Taking the lead with a groundbreaking online master's degree

The hospitality sector is currently undergoing rapid changes: new generations entering the market have different expectations of hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, resorts, etc. Hospitality has to go above and beyond to provide customers with “wow” experiences and unforgettable moments. 

Now more than ever, the industry needs educated and analytical business minds, who know how to scan the horizon for trends and consumer expectations. This is why getting a master’s degree can equip and empower you to advance your career. 

"The Online Executive Master Program was birthed in 2021 out of the realization that as a school, Swiss Hotel Management School also needed to be present online, a reality which the pandemic made strikingly clear. We wanted to be able to deliver value to hospitality professionals who desired to pursue further education and gain a deeper understanding of the business of hospitality," shares Andrea Leuenberger, Program Leader of the Online Executive Master program at Swiss Hotel Management School. 

Take Constantinos, for instance, who used to be Head of Engineering at Kanika Hotels & Resorts Cyprus. When he paused one day to take stock of where he wanted his career to go, he decided he wanted to become Operations Manager. Constantinos enrolled in the Executive Online Master program as one of the very first students. Over the course of only a few months, his mindset and language shifted and the resort where he works took notice. He has since been promoted to Operations Manager for the group.   

Another good example is Paula, who has over 10 years of experience as a Sales and Events Manager. When she realized that she needed a new professional challenge, she decided she wanted to deepen her understanding of business. The flexibility of the online Executive Master allows her to juggle the demands of having two kids and a career at Fasano Group Brazil. 

Program Leader Andrea Leuenberger is passionate about the opportunities this new program offers seasoned professionals. “The Online Executive Master of Hospitality Management is our offer to both the industry looking for brilliant minds to move their companies forward, and the busy hospitality professionals who want to enhance their management and leadership skills. Through a self-paced program that includes 12 online modules, one of which offers the option of a two-week residency on campus in Switzerland, you decide on how quickly you would like to advance, allowing you a flexibility that gives this program a competitive edge.” 

The Online Executive Master of Hospitality Management is our offer to both the industry looking for brilliant minds to move their companies forward, and the busy hospitality professionals who want to enhance their management and leadership skills.

What does this look like in practice? 

Every eight weeks, you can choose from between one to four modules. Each module requires about 15 hours of engagement or study time a week. The entire program includes 12 modules, but you are in control of how quickly you advance. If your time allows for it, you could for example choose to take four modules at a time, which means 4x15 hours a week of study time. You might also decide to only take one module over six weeks. We know how the seasonality of the hospitality industry provides opportunities for managers to engage in further studies and that some seasons are busier than others, which is why we want to make it easy for you to compose your timetable on your own terms. 

“The program is designed in such a way that I can juggle work and studies at the same time”, shares Anna Soukup, one of our students, who is the Director of Crisis Communications and Loyalty Integration for Kempinski Hotels. “The Online Executive Master awakens your curiosity and your thirst for knowledge while deep diving into subjects more practical related to everyday work-life.” 

The Online Executive Master awakens your curiosity and your thirst for knowledge while deep diving into subjects more practical related to everyday work-life.

Each week, you log into an online program where you can find all the materials you need for the module you have selected: this includes videos we have produced on business theory and concepts, supported by reading materials and articles where you can discover how the theory is applied in the real world.  

We also provide you with worksheets where you can start to make sense of the concepts. In addition, every week you will exchange with others about what you are learning in two forums where you can write about the opinions you are forming. There are weekly quizzes that contribute to your overall grade and at the end of the module, you also turn in a written assignment.  

The 12 modules cover classic business theory as well as the latest industry developments, such as artificial intelligence and technology-driven innovation, the digitalization process, entrepreneurship, or sustainability. Take "Strategies for Sustainability" for instance: in this module, we explore how should you start thinking about sustainability as a business, what impact it has on cost and profit, as well as on how your staff behaves, what managerial measures need to be taken, how to show customers what your company stands for, etc. 

Through all of these modules, you develop your critical thinking and gain essential skills to analyze situations. Guest speakers from the industry's leading companies complete this comprehensive curriculum with invaluable insights and perspectives.   

The Online Executive Master allowed me to participate in open discussions with experienced people in the hospitality industry.

“The Online Executive Master allowed me to participate in open discussions with experienced people in the hospitality industry”, explains Constantinos Karapinna (Operations Manager, Kanika Hotels & Resorts). “Because what I have learned isn’t just rooted in theory but also in real-life hospitality experience, I find myself using it in my job on a daily basis.”