be awarded prizes. The rankings and scores of the three highest-ranking teams will be announced at the RESTO 2027 Gala Dinner. The winning team will receive the travelling RESTO Competition Trophy. The winning team’s university of applied sciences is responsible for engraving a nameplate for the team on the trophy. In addition, the winning teams will receive prizes according to their final ranking.
The travelling trophy must be delivered to the university of applied sciences hosting the next competition by the beginning of the first competition day.
Every person participating in the competition will receive a certificate of participation.The organising university of applied sciences will also provide individual feedback to all teams.
§7 Requests for correction concerning the results or assessment of the competition tasks may be submitted in writing to the head judge within one week of the exact competition results and scores being sent to the teams. A €50 fee will be charged for processing a request for correction.
§8 In the event that the competition needs to be postponed or cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance beyond the control of the parties, the decision will be made at a meeting of the MARATA network, based on a proposal from the organising university of applied sciences.
§8 We follow the Haaga-Helia’s principles of a safer space in the competition.