How to start a professional career in the hospitality industry?

The Professional Development Days (PDP) are a university-company meeting that aims to facilitate the employment of EUHT StPOL students in the hospitality industry. In this edition, the PDP have had the participation of 13 international hotel groups and have closed with an average of more than 6 interviews per student. A figure that rises to 10 interviews per student of Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

On February 1 and 2, more than 40 human resources representatives from 13 international hotel chains interviewed nearly 80 students who are completing their studies at EUHT StPOL this year, as well as former students of this university specialized in hospitality management.

These are the so-called Professional Development Days (PDD), an EUHT StPOL event that has been held online for the second consecutive year due to the Covid-19.

Although tourism and the hotel industry is one of the sectors that has been most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, a feeling of optimism arose during the PDD due to the progressive reactivation of the hotel and tourist activity.

Hotel groups participating in PDD 2022

These are the thirteen hotel chains that have participated in the JDP 2022: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (Hong Kong), Marriott International (USA) Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Paradores, H10 Hotels, Riu Hotels & Resorts, Meliá Hotels International, Minor Hotels (Thailand), Senator Hotels & Resorts, Marugal Distinctive Hotel Management, Four Seasons (Canada) y Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas (Thailand).

The PDD in numbers: more than 450 interviews in two days

During the two days of the 2022 Professional Development Days, a total of 456 online interviews were done with 74 final-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Technical Degree in Gastronomy and Restaurant Service, the Master in Hospitality Management and the Master in Arts Culinary and Kitchen Management, as well as EUHT StPOL Alumni who wanted to join the event.

In total, each student has carried out an average of more than six interviews with the hotel chains that participated in this edition of the JDP. A figure that increases to 10 interviews in the case of students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management.

From these interviews will come the proposals for internships and employment in different areas and departments of the hotel chains, most of them accompanied by a career plan within the company.

Year after year, the PDD have become an effective and efficient formula for facilitating the incorporation of new graduates into hotel and restaurant companies.

More resources to start a career in hospitality

The PDDs are not the only resource for the employment of EUHT StPOL students. During the academic year, other hotel chains and restaurant groups come to the university to interview candidates and find professionals in the sector for their companies.

To all this is added the wide network that EUHT StPOL has in the hotel and gastronomy sector derived from its more than 50 years of experience. From hotel chains to independent hotels and restaurants, many of them considered the best nationally and internationally.

In fact, EUHT StPOL alumni today hold managerial or departmental management positions in hotel companies around the world and, in the culinary field, 7 Michelin stars are in the hands of chefs who once studied at this center.

In fact, EUHT StPOL has been ranked #1 in Spain #24 worldwide in Hospitality and Leisure Management, according to QS World University Rankings 2021.