Sponsored by the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Whether it’s for relaxation or business, if you travel the world today, you’ll be interacting with one of the world’s most dynamic and global industries. The hospitality and tourism sector has boomed in recent years, with China in particular being recognized as “the leading domestic tourism market in the world,” according to a report published at the end of 2018 by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

If you’re considering a career in this growing field, there’s no better place to study than Hong Kong. Its thriving economy, prime location in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region and traditionally welcoming nature, make it a top study destination for aspiring hoteliers and hospitality managers.

Prime location in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region

Where east meets west: Hong Kong is a central hub with excellent transport links on both a local and international scale. It’s also ranked 12^th in the QS Best Student Cities 2018, and is considered to be one of Asia’s most sophisticated and multilingual cities, thanks to its iconic skyline, wealth of cultured restaurants and emerald green landscapes.

It’s a five-star education hub

From food and beverages, to airline lounges and luxurious spas, the hotel and tourism industry is incredibly broad – something which the city of Hong Kong itself offers in abundance. The city is a vibrant and sophisticated foundation for The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management – one of the most desired destinations in the world for students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in international hospitality and tourism education.

Ranked in the top three in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018: Hospitality & Leisure Management, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management boasts a number of postgraduate programs that have been designed to meet the industry’s demands for professionals with excellent tourism expertise and professional management skillset.

Its very own innovative and unique teaching and research hotel emphasizes the practical elements of learning with introduction of Hotel ICON in 2011, allowing students to gain imperative hands-on learning experience and strong work ethic. Its various research projects and three dedicated “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms” help revolutionize, develop and illustrate the School’s new technologies, hotel designs and business concepts within the world of hotel management.

You can perfect your hospitality and tourism management expertise

The world of hospitality and tourism is a sophisticated industry where attention to detail is imperative and having a passion for people while delivering first-class service is also critical.

Over the course of your degree you’ll perfect a multitude of skills, from your ability to judge a vital business decision, to how to offer a warm welcome to every guest.

A career in hotel and tourism management offers as many accolades as it does challenges with no two days ever being the same. Given the thousands of people you’ll meet from a range of cultures and communities from all over the world, and the increasing need for those within the industry to be familiar with the Asian consumer market in particular, it’s vital you find a degree program that can prepare you for these demands. The School of Hotel and Tourism Management’s postgraduate programs offer a number of modules which do just that. 

Get to grips with a new language (or two)

Studying in Hong Kong also means you’ll find yourself sandwiched between two of the world’s most spoken languages – Chinese and English. Being fluent in English is a must should you wish to pursue a career in hotel and tourism management, while being proficient in a second widely-spoken language is particularly advantageous considering how business travel is becoming just as popular as recreational travel.

The majority of master’s and doctoral programs in Hong Kong allow you to study in English meaning you get the best of both worlds when it comes to upping your language skills. Indeed, the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Hotel and Tourism Management, Doctor of Hotel and Tourism Management (D.HTM), Master of Science in International Hospitality Management, Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business, Master of Science in International Tourism and Convention Management and Master of Science in International Wine Management at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management in Hong Kong are all taught in English.

Endless travel opportunities

The hotel and tourism industry can be as local as it is global, meaning you’ll have opportunities to work around the world as little or as much as you like. When it comes to education opportunities, the chance to gain that all important international experience, in some cases, is essential.

Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business students are able to study in three institutions across three continents to ensure they’re fully engaging with the industry on a global scale.

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019 will be released on February 27.

As with last year’s ranking, 48 different subjects spread across five broad subject areas will be included this year, providing an unparalleled range of information to help you find the right university for you.

While you’ll have to wait for the full results on February 27 to find out exactly how some of the world’s top universities have performed, here are a few eye-catching facts to whet your appetite:

• 78 study destinations are included in this year’s ranking, four more than last year
• The following destinations are all home to at least one university ranked in first place for a subject: Austria, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• 2,704 universities from the US are included this year, more than double the amount from the UK which is the next most-represented study destination

Every year since 2011, the QS World University Rankings by Subject have been compiled using data on research citations, combined with the results of major global surveys of academics and employers. More information about the methodology can be found here.

Discover the complete results in this year’s ranking by coming back to the site on February 27 or be among the first to hear the news by following us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Rankings can also be accessed by downloading the free QS World University Rankings app, available for iPhone and Android.

Your first stop when visiting Sydney, Australia is without a doubt the iconic Sydney Opera House. And why wouldn’t it be? It’s a stellar photo op, whether you’re posing outside the front of it, witnessing it in the background as you sip on a cold beverage, or cruising beside it via the ferry to Manly (or if you’re a baller, a private yacht).

Almost everyone snaps an Instagram photo of the outside of the structure, but does anyone ever explore the inside of the building? The truth is, a lot of people don’t bother. They probably have a million and one photos with it at every angle, but if someone were to ask them what the actual use of it is, what the inside looks like, etc., they’d probably have zero clue.

Which, in my opinion, is a mistake. One of the absolutely must-do activities during your time in this city should be to take the one-hour walking tour of this World Heritage-listed site. I mean, you may well be flying a few thousand miles to reach this epic city, so really it would be rude not to. The tour is only AU$30 and there’s an option to add on a delicious meal at the infamous Opera Bar afterwards.

A guide will take you through the spaces where thousands of performances have taken place since the opening in 1973 (they hold 1,500 a year!), with about a million and one photo ops from vantage points that are normally off-limits to the general public. Think about those selfie angles you could get.

Your guide will also entertain you with insider stories, including the opera house’s controversial construction, performance history, and architecture design. Did you know the outside of the building is made up of ‘shell’ tiles? How Australian of them.

Point blank, you should make this excursion your top priority whilst visiting Sydney’s most iconic monument. It’s truly a once and a lifetime opportunity to experience the opera house in all its glory.

This article was written by one of our student bloggers – if you’d like to write for us, find out how here.

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Sponsored by University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar

Home to a sunny climate, friendly locals, miles of golden coastline, and iconic Mediterranean cuisine, it’s no wonder Spain is becoming an increasingly popular study destination with almost 50,000 students flocking to the country in 2018.

Read on to discover seven reasons why you should consider Spain your number one destination for studying hospitality management.

Study in the Mediterranean capital of hospitality, tourism and cruises

Despite tough economic times, the hospitality industry as a whole has seen an unprecedented boom in profits over the last few years. In fact, Spain is the second highest-earning country in the world when it comes to tourism, and in 2017, it overtook the US to become the second most visited country in the world with 82 million tourists.

Studying a master’s in hospitality management means you’ll implement efficient steps to ensure the highest standards of customer service when it comes to an incredibly multidimensional industry, ranging from accommodation, to food and beverages, events, cruise liners, and even amusement parks.

To help you get ahead in the world of hospitality, the Master’s in Hospitality Management at University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar is a one-year, full-time program which provides the foundations for students to nurture their dedicated skillset needed to venture into a hospitality management career by offering a four to six month industry internship at the end of the course.

Be a part of University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar’s 50-year history

Since 1966, University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar has provided professional, hands-on learning education, and in 2016, it celebrated its 50-year anniversary. As the world’s first university-hotel school, University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar proudly ranks fifth in the world for employer reputation in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018, and in the world’s top 50 overall.

You’ll be able to explore Spain and Europe

Sitting quietly on the golden coastline of Sant Pol de Mar is University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar, which is only a 40-minute drive away from one of Spain’s most desirable city locations – Barcelona. Ranked 31^st in the QS Best Student Cities 2018, Barcelona is a city that’s renowned for its architectural masterpieces which dominate the streets and skyline – La Sagrada Família and La Pedrera anyone?!

It’s also home to one of the world’s most dominating soccer teams (Barcelona FC), more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, nine UNESCO-protected monuments, as well as the best gastronomic market in the world as voted by USA Today. So, follow your nose to La Boqueria, the large public market in the heart of the city. 

Cheap flights in and out of Barcelona on a daily basis also make the city and the surrounding area of Sant Pol de Mar very easy to travel to and from.

The cost of living is easier on the student pocket

Compared to other desirable study locations around the world, Spain has relatively low living costs and tuition fees. Within walking distance from University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar’s campus, you can rent a single room in a shared apartment for around €250 (~US$284) per month, with other living expenses falling between €300-350 (~US$341-398) per month.

Bask in the Mediterranean lifestyle

The Spanish love a good party as much as they love a good siesta. You can take this time to catch up with friends and family, or whatever else you like as the Spanish sunshine and charming scenery offer an outdoor lifestyle that’s hard not to take advantage of. Students in and around Sant Pol de Mer find themselves meeting up in between classes and on weekends for a quick spot of lunch by the sea, or for happy hour in the evenings, sampling trendy cocktails and good local wines.

Discover a new language

Although some university programs in Spain are taught in English, much like the Master’s in Hospitality Management at University College of Hospitality Management Sant Pol de Mar, it won’t hurt to learn some Spanish lingo along the way.

With more than 572 million people worldwide speaking Spanish, getting to grips with the language means you’ll be able to live more like a local and be open to meeting new people, you’ll give both your brain and confidence a boost, and your CV will thank you for it too.

Your CV will thank you for the study abroad experience

Speaking of which… the plethora of benefits when it comes to studying abroad will reward you in more ways than you may realize. To potential employers, studying abroad illustrates your ability, confidence and resilience to immerse yourself in a new culture and gain a truly global perspective.