The days of long lectures and passive note-taking are numbered. At least, they should be. Hospitality professionals are expected to think strategically, lead diverse teams, and make quick decisions under pressure. Yet many graduates leave university with little more than theoretical knowledge, unprepared for the realities of hotel operations. If we want stronger managers, the way we teach has to change.
The Problem with Traditional Learning
Passive lectures often fail to build confidence or decision-making ability. A study in the Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism found that many hospitality graduates hesitate in leadership roles because they lack practical exposure (Deale & Schoffstall, 2015).
This gap has real consequences. When new managers aren’t used to making decisions under scrutiny, they tend to play it safe – or worse, delay action entirely. For an industry where timing and communication are everything, this is a major liability.
Why Executive-Style Learning Works
Executive-style learning flips the script. Short, intensive modules build focus and retention better than long lectures (Harvard Business School, 2024), while case-based simulations mimic the real-life challenges managers face. Research from Freeman et al. (2014) confirms that students in active learning environments outperform those in traditional lectures when it comes to problem-solving.
Some institutions are already embracing this model. At SHG Universities, students roleplay hotel directors making operational decisions, present crisis recovery plans, and receive immediate feedback from faculty mentors. This combination of practice and coaching doesn’t just teach knowledge, it teaches confidence under pressure.
Three Steps for Trainers
Hotels don’t need to run a university to apply this. Replace slide-heavy workshops with short, scenario-based sessions; use real operational challenges as examples; and provide quick coaching feedback after each exercise. The result? Staff who can think like managers, not just follow instructions.
Further Reading
- Deale, Cynthia S., & Schoffstall, Donald G. “Developing Soft Skills in Hospitality Graduates.” Journal of Teaching in Travel & Tourism, 2015.
- Freeman, Scott, et al. “Active Learning Increases Student Performance.” PNAS, 2014.
- Harvard Business School. “Executive Education: Program for Leadership Development.” 2024.
Sofia Furtado
Junior Vice President, SHG Universities
Swiss Hospitality Group Universities
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