When choosing a hospitality school, many students and parents ask themselves the same question: how do you distinguish a school that sells a dream from one that prepares you for the reality of the field? This subject is more essential than ever, as the sector has deeply evolved, and not all schools are keeping up with the trend.
A good indicator: teacher responsiveness
When a student asks a teacher about their thesis topic or an internship, the answer should not take two weeks to arrive. In reality, a good school is also one where students are not left alone with their doubts. An answer should arrive within two or three days. In the case of internships, even more responsiveness is required. It is a matter of respect, but also of efficient operation.
Professor involvement is fundamental. Admittedly, in many cases, they are poorly compensated, making it difficult to demand enhanced guidance from them. But in this profession, we also encounter many passionate people who do not count their hours. And given the price of certain bachelors or masters degrees in private schools, a fair balance should be found: a serious school must be able to fund quality support.
I encourage potential future students to contact students of the current cohort to get their opinion on these questions. Always find a graduate of the school, contact them on social networks to see what they publish, and talk to them to get an inside perspective.
Guidance from the pedagogical team and orientation
At 18 or 21, the majority of students do not know exactly what they want to do. It is precisely the role of a school to provide a framework and guide students toward informed choices.
A frequent example: several young people discover late that they wish to enter the world of luxury, after having done internships in other sectors. Yet, in this environment, it is important to start early. A luxury recruiter will always favor a profile that has already experienced this type of environment, even briefly. A first experience in a hotel or luxury house, even a modest one, opens more doors than an excellent academic record with zero exposure to the sector. Properly orienting students is key.
What stands out in the best students
Among the qualities that stand out the most in a student: attention to detail, curiosity, cultural and international openness, and a genuine desire to ask questions. Some extend classes with long discussions: a quarter of an hour, half an hour, or even more. These exchanges are precious. They reveal motivation and build a deep relationship with the profession. This regularly happens to me during my interventions, and I respond to every question and open up discussions easily.
Being motivated means living hospitality daily. Reading articles, watching conferences, visiting professional trade shows, and staying informed. It is crucial to choose a thesis or professional project topic that inspires you to go all the way, opens doors, and pushes you to contact sector professionals for interviews. This work creates opportunities for meetings, yields valuable insights, and builds credibility on a theme right from the start of a career.
A thesis: a pretext to get noticed
A thesis or professional project is much more than an academic exercise: it is an opportunity. It allows you to get noticed, meet professionals, forge links, and sometimes even land a first internship. It also enables you to develop solid arguments to succeed in your interviews. When a recruiter sees a spark in your eyes and senses an already-developed professional culture, they will remember it.
The role of parents
Some parents, out of a lack of knowledge of the sector, may have discouraged their children from entering service professions. Hearing "You aren't going to end up as a waiter" is an unfair barrier. Being a waiter is a beautiful, demanding job that allows one to discover the world of hospitality from the inside. It also offers opportunities for progression and a global understanding of the sector. Parents have an essential role: to support, encourage, and inform themselves about what a career in hospitality truly represents.
Concrete criteria, not slogans
Too many schools settle for displaying labels like "the best", "the most international", "the most innovative"... These slogans have no value without concrete proof. It is better to ask simple and precise questions:
• Where do alumni work?
• In which companies did they do their internships?
• What thesis topics are addressed?
• How many hours are actually dedicated to human management?
• What interactions with professionals are offered?
A good program must not only exist on paper: it must live daily within the school.
Getting out into the field
The advice I would give to a 17-year-old passionate about hospitality, but still hesitating: spend time in a hotel. Even one week of observation is enough to better understand the backstage of the profession. Reach out, speak to professionals, observe the rhythm, and feel the atmosphere. This allows for an orientation choice in full knowledge of the facts.
Training anchored in reality and oriented toward tomorrow
Some hospitality schools rely on old, recognized, and solid programs. That is an important foundation. But to this must be added training on sector innovations, new forms of leadership, and the challenges of a more human and conscious hospitality. Team management is not learned only on the job. It deserves to be worked on in depth, in classes, through scenarios, exchanges with professionals, and hours dedicated to collective and emotional intelligence.
How many hours are planned for learning to lead a team? This simple question often allows for the difference to be made between a marketing program and real training. You will be surprised by the almost non-existent number of hours on this subject depending on the schools. A bit sad for management schools.
The campus plays a role in success. A pleasant, stimulating, connected location is needed, with an active social life and opportunities for exchange. This setting supports motivation and gives momentum. A school must also make people want to learn, stay after class, and experience projects.
Final advice: become the driver of your training
Enrolling in a hospitality school is a first step. But it is not enough. The degree is not what will make all the difference. It is the internships, the conferences attended outside of classes, the readings, the exchanges, and the personal commitments that will trace the path.
You must seize this period to learn everything, see everything, try everything. The school is only a framework. The career is built with it.
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