Hotel Manager – A Dream Job?

We asked four students of SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern why becoming a hotel manager is attractive to them and what the motivation was to start a hospitality management degree programme. Read here what thoughts they shared with us.

Jonas Zindel – SHL student in semester 1

To become a hotel manager remains appealing for young people, as it offers a unique chance to meet a lot of different people and positively
impact their lives. Guests come to a hotel with their most precious belonging – their free time – and it is a privilege to be part of this experience. To give the guests the best possible stay is an honour and something very worthwhile. For me personally, it has always been a passion to bring joy to other people and to fulfil their wishes. The profession of hotel manager offers me the opportunity to combine this passion with entrepreneurship.

Marc Muff – currently doing his management training

Becoming a hotel manager in the future is a very attractive opportunity, as it offers many career paths. These enable young people to explore their skills and interests and to develop themselves further. Also, the hospitality industry opens up the possibilities to work and live in different places all over the world. The profession also offers new challenges every day and the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, as you are constantly confronted with different situations and people. In this dynamic and the constantly changing environment you can especially develop your skills in the areas of hospitality, teamwork, leadership and problem solving. All of these aspects were crucial for my decision to pursue a career in hospitality. Furthermore, it is an incredible enrichment for me to put a smile on guests’ faces and making their stay a true experience. Working in hospitality sometimes feels like a play at the theatre that is ongoing, and we have the privilege to play our part in it.

Chiara Bortis – SHL student in semester 3

Young people want to have a job that they can identify with and that they enjoy. Being a hotel manager gives you lots of opportunities to realise your potential and everyday life is very varied: no day is like the other. Hotel managers are so much more than pure leaders. They are hosts, conflict solvers, organisers, they take on creative tasks, are the main contact person for both guests and employees, act as a link between different departments and are representatives of the company. You have the opportunity to get involved on so many levels and always try out new things, which makes the job very attractive. Another aspect that I appreciate a lot is the chance to take on responsibility. As you deal with people every day and the world of hospitality is rapidly changing, you are constantly faced with new challenges, which allow you to outgrow yourself. Also you can work all over the world and make lots of new contacts. I see a lot of doors opening and the network that you build in the process is very valuable. At the end of the day the people you meet and the great memories you create are what makes the profession what it is.

Belinda Angehrn – SHL student in semester 2

When I was a child, our family used to go to the same hotel for years. Every time, we were warmly welcomed – it almost felt like coming home. And, over the years, that hotel literally turned into my second home. So much so, that I have been dreaming of having my own hotel since I was seven. Already back then, I put together a «mini concept» of my hotel. Even today, fourteen years later, this dream has not changed. I am passionate about delivering an outstanding service: making the impossible possible is a plus for the guest, but more so something I strive for. There are also no limits in the hospitality industry: there are so many career paths, new products, global chains and thousands of different concepts to explore. And: making total relaxation possible, smiling faces and the fascination of guests – that’s exactly why the hospitality industry is extremely attractive to me.

Chiara, Marc, Belinda and Jonas study at SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern which is one of the two original Swiss hotel management schools, successfully running since 1909. SHL offers a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management which is accredited by the Swiss federal government and recognised worldwide, as well as the Swiss Advanced Federal Diploma «Dipl. Hotelier(e)-Gastronom(in) HF».

The «BSc in Hospitality Management» is a four-year or four-and- a-half-year full-time programme in English that follows the principles of a dual approach to education by combining academic knowledge, relevant operational competencies and modern management expertise. The degree includes two paid internships and provides students with transferable skills in hospitality leadership, management, strategy and operations.

The school is famous for its practice-oriented, interactive way of teaching, the personal environment and the high employability rate after graduation. Discover more about SHL, its campus in the heart
of Switzerland and the «BSc in Hospitality Management» programme right here: https://www.shl.ch/en/study/courses-of-study/bachelor-in- hospitality-management/programme