Working as junior consultants, EHL hospitality management students bring high-tech solutions to the industry as they learn about the latest trends and practice implementing innovation

Technology is transforming the hospitality industry so quickly these days that many companies struggle to capitalize on high-tech solutions in a timely, effective manner. Similarly, hospitality schools must integrate the latest trends into the curriculum and allow students to experiment with the tools shaping the industry.

As a reference for both hospitality companies and students, EHL Hospitality Business School (founded in 1893 as the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne) prepares graduates for this fast-moving reality by bringing the high-tech puzzles of the industry into the classroom.

Through industry challenges, student consulting projects, specialized electives, and a broad course portfolio, EHL exposes students to the needs of the industry and prepares them to find and implement the solutions of the future.

The Rosewood Challenge

In an example of student-industry collaboration, the IT leaders from Rosewood Hotel Group recently sought the expertise of EHL students in the Hospitality Technology Strategy course, an elective offered to students in the final year of the bachelor's degree  in hospitality management on the Lausanne campus in Switzerland.

For this exciting project, EHL students were asked to create an IT/Digital innovation solution that could be adapted to every Rosewood hotel. Students were briefed on the project goals and limitations, and the company representatives shared valuable insights into the technology shaping the hotel sector.

The results were mutually beneficial: “Despite only having five weeks to complete this course, the students delivered thoughtful and insightful solutions for this challenge. They came up with innovative ideas focusing on either enhancing guest experience or improving the operating efficiency. They developed technological solutions for enhancing the interactions with guests and among staff with a clear focus on strategic benefits,” said Mr. Ian Millar, who is the manager of EHL’s Institute of Business Creativity, a Student Business Project (SBP) coach, and senior lecturer with 20 years of experience.

Business & Entrepreneurship in Hospitality Education

Student challenges are just one of the many ways that EHL gives students real-world exposure to today’s business needs in the hotel industry. Industry partners can seek inspiration and solutions from EHL students and faculty members through EHL’s business solutions and R&D resources. And EHL students can choose the experience they wish to gain in their final project and semester with these options:

Student Business Project (SBP): A junior consulting-style mandate assigned to a group of 6 students for nine weeks of full-time work on a challenge for an industry partner.

Student Entrepreneurship Project (SEP): This option assigns a group of 6 students to work full-time for nine weeks in a start-up in EHL’s innovation hub.

CSR Student Business Projects: Enabling students to give back to their community, the school assigns one CSR SBP per year for a local industry partner with a social or environmental objective.

In addition to these projects, EHL integrates industry trends into the learning experience with a wide variety of electives for undergraduate students and short courses for professionals that address specific industry trends and sectors.

Up-to-date Hospitality Education for Every Profile

Since the industry never stops changing, hospitality students and professionals never stop learning. Understanding the lifelong learning needs of this industry, EHL offers a wide range of continually updated courses. For young students, EHL offers undergraduate and pre-university courses, vocational training, and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality delivered in Switzerland and/or Singapore. For recent graduates to executives, the school offers graduate programs, such as the Master’s, MBA, and EMBA. Plus, EHL offers a multitude of online courses and certificates that cover the latest technology and trends.

Discover the complete academic portfolio at www.ehl.edu