12 December 2016 Lincoln helping to meet hotel and tourism industry management skills demand

With tourism now New Zealand’s major export earner, and a push underway to grow it even further, Lincoln University is answering the call for tertiary qualified managers to be part of this exciting future.

Lincoln has re-developed its hotel management degree to include tourism, and in 2017 is offering a Bachelor of Commerce in Hotel and Tourism Management.

It has worked with industry partners to ensure its degree programme reflects current needs and offers graduates careers within the hotel and tourism industry.

Dr Anthony Brien, Senior Lecturer in Hotel Management, says previously Lincoln University offered a Bachelor of Commerce degree with separate fields of study in hotel and tourism management.

The new alignment will continue to deliver graduates who bring a very strong commerce focus to their job and add value to the overall organisation.

It also includes a unique practical work component.

“The hotel and tourism industry needs work-ready graduates and a new condition within the degree requires students to work within and apply their learning via projects in the industry while studying. This requirement blends learning with working (and earning), is in addition to the academic components of the degree and is a first for any New Zealand university offering such a programme”

He says Lincoln’s historically strong ties with the New Zealand and international hotel industry meant graduates with a sound business-based degree are already highly sought after.

This is backed-up by industry.

Sarah Keenan, ACCORHOTELS Learning and Development Manager, says their talent forecast greatly outstrips the supply in the talent market with multiple and varied career opportunities.

“As you develop and progress in your career the benchmark of receiving a business qualification becomes invaluable.

“Careers in finance, human resources, marketing, food and beverage and accommodation management are just some of the opportunities graduates find themselves in – all over the globe.”

She says Lincoln has a reputation for producing candidates that are able to assimilate into the workforce seamlessly; they have the relevant practical knowledge and life skills needed to progress and be successful. 

“I have hired Lincoln graduates before and they are excellent. What makes them stand out is a true understanding of the industry which they apply for”.

Lincoln University was the first New Zealand University to offer hotel and tourism management degrees over 25 years ago and remains New Zealand’s leader in this field.

Gary Jarvis, Operations Manager for The Heritage Hotel Group says “Lincoln’s reputation from a hotel and tourism perspective is very good particularly when considering the business aspects of the industry”.

New Zealand’s national tourism body - Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA),  recognises Lincoln University’s expertise in tourism and research, and the University is TIA’s key education and research provider cooperating with research, publication, advisory services and activities at workshops and events —a unique relationship.

Lincoln University Professor of Tourism, Dr David Simmons says the new major, by combining hotel and tourism studies “gives our students access to the very best of advice, research and understanding of current issues and trends”.

“Lincoln University continues to demonstrate leadership for a successful, sustainable and growing hotel and tourism industry via its graduates and other supporting research areas. It’s fantastic that Lincoln University can offer this new degree at this time as the hotel and tourism industry goes from strength to strength,” Dr Brien says.