Casa Ratiu provides magical setting for Regenerative Hospitality Summit

14th July 2024

Casa Ratiu, Headquarters of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation in Transylvania, Romania, was the magical setting for the recent Regenerative Hospitality Summit (5th to 8th May 2024), co-hosted by the Oxford Cultural Collective and Ulster University. It was also the perfect location for a unique volunteering experience for Ulster University students. 

A tranquil ‘retreat’, incorporating superior standard accommodation and a well-equipped conference centre, set around a beautiful courtyard, Casa Ratiu was the ideal environment for this intimate, discursive event. Having all delegates on-site encouraged the development of new friendships and working relationships, which will prove valuable in the years ahead.

 

Learn more about Casa Ratiu, including how to book.

 

In addition to appreciating the quality of its facilities, the story of Casa Ratiu was a source of inspiration for delegates. It is the historical home of the Ratiu family, who have played an important role in the political development of Romania.  Ion Ratiu (1917 – 2000) was the most outspoken and consistent voice of opposition to the despotic regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, Romanian head of state from 1967 until the revolution and his execution in 1989. After 50 years in exile in the UK, Ion returned to Romania in 1990 to contest the Presidency. Although he failed in his attempt, he was elected to parliament, where he served for ten years, and to this day he is referred to as ‘the best President Romania never had’. Ion was supported in his political endeavours by his wife Elizabeth Pilkington Ratiu (1921 – 2016), who was a fascinating character in her own right. Born into the Pilkington glass manufacturing dynasty, she devoted her life to supporting a range of health charities.

The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation was established in 1979 in London, by Ion and Elizabeth Ratiu, to support educational programmes and promote democratic values in Romania and central and eastern European nations. Amongst numerous activities, it now runs the Ratiu Forum, in partnership with the London School of Economics, which includes a high-profile annual conference in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, focused on political developments in Romania and neighbouring countries.

 

Student volunteering

The Regenerative Hospitality Summit provided an opportunity for immersive volunteering for Hospitality and Culinary Arts Management students from Ulster University.

Under guidance from OCC Patron Paul Bloomfield, the eight students who participated took responsibility for key aspects of the summit – hosting key speakers, designing and delivering lunches and dinners and managing social activities, as well as attending sessions as delegates. They worked alongside Romy Gill MBE, one the UK’s most prominent chefs, who is also a food writer and television broadcaster, to deliver the summit’s gala dinner. The students were provided with outstanding support from the Ratiu Foundation team, led by Irina Sandor and Tudor Crisan.

Pamela Ratiu, Director of the Ratiu Forum and former Patron of the Oxford Cultural Collective, is now leading discussions on the formation of an annual volunteering programme for Ulster University students.