After a year of restrictions, you don’t need to look far to realise that everyone craves a tangible experience. Just go to Instagram and you’ll find countless photos of exotic destinations, sumptuous meals, and exciting experiences – it’s a mirror of our ideal lifestyle.
What we see on Instagram now shows us that even the pandemic can’t kill our passion for great experiences. If anything, it makes us want them more than ever. Even with travel suspended, just look at how many Singaporeans are out and about exploring our local hoods and foods, with ‘holidays at home’.
What this shows is that the hospitality industry that’s responsible for bringing you great experiences is poised to be bouncing back stronger than ever.
The Industry of Creating Great Experiences
The pandemic has upended a lot of plans, especially our careers. One thing is for sure though: we need to be flexible to adapt to changes.
Not many careers can give you the flexibility to shift industries as seamlessly as the hospitality industry – that’s because it applies to any company that deals with experiences, focused on meeting our wants rather than just our basic needs. A hospitality role also ensures these experiences run smoothly by solving problems and soothing relations.
Mention ‘hospitality’ and people often think students are trained to man front desks or cook in a professional kitchen. But the hospitality industry is far more than just concierges and chefs – it’s about facilitating all manner of experiential pursuits, from food & beverage (F&B) and travel/tourism to lodging, recreation, retail, and even industries like banking and tech. You could be curating an African safari, an exhilarating BTS concert, or heading customer relations at an MNC.
And if you’re the type of person who’s got a passion for bringing people joy and curating special experiences, then now’s a great time to start planning for an education in hospitality, and EHL (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne) has been at the forefront of the industry since 1893.
Not if, but when
What exactly does hospitality mean in the new normal? No one knows that for sure, but we do know that there’s light at the end of this tunnel.
When borders start to reopen and events restart due to vaccination rollouts, which is expected to exceed 50% before the end of this year, there’s very likely to be an instant surge in bookings. Data from International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that while passenger numbers would recover to 52% of pre-Covid levels by the end of 2021, it’ll surpass pre-Covid levels by 5% in 2023. Essentially, we’ll be flying more by 2023 than we were in 2019, and all those travellers will need places to stay, eat, and things to do.
According to an article in FT, consumers around the world have stockpiled an extra US$5.4 trillion of savings since the pandemic began, which means that when Covid restrictions are eased, it’ll pave the way for an unleashing of significant pent-up demand for travel and leisure activities like dining, shopping and clubbing. And the hospitality sector is poised to be riding that wave.
The future of hospitality
It’s human nature to crave new things to see, do, and appreciate. Over the years through downturns and pandemics, these special experiences have only made us crave them more – whether it’s discovering a new favourite destination, experiencing the excitement of a live concert, or receiving a simple kind gesture from a stranger.
If you have the passion to ensure that these experiences continue to inspire and invigorate people, a career in hospitality can empower you to bring a touch of happiness into everyone’s lives. There are exciting developments in the future of hospitality that promise unlimited possibilities for greater levels of fun, excitement, and participation.
Technology is playing a huge part in this future. During the height of the pandemic, the K-pop industry reinvented the wheel with digital concerts, allowing millions of fans around the world to share their experiences simultaneously. Beyond robot-manned hotels, we could see a future of Virtual and Augmented Reality tours – imagine interacting with King Ramses in the Pyramids of Giza or fighting with knights in medieval England.
If you have a passion for sustainability, the future of hospitality can be more green: tours can focus on small-scale, hyper-local experiences. At the same time, it can also be more inclusive, able to cater to oft-ignored niche crowds like the disabled. F&B outlets can also create special dining experiences by incorporating deliveries with extras: atmospheric candles, QR-code playlists, and unexpected freebies. With passion as your compass, what experiences will you be able to think of next?
The future is yours to curate, and hospitality management training will give you the tools. EHL has been with the industry through every step of its evolution, including harnessing the digital technology that’s changing the way we choose, buy, and share our experiences these days.
Hospitality education at EHL
As the world’s top hospitality management school, EHL’s hospitality education is structured in such a way that students not only gain in-depth knowledge on the hospitality industry, but also develop soft skills that evolve with changing times. The heart of EHL’s curriculum is experiential learning, which is deeply ingrained in the Swiss education system.
With hands-on classes, two 6-month internships, real-world case studies, and a business incubator for would-be entrepreneurs, EHL provides students with hands-on skills relevant for tomorrow’s workplace, not yesterday’s. The curriculum changes twice a year to ensure their teaching meets the ever-changing needs of the industry.
EHL’s BSc in International Hospitality Management is split between its campuses in Switzerland and Singapore, is ideal for those who thrive in a dynamic university environment with group assignments and internships. Students based in the Singapore Campus will take their first semester in Lausanne before finishing their remaining 3 years in Singapore, while those based in the Lausanne Campus will take all 4 years in Lausanne with opportunities to do an exchange in Passugg or Singapore. In both cases, students will undertake internships anywhere in the world for two semesters.
If you’re interested in exploring the fun possibilities in hospitality and business, or if you simply want to get to know EHL more, you can attend the “Hospitality in a Digital World” week-long online programme. It’s one of four hands-on summer camps offered by the EHL Junior Academy where you can participate in fun challenges like building a hospitality concept or crafting your social media campaigns, with modules centered around essential soft skills like leadership, innovation, and presentation. It’s a great taster to get to know EHL, especially if you’re passionate about learning how to create unique experiences.
Now’s the best time to get into hospitality
The ever-changing hospitality landscape requires savvy thinkers to exploit opportunities and cope with challenges, and all it needs is passion to ignite the spark. See how EHL can impart you with the right managerial skills, a service-oriented education, and exposure to a multicultural environment to help give you that edge in the industry. Check out EHL’s website for more information.
