The Birthplace of Hospitality

Switzerland’s reputation as the birthplace of hospitality was established over a hundred years ago when the first palace-style hotels were built.

These grand hotels catered to an exclusive clientele of royalty, aristocrats and wealthy individuals lured by the Alps and alpine tourism. Guests of this era demanded the highest levels of service excellence and the leading Swiss hoteliers responded by systemizing the processes for hotel operations. These processes were the foundation for the enviable reputation Switzerland has today in hospitality, hotel and tourism management.

The profile of the international traveler may have changed since then, but the principles of good hotel management remain the same:

• Practical innovation
• Immaculate precision
• Discreet discipline
• Dependable quality
• Professional leadership

These principles are the cornerstones of hospitality education and hotel and tourism management at the Swiss Education Group schools.

Switzerland enjoys a long tradition of educating future leaders in hospitality and a reputation for educational excellence. In particular, Swiss hotel management programs are recognized by the industry as being of exceptional quality.

The role of other foreign languages besides English

In this 21^st century, the young generations, majority, speak English considerably pretty good as they have been learning it since their kindergarten time.

But, do you know that there are many other foreign languages spoken in this whole world? Mandarin, Japanese, Korean are the major one for Asia. And French and Germany are at the other part of the world.

While you are young, you might not know yet what profession or where your career will take you. Nevertheless, learning other foreign language from your young age will sharpen your language skill, so when you grow older, you might find it not too difficult to learn other foreign language you might need.

Having ability to speak a foreign language is definitely a plus point for you. Looks good on your CV and besides you may make new friends from other countries.

Nowadays the world is borderless, International network is crucial…

How challenging is it – internship abroad?

No doubt it is waaay a lot more challenging! Why?

1.       You are far away from home –you might feel homesick and being alone. No parents and relatives and close friends to share your good and bad times. Must look for the food by yourself, must do the laundry by yourself, must find new friends, etc, etc

2.       You must adjust yourself into ‘the new world’ where you are in. you need some time to get to know the people, the culture, the language, the food, ‘the do and the don’t”

For example, for Asian students doing internship in a restaurant serving Western food.  Drinking wine is a must for the Westerners while not for the Asians. Opening a bottle of wine can be a real challenge for us. I experienced it myself, I was so nervous because turns out it was so hard to get the cork out. Luckily the guests I served are very nice, understand the difficulties and he offered to do it by himself.

Even more challenging for those doing internship in a country like Switzerland, France, Germany where English is not their national language! 

But after all, once you conquer the challenge, you will be proud of yourself and I can assure you, you can survive just wherever you are! And this is extremely useful for your future!

Internship – what is it all about?

When you choose a vocational school such as hospitality or culinary, internship is definitely will be part of your academic program. Otherwise don’t even think of choosing that school !

Nature of a good vocational school is strong emphasize on sharpening your skills and groom you to be ready for stepping your feet into a real career once you step out of the school. Thus, internship plays an essential role of your study.

Internship means you physically leave school for a while (usually per semester) whereas you are placed into a real restaurants or hotel (for those hospitality management or culinary art students) or cruise ship or other relevant workplaces and where you must serve real guests who come to that places and spend money for using the facilities. Meaning they have to pay when they eat in that restaurant or stay in a room of that hotel, etc.

When you do your internship, you implement into the real world, all what you have learned at school. For hospitality management students doing internship in F&B department : Greet the guests, walk them to their table, take order, serve them the food and beverage, take their payment, greet them a warm goodbye. As well set up the table, folding the napkins of various shape during the non-serving time.

While for the culinary students doing internship in F&B production department (kitchen) : sharpen your knife skills, prepare mis en place, does the cooking, plating according to the standard. Often one must also go to the restaurant for doing live cooking in front of the guests.

Characteristic of a Hotelier

A Hotelier meets people from all over the world, from various lifestyle and social background, with heavy turnover everyday. Therefore, to be a successful Hotelier, one must be friendly, smile and greet, enjoy meeting new people, attentive and sincere.
Do you have such characteristic?

Lovely Switzerland

Beautiful natural scenery of Swiss captured by my camera / au bord du lac Montreux.