Of course, the fact that the hospitality industry pays peanuts for long and anti-social hours doesn't help. Kitchen staff can earn just R200 for a weekend's work; so it's no wonder that over-worked and underpaid restaurant staff, both behind the scenes and front of house, are less than motivated to please. Then there's the fact that waiting tables has long been the preserve of students, purely as a means to fund the weekend's partying. It is not considered a serious career option, as it might be in, say, France. It has become more and more evident to those who have worked in the business for years, that levels of service have dropped dramatically, says Rahman Murtuza, Chief Executive of the new Gaming & Hospitality Management Academy, which was officially opened by Provincial Minister of Finance and Tourism, Lynne Brown, on 24th April 2007. I have been employed in the service industry for 40 years and I know where the failings are and there are many  but professional and relevant training can address many of them he continues. Minister Brown confirmed this, emphasising the critical role education must play in the future of South Africa. It might seem incongruous to outsiders that gratuities are expected by waiting staff, however good or bad the service has been. Surely, a tip should be in appreciation of the service received.And if it has been bad or indifferent service, we should not feel obliged to tip. Whilst the common belief, especially within the restaurant business, is pay them mean, keep them keen, this has a very detrimental effect on the staff. It leaves equally unmotivated and often mediocre middle managers to make things work and they simply don't have the required management skills to do so,� adds Murtuza. The Gaming & Hospitality Management Academy is set to offer the very platform required to further educate middle management, whatever their industry, although its main focus will be on the gaming and hospitality sectors. It will cover areas such as Gaming, IT, Food & Beverage, Front Office, Kitchen and Human Resources. The 2008 courses are now open for registration. Many middle managers are promoted from within their own companies, from the bottom of the ladder, continues Murtuza. �But this in itself is problematic because very little training, if any, is provided by the company along the way - and experience with management issues such as staffing and budgeting really cannot be learned on the job�, he concludes. Maybe the service industry will even return more proudly and smilingly to its former titles of waiter and waitress as a result of this much needed training surely more professional and welcoming than the robotic and surly �waitrons� we currently suffer? NOTE TO EDITORS: The Gaming & Hospitality Management Academy is the brainchild of Rahman Murtuza, a man with 40 years experience in the gaming and hospitality industry, 27 of which have been with Sun International. The Academy opened for registration for 2008 courses on April 24th 2007. It will offer courses over a period of one year, with a fee of R50,000 covering all examination fees, course material, tuition and an international computer driver�s licence. Contact Details Rahman Murtuza Gaming and Hospitality Management Academy 082 855 5789