Carmen Dressler – BA in International Hotel Management
It might have been the fact that I grew up in a small Albertan town that made me want to see other parts of the world, or the fact my family had a keen sense of travel and had introduced me to foreign lands at such a young age, but from the time I was 12, I knew that travel and hospitality had to be a big part of my life.
I always had the vision of working at a world-renowned hotel chain on the other side of the globe, and ultimately holding a management title at an incredible destination. Before this program, it seemed that these goals I set out for myself were just dreams, something that just wasn’t attainable with only a hospitality management diploma under my belt.
After graduation from college I was quickly immersed in the hospitality industry, with food and beverage as my chosen sector to flourish in. I enjoyed this area of work, the guest interaction, something different every day; however it wasn’t enough for me as I knew I could strive for something more.
I looked into completing my degree, as this would segue into a more rewarding future career. I began to research the various Canadian universities that offered a hospitality management undergraduate program. Many presented what seemed to be excellent programs, but the Royal Roads BA in International Hotel Management jumped out at me, and by digging a little deeper I knew I had made my final choice. Royal Roads offered the last two years of my degree in a 12-month condensed time frame: nine months of academic learning and a three-month internship position, and in turn became one of the major selling points of why I should pursue Royal Roads University.
The learning experience at Royal Roads was exceedingly different then what I had experienced while obtaining my diploma from college. The curriculum offered is very demanding yet engaging and focuses on the practical and ‘hands-on’ aspect of the hotel industry, rather than just filling your head with masses of theoretical knowledge.
Royal Roads has been the key to unlocking the door to my dream that I have held for so long, and because of that I am now currently employed as a guest services officer intern with Starwood Hotels in Asia at the Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel and Towers in Nanjing, China.
The International Hotel Management program at Royal Roads has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. The opportunity, support and encouragement within this program are remarkable, and the resources and education they supply you with are outstanding. Because of Royal Roads and this program, I couldn’t be happier to step out into the hospitality world with a new and fresh outlook on what this exciting industry has to offer.
