Hospitality and design: a unique combination

A hotel is unusual in that, as a building, it needs to function as both a home and a business at the same time. This poses a unique challenge for designers, who often find it difficult to create two spaces in one location. 

The hospitality and design specialization at Swiss Hotel Management School highlights how the practical elements of architectural design and the more ‘diva’ side of design need to work hand-in-hand to drive innovation.  Through the program, students are given the skills needed to interpret and communicate the link between the architecture of a hotel, the design elements, and the needs of the hospitality industry.  

A hotel is unusual in that, as a building, it needs to function as both a home and a business at the same time. This poses a unique challenge for designers, who often find it difficult to create two spaces in one location. 

Industry-endorsed specialization 

The program also maintains an invaluable partnership with the London-based design agency Matter of Form, whereby students will enjoy expert guest lectures and benefit from the firm’s endorsement of the course’s design specialization. It’s yet another example of the school’s special relationship with the industry. 

According to Dominic Szambowski, dean at SHMS,  the luxury sector has reached its peak, and the focus needs to switch to wellbeing. 

"We need to prepare our students to be ambassadors who both can understand and communicate the important links between the technical elements of architecture and design and the concept of hospitality and wellbeing. This means that the industry now needs to implement new elements around design and wellbeing. Through this program, we need to prepare our students to be ambassadors who can both understand and communicate the important links between the technical elements of architecture and design and the concept of hospitality and wellbeing.” 

The science in art  

Hospitality and design are a good option for students and future hospitality industry leaders who have an appreciation of design, both technically and aesthetically, along with an understanding of human behavior, and who are interested in the connection between the two.  

Our graduates will speak the same ‘language’ as the architect and will be able to provide both a technical and visual brief on design needs. 

Our students need to be innovators, cultural ambassadors, and interpreters with a clear overview and understanding of all the facets that make up a functional and welcoming hospitality establishment. 

Graduates will leave the school with a core understanding and appreciation of the “science in art and the art in science” which is so relevant in the hospitality industry as it innovates and transforms. With this unique skillset,  Swiss Hotel Management School graduates face a bright future ahead.