Starting a career in an international hotel chain

The Professional Development Days (PDD) are a university-company meeting that aims to facilitate the employment incorporation of EUHT StPOL students in the hotel, gastronomy, restaurant and events services. In this edition, the PDD had the participation of 16 international hotel groups and closed with an average of more than 8 interviews per student. A figure that rises to 12 interviews among the students of the University Degree in Hotel and Tourism Management.

On February 6-8, 40 human resources representatives from 16 international hotel chains interviewed nearly 70 students who are completing their studies at EUHT StPOL this year, as well as former students of this specialized university center. in hotel management, gastronomy, restaurants and events.

These are the so-called Professional Development Days (PDD), an EUHT StPOL event that has been held for more than 20 years in the facilities of the Sant Pol de Mar Hotel-School and which has become a platform for professional insertion with 99% success.

The figures of the JDP 2024: more than 580 interviews in three days

In total, during the 2024 Professional Development Days, 581 interviews were carried out with 69 final-year students of the Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Tourism Management, the Technical degree in Gastronomy and Restaurant Services, the master’s degrees in Hotel Management and Culinary Arts, Innovation and Kitchen Management, as well as EUHT StPOL alumni who wanted to join the event.

In total, each student has carried out more than eight interviews on average with the companies that participated in this edition of the PDD. A figure that increases to 12 interviews in the case of Bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Tourism Management students.

After these interviews, the companies will send their proposals for internships and employment contracts to the most suitable profiles they have selected. These offers range across different areas and departments of a hotel or restaurant chain. Most are accompanied by a company’s career plan.

Year after year, it has been shown that the PDD are an effective and efficient formula to facilitate the incorporation of new graduates into hotel and restaurant companies.

Companies participating in the JDP 2024

The 16 participating hotel chains are Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Real Hotels & Resorts, H10 Hotels, Meliá Hotels International, Minor Hotels, Six Senses Hotels Resorts and Spas, Palladium Hotel Group, Leonardo Hotels, Smart Rooms Company, Telefèric Barcelona and Marriott International. In addition, LVMH, Do&Co and RIU also participate online.

Each of them has interviewed students in search of candidates for their management development programs as well as for positions in the Food and Beverage and Kitchen departments in both national and international establishments.

More resources to start a professional career in hospitality

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

Added to all this is the extensive network of contacts that EUHT StPOL has in the hotel and gastronomic sectors, due to its almost 60 years of experience. From hotel chains to independent hotels and restaurants that are considered among the best within the national and international scope.

In fact, EUHT StPOL alumni today hold management 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 trained at this center.

Not in vain, EUHT StPOL has been considered the #1 university in Spain in Hospitality and Tourism and #14 in the world, according to QS World University Rankings 2023.