Studying Hotel, Resort and Spa Management

There isn’t a single type of manager or hospitality professional working in a hotel, resort or spa. In fact, there are diverse teams of managers and professionals providing multitude of services like food and beverage, events hosting, room service, retail, spa and therapy, and concierge and tours, Branding etc. In addition to these, there are specialists working in business functions like sales and marketing, finance and human resources.

By studying towards a degree in hotel, resort and spa management, you will learn to manage a hotel, spa and resort. As this is quite a broad subject, you will be able to specialise in either hotel, resort, events or spa management and/or a combination of these and pickup hospitality specific skills and technical know-how in addition to time management, communication and organisation skills.

Switzerland is not only a popular destination for tourists, but also those who seeking to study about and work in the hospitality sector. Hospitality, resort and spa management courses in Switzerland are practical-oriented and involve completing one or two paid internships that last about 4-6 months each. On top of these students could benefit from guest lectures from industry experts and visits to hotels and resorts.

Some of the most sought-after higher education institutions running programmes in hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts and management subjects are:

• Business and Hotel Management School
• Culinary Arts Academy
• Swiss Hotel Management School
• César Ritz Colleges Switzerland
• Hotel and Tourism Management Institute Switzerland

Salary and Career Prospects

Hotel, resort and spa management graduates find work in restaurants, hotels, spas, cruise ships, resorts and exhibition centres.

Some of the wide-ranging roles they take up are Hospitality Specialist, Hotel Manager, Business Development Manager, Guest Relations Coordinator, Events Coordinator and Operations Manager.

Salaries vary based on job role, experience, qualifications, skills and location. As a guide, hotel, resort and spa management professionals earn around CHF 78,000a year (54 lakhs INR).

Why study in Switzerland?

Switzerland is a dream destination for travellers and holidaymakers from all over the world. It is a very beautiful country and its scenic landscapes, snow-capped Alps, lakes and forests draw millions of tourists every year.

In addition to its natural beauty, Switzerland has a lot to offer in terms of outdoor sports, shopping, dining and leisure activities. It is a hub for luxury fashion and accessories (Swiss watches), artisans devices (Swiss clocks) and food and gastronomy (cheese and chocolates). Switzerland is also a major centre for banking, insurance, financial services, international diplomacy and technology.

Switzerland has some of the world’s highest concentration of ski resorts, spas, artisan shops and high-end restaurants and hotels.

The country’s official languages are French, German and Italian, although English is widely spoken.

Most international students are able to apply to stay back for a further 6 months after completing their studies.