Tourism and Hotel Management: A Student’s Perspective
An interview was set with Samer Kammoun, a Tourism and Hotel Management (THM) student in the University of Balamand, in order to draw a clearer picture of what such a major would provide.
Globe: Please describe the general idea of being a THM student and the basic learning outcomes of such a major.
Samer: Well, being a THM student gives me the opportunity to learn bits and pieces of everything starting from managing a hotel or restaurant, marketing or financing a situation to studying and improving the tourism of a site.
Globe: Since you’ve been involved with the major for almost 3 years now, I’m sure you can give us a brief response to the advantages and disadvantages of THM.
Samer: I really enjoy studying THM. In my opinion, the difference between THM and most other majors is the fact that THM involves more practical than theoretical work. I find that very helpful since I can gain experience and become more equipped with what to face in the near future.
I also believe that this major gives me the chance to socialize with new people, mingle with others, grow a stronger personality, become part of a “society”, and participate in several events such as “Horeca” or “Top Chef Show.”
On the other hand, THM requires very hard work. For example, working in the Tourism sector of a hotel provides no vacations. This is because during holiday seasons, such as Christmas, more people tend to travel and stay at hotels resulting with more work for us.
Globe: Could you please explain the different rankings and steps towards a successful career in THM?
Samer: It is important to know that the most important chiefs started as dishwashers and had the occasional chance to peel potatoes. In other words, to become successful you’ll have to pass through all the hardships of the process and possibly start as a dishwasher. It also depends on your seriousness and dedication towards your job. The more serious you are, the faster you’ll reach the top.
Globe: What is the program like in University of Balamand University?
Samer: It mainly consists of 3 years including 2 internships. I believe the internships are extremely important because they give you a direct experience of what it is like in the future. You will have to work about 500 hours in Food and Beverages and another 500 hours serving in a hotel.
In addition to that, the professor-student relationship is very important. In fact, in Balamand, students have strong relationships with their professors, not only in class, but also outside the academic field.
Courses are of a great variety. Like I said at the beginning of the interview, we learn bits and pieces of everything but then focus on our field. THM courses are a combination of hospitality and business courses in addition to accounting, marketing, finance, data analysis and statistics.
Globe: After graduation, is it possible to find a job easily?
Samer: According to what I’ve seen and experienced, yes it is. There are lots of job opportunities. Hotel management and Tourism never dies, unless people suddenly decide to stay home and never visit anything. This is why THM is a strong sector in a country, due to its continuous cycle. There may be seasons where jobs are scarce, but eventually, opportunities will rise again. Even underdeveloped countries generate profit though tourism.
Globe: To close our one- on-one session for today, do you have any dreams and ambitions for a career in your future?
Samer: Yes of course! I have always wanted to have a small business that I can run and operate using my own resources and skills while integrating the knowledge I’ve learned here in university. I want to open my own Night Club in Lebanon. As you can tell, night life in Lebanon provides great chances. Success is guaranteed if one knows when, where, and how to seize it.
Rula Dahdal
