Whether you aspire to work for a Motel 6 in Minneapolis, a Hilton in Honolulu, or anywhere in between, you won't get there with classroom experience alone. To truly prepare for a career in Hotel management , you need to apply what you're learning in the classroom--by going on location.
Internships, residencies, and other work-study program components allow students of hotel management to gain significant practical experience, critical to success in any industry. Not only do these programs foster initiative, ambition, and personal growth, they offer the unique opportunity to experience the culture and philosophy of some of the best hotels in the world. Here's how some hotel management programs are providing hands-on career preparation.
International hotel management residency
Students in the international hotel management master's degree program at Royal Roads University (Victoria, B.C., Canada) are taking their education on the road to study at luxury hotels in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). The three-week Dubai experience is just one of the three residencies within the two-year degree program, which blends online and on-campus learning. The students, professionals planning to advance their Hotel Management Careers via education that meets the needs of an international market, are facing the most challenging issues of international hotel management firsthand--culture, language, and customs.
Long-term work-study hotel management program
Juniors and seniors in the hotel administration bachelor's degree program at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) may be eligible to apply to the school's Management Intern Program, a six- to eight-month work-study intensive. Through the program, hotel management students experience a challenging work environment while they apply classroom lessons to real-world management situations. There are academic requirements, but the internship is flexible enough to meet students' specific interests as well as the needs of the sponsoring company. In turn, students receive 12 academic credits as well as one unit of required practical experience credit.
Overseas hotel management education
In the summer of 2006, the Florida International University (FIU) Tianjin Center in Tianjin, China, opened its doors to American and Chinese students alike. This joint Hospitality management program between the Chinese government and FIU's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management allows undergraduates and postgraduates in hotel management and tourism management to effectively cross cultural boundaries and succeed in international business. Students who graduate from the program receive two degrees--one from FIU and the other from the Tianjin University of Commerce. The first class will graduate in 2008.
With the hands-on experience available through hotel management programs worldwide, you'll be headed for the career destination of your dreams.
About the author:
Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
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