HONG KONG—The University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and Switzerland’s Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) have signed a Letter of Intent to establish a tripartite master’s degree in global hospitality business.

Representing the best of the East and West, these three institutions have teamed up to nurture the talents of a new generation of professionals who will define the future of the global hospitality industry.

"Formulated with the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management, this innovative educational strategy will enable participants to effectively lead organizations in a world that has become increasingly connected. When they graduate, not only will they have global educational experience, but will also have established a network of global leaders—those they met on their journey and the classmates who took the journey with them," said Dr. John Bowen, dean of Hilton College.

A signing ceremony featuring the deans of the three programs—Dr. Fabien Fresnel (EHL), Professor Kaye Chon (SHTM) and Bowen—took place on May 20, 2014, at the Hotel ICON, which serves as SHTM’s teaching and research hotel.

"We are bringing three cultures together and capitalizing on three outstanding faculties and campuses. We will create a unique experience for the students and, ultimately, enhance their ability to become the next generation of business leaders who can think global and act local," said Fresnel.

Under the Letter of Intent, the three parties have agreed to establish a new educational program to be launched in 2015, the Master of Science in Global Hospitality Business. The program will allow hospitality students from Europe, Asia and North America to spend one semester in each of the three continents.

"This pioneering program is expected to produce a new breed of future leaders with strong global perspectives and an understanding of cultural emersion in the global hospitality business," said Chon.

The letter stipulated that a common curriculum that meets the academic standards and regulations of the respective institutions should be developed. Upon graduation, students of the program will receive the master’s degree from their home institution and certificates of completion from the other two schools.

Contact:
Taylor Wiley
ttwiley@uh.edu 
713.743.4258