Bond University has announced a new School of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management that, in partnership with Marriott International, will offer undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs from January 2009.
Head of School, Professor Elizabeth Roberts, (pictured left with Chancellor Trevor C Rowe, AM), says the new programs have been developed in response to critical shortages for qualified management professionals in the hotel and tourism industry both in Australia, and internationally.
"Hospitality and tourism is now the world’s largest industry, employing one in every nine people world-wide and generating around four trillion dollars annually," she said.
"Business at this scale requires managers with highly advanced analytical and management skills, and the demand for these professionals is currently far exceeding the supply of qualified graduates.
"We have developed niche Bachelor and Masters-level programs that will equip graduates with specific knowledge in the area of revenue management to enhance their career outcomes. There are no other programs like these in Australia," Professor Roberts said.
Also unique to Bond University’s School of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management is its industry partnership with globally recognised hotel and resort operator, Marriott International.
On the Gold Coast for the launch of the new School, Executive Vice President for Marriott International Inc. (Asia, Pacific and Australia), Mr Geoff Garside, welcomed the partnership.
"The School’s mission is to develop world class hospitality professionals who will be the hotel and tourism leaders of the future. The Australian and international hotel and tourism industry stand to benefit greatly from this initiative, and Marriott International is proud to serve as the School’s inaugural industry partner.
"We have many Australians in our leadership ranks around Asia and believe that our support to the School will assist in ensuring that the industry needs and the school curriculum are closely aligned.
"We look forward to a strong and long partnership," Mr Garside said.
Professor Roberts said the School’s association with Marriott International would result in tangible outcomes for Bond’s Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management students both during and after their studies.
"It will be a huge asset for our students to have the opportunity to undertake work placement with such a highly regarded hotel chain that is so well recognised around the world," she said.
Professor Roberts added that in addition to completing compulsory work placement, students will also be challenged to develop the "conceptual, analytical, technical and interpersonal skills that they will need to compete in the international hotel and tourism industry."
"Building upon a framework of core business subjects, the undergraduate and postgraduate degrees will be highly specialised in the areas of finance, revenue management, asset management, and marketing.
"Essentially, our Bachelor Program is designed to attract students who want a university-level business management degree, but who aspire to a career in the hotel and tourism industry and want to stand out from the crowd," she said.
The new School will complement the existing Schools within Bond University’s Faculty of Business, Technology and Sustainable Development, with students able to use their elective subjects to gain an insight into topics such as sustainability.
"Our connection with Bond’s School of Sustainable Development will provide enormous opportunities to our students who want to gain an edge in the industry," Professor Roberts said.
"Hotel and tourism operators are increasingly looking to minimise their impact on the environment. Take, for example, all the work that has been done in the area of water conservation by Gold Coast theme parks such as Wet and Wild and Dreamworld.
"There is a huge environmental component to this program that will really appeal to Generation Y, as well as their future employers," she said.
Program offerings from the Bond University School of Hotel, Resort and Tourism Management, from January 2009, will be as follows:
Undergraduate: 2 years full-time (6 semesters*)
Postgraduate: 1 year full-time (3 semesters*)
*Bond University has a three semester-per-year schedule that allows students to fast-track their studies.
See photos from the launch.
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