Philosophy of the Program

Swiss Alpine Center’s program of study in hospitality and tourism management requires that students learn to run a business from the bottom-up, learning the details of every department including the role and job description of each and every staff member. This comprehensive Swiss method of teaching which includes a balanced combination of practical courses mixed with management theory and applied business exercises, is what has earned Swiss hotel schools their reputation in the world of hospitality education.

Alpine’s program also enables the student to acquire the business skills necessary to manage a hotel operation profitably, while at the same time adhering to world class hospitality standards.

Besides business skills, students enrolled on the Swiss Alpine Diploma in Hotel Management acquire soft skills that are of utmost importance to the hospitality industry. These include attention to detail, flexibility, reliability, teamwork, immaculate presentation, leadership skills, innovation and above all exceptional customer service skills. Students are evaluated on their professional attitude as this plays an important role in hospitality.

Content

The International Hospitality Management programme comprises a number of core management and hospitality specific modules as you will see in the curriculum of each year below.

One of the big advantages of studying hospitality management is the transferable skills gained through such an education. Simply put, transferable skills are those that can be applied to, and are in demand by, businesses not necessarily under the umbrella of hospitality and tourism services.

In general, they are technical skills such as communications technology, people skills, sales and marketing skills, human resources, finance, accountancy skills, strategic business, and entrepreneurship. Some of Alpine’s graduates can be found working successfully in non-hospitality/tourism occupations belonging to the service management industries also known as the experience economy, including telecommunications, training and education, banking, consultancy, human resource consultancy, sales and marketing, finance, and television and broadcasting to name a few.

Dual Qualifications

Cardiff Metropolitan University validated the Alpine Center program of study in 2012 at City Unity College. Students who join the Alpine Center program in Switzerland will have the opportunity to earn a British Bachelor's degree in International Hospitality & Tourism Management, awarded by Cardiff Metropolitan University as top-up at City Unity College in Greece.

Our students have the unique opportunity of graduating with dual qualifications: a Swiss Alpine Center Diploma and a BA(Hon) from Cardiff Metropolitan University. This makes our students very competitive and employable.

Course Structure

YEAR 1

• Food and Beverage Service Management
• Room Division Operations
• Academic Research & Writing I: Critical Perspective
• Diversity and Social Inclusion for Hospitality & Tourism
• Hospitality & Tourism Business Environment
• Finance for Hospitality & Tourism Managers
• Managing People and Organisations
• Industry Placement (Internship)

YEAR 2

• Strategic Business Project
• Hospitality Operations & Control Management
• Academic Research and Writing II: Structure and Process
• Marketing for Hospitality and Tourism
• Financial Planning For Business
• Human Resource Management in Hospitality and Tourism
• Work Experience with Personal Development Planning
• Law and Ethics in Hospitality and Tourism
• Industry Placement (Internship)

YEAR 3 (Top Up in Greece)

• Digital Marketing and Public Relations for Hospitality and Tourism
• Entrepreneurship & Business Planning
• Revenue Management
• Tourism Planning and Development
• Corporate Finance
• Hotel Logistics
• Dissertation
• Enterprise Project
• Strategic Management for Hospitality and Tourism
• HR Strategy and Professional Practice

Who this course is for

Individuals aspiring for careers in hospitality management in various positions and segments of the hospitality and tourism industry:

• Hotel operations: front office, rooms division, food & beverage, events;
• Hospitality management: HR, finance, marketing, real estate, public relation;
• Events & Conventions: venue management, event planning, sales, retail, VIP services; Luxury: private charters;
• Food & Beverage: fine dining, catering, sommeliers;
• Health & Wellness: spas, fitness, private clinics, retirement living, hospitals;
• Cruise Lines: all the above but on cruise lines;
• Online & technology: OTA’s;
• Other roles: hospitality consultancy, project management, R&D, education, start-ups.