Timakova Rosa Temeryanovna Scientific Director of the Competition, Professor of the Department of Tourism Business and Hospitality, and Professor of the Department of Biotechnology and Engineering, with a PhD in Technical Sciences and the title of Associate Professor

The International Youth Startup Competition in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, titled "Pro Hospitality 2025", is organized and hosted by the Ural State University of Economics.

The competition is organized to enhance the professional development of students, undergraduate and graduate students of higher education institutions and college students. The aim is to gain practical experience and skills in the development of START-UP projects in the tourism and hospitality industry, operating in a competitive market that emphasizes service-oriented approaches. Additionally, the competition aims to identify and support talented young individuals, assist in the establishment and promotion of youth-led tourism business projects, and promote business projects within the hotel and restaurant industries through interaction with professionals in these fields.

The objectives of the competition include:

• Identifying talented individuals in the fields of hospitality and catering enterprise design, service, and tourism;
• Assisting in the creation and promotion of youth business initiatives through collaboration with professional communities within the tourism and hotel and restaurant sectors;

- Increasing the interest and engagement of young people, including students, in entrepreneurial activities, the development, and implementation of innovative projects for the growth of domestic and international tourism, as well as the hospitality and food service industry in the Russian Federation, with a focus on regional development;

- Promoting the tourism and recreational potential of the Russian Federation;

- Supporting the scientific and professional development of talented young people in the fields of tourism, hospitality, and foodservice.

The competition is open to students, graduate students, postgraduate students, and other interested individuals under the age of 35, including those from universities, research institutions, colleges, and other organizations. Participants may be individual individuals or groups of up to three people.

The competition will be held in the format of a presentation to be examined and evaluated by leading experts, managers in the hospitality and tourism industry, government officials, and initiative projects developed by participants for the implementation of business ideas and concepts for creating and developing client-oriented organizations in the hotel, restaurant, and catering (HoReCa) and tourism sectors.

Start-up projects will be initiated and developed by participants based on preliminary research and a scientific understanding of existing real challenges in the market for services in the tourism, hospitality, and catering sectors, as well as a creative application of knowledge and skills in professional service areas relevant to the competition. There will be no registration fee to participate in the competition.

Competing projects will be submitted in the following areas:

1. Tourism: projects, events, spaces
2. Polycentrism of Hospitality: Trends in the Food Industry and Concepts in the Hotel Business

Applications for Participation in the Competition and Entries in the Form of a START-UP Project are Submitted by March 20, 2025 Through the Registration System of the Website:

- An Individual Participant Submits an Application Through the Registration System of the Website, Choosing the Category "Individual Participation"

- Group Participation: Each Member of the Group Submits an Application for Participation Through the Registration System of the Website, Choosing "Team Participation", Then "Team Captain" or "Team Member". In the "Project Topic" Field, Each Indicates the Name of Their Project. The Team Captain Attaches a Project File to the Registration Form, Where All the Authors of the Project are Indicated.

The lists of finalists who have been invited to present their work in person and participate in the final events of the forum will be published on the competition website from April 1 to 10, 2025.

The in-person defense will take place on April 23, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the awards ceremony will take place on April 24, 2025. In some cases, the final will be conducted in person; however, remote participation may be possible by decision of the competition organizing committee.

Registered participants and expert judges will have access to USUE cloud resources and will be able to connect to interactive sessions as part of the event through teams created on KonturTolk.

Winners in each of the competition's thematic categories will receive diplomas, certificates, and cash prizes:

• 10,000 RUB for the first place in each of two thematic categories
• 5,000 RUB for the second place in each of two categories

The winners of the competition, who were awarded a diploma of the first degree, will be awarded with additional points for their individual achievements when applying to study at the USUE for master's programs (2 points).