The rapid pace at which technology and traveler expectations are evolving is putting big pressure on hospitality organizations to keep up and remain relevant. As a result, a new breed of leader is required: one with a digital-first, strategic skillset that can transform business models.
New leaders need new education: introducing Les Roches’ brand-new Master’s in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation.*
As we head towards 2020 and beyond, digital is not just here to stay; it is here to dominate. Did you know that last year online travel agents (OTAs) secured bookings worth €47.9 billion in Europe alone? That hotels are using digital applications to offer customers everything from augmented reality to personalized room settings.
Hospitality brands need strategies in place to maximize the potential of technology in their business models. Beyond best-practice, this is now business critical to ensure both operational efficiencies and the customer experience are best-in-class.
Our new Master’s, taught at Crans-Montana campus in Switzerland, will equip you with the skills to innovate, stay abreast of technologies, and master the ongoing digital transformation of hospitality.
Why Les Roches?
As an institution with entrepreneurship in its DNA, Les Roches is well-placed to deliver this forward-thinking Master’s. Crans-Montana campus promotes a disruptive approach to traditional hospitality, creating an environment that inspires leadership and alternative thinking.
Students will transform and unleash their potential through expert faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and exposure to the real world on internships, business projects, and global field trips. Equipped with industry-leading expertise, they can make connections to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and multinational brands, gaining the confidence, in-demand skillset, and network to choose from career opportunities around the globe.
Core objectives of the Master’s
Scott Dahl, Program Director for the new Master’s, explains the learning objectives that underpin the course. “The Master’s in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation is a career booster for young business professionals who seek to increase their strategic skills while anchoring them into hospitality excellence.”
“This 12-month program (plus capstone project or 6-month internship) will expose students to cutting-edge faculty and experts, confronting them with innovative business models and entrepreneurial thinking. Students will upgrade their leadership skills while applying their acquired knowledge to hands-on projects.”
Here’s what you’ll learn
The program is divided into three modules over two semesters:
- Mastering Digital Technologies and Innovation in the Hospitality Sector.
- Developing Sustainable Strategies and Business Models.
- Leading your Organization into the Digital Transformation.
Courses include sustainable hotel design and development, performance measurement and digital analytics, effective technologies in operations and service, new frontiers in revenue, channel and demand management, new business models, and the start-up ecosystem in hospitality.
The breadth of the studies will provide graduates with the knowledge that can deliver value in hospitality and beyond, from operations and marketing to financials and customer service. Everything learned in the classroom can be seen in practice on the business field trip to Paris and during a six-month internship or capstone. Students can also build their network while studying through industry leader meetings and Career Days.
Career routes after graduation
The new Master’s will prepare students for a successful career in hospitality strategy, entrepreneurship, revenue optimization, or digital transformation. As leaders in their field, they will possess strong strategic thinking skills combined with an in-depth understanding of markets and innovative practices in the digital world.
This skill set is in demand across industries and graduates of the new Master’s can expect to choose from exciting roles in tech companies, finance businesses, marketing agencies – any business that needs to digitally transform or provides that service.
Admission requirements and more information
To be eligible for a place on the new Master’s in Hospitality Strategy and Digital Transformation you’ll need to be 21 years old or older, with a Bachelor-level undergraduate degree in a relevant field (business or hospitality is preferred). Some work experience is preferred, although not essential.
The program will be taught in English, so if English is not your first language, or if you have not spent the last three years in a school where English is the primary language of instruction, you’ll need to have achieved a certain standard.
For more information on language requirements, and admissions and to discover exactly what’s covered in this new Master’s program.
*Please note this particular program is pending NECHE approval
