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In the first three months of 2024 alone, 285 million tourists travelled internationally — about 20% more than in the same period of 2023. Imagine being at the forefront of this thriving industry, where your leadership and expertise create unforgettable experiences for travellers from around the world.
Across cozy bed-and-breakfasts and the world’s grandest thousand-room hotels, it’s a manager’s touch that makes all the difference. They are the driving force behind the very first smile guests encounter upon check in to the seamless service they enjoy throughout their stay. Indeed, such roles are great for those who naturally hone composure and patience, however, they crucially demand dedication, resilience, and broad skill sets commonly gained through experience and education — but, not just anywhere.
The choice of where to study hotel management should not be taken lightly, especially when countries like New Zealand exist. Renowned for its stunning landscapes and with tourism being its second largest export earner, it is the ultimate destination for hands-on learning and career advancement — both of which are simultaneously made possible by institutions like the Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS) in New Plymouth.
Here, your classroom is a fully operational hotel equipped with restaurants, a kitchen, front office, and hotel rooms, and your lessons are informed by industry leaders representing Accor, IHG, Millennium, Skycity, Hospitality New Zealand, the Tourism Industry Association, and more. Nothing less is expected of New Zealand’s #1 hotel and hospitality education provider. PIHMS’s reputation was solidified through its goal to equip you with the required skills, , attitude, and experience demanded by industry. In fact, all of its New Zealand Qualifications Authority-approved degree programmes include full-time paid industry placements. The formal tri-party employment agreement between PIHMS with the student and employer gives students the surety and confidence of a quality paid industry experience with the hotel industry.
What’s it Like to Study at PIHMS?
You’ll work in reputable hotels and resorts, gaining experience in various departments such as front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, and management. And while opportunities abound in New Zealand, placements can be conducted in just about anywhere — think London, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, or Queenstown. Over the years, placements took place in over 500 partner hotels across five countries and 50 cities.
“While I was completing my degree, I had graduate job offers from Australia, London and Auckland, from the contacts I made on industry placement,” shares Kyle Godden, who is now a Functions and Events Manager at Star Hospitality Group.
His launchpad to success was PIHMS’s Bachelor of Applied Hotel Management. This three-year programme was designed to teach you the ins and outs of assessing different situations and making decision efficiently to ensure guests receive the best possible experience. It also covers the latest business/management practices and nurtures key skills in leadership, communication, critical thinking, analytics, and marketing.
Placements aside, all final-year Bachelor’s students not only take the reins managing the hotel school, but take the lead in organising and executing the annual PIHMS Hotel Leaders Conference. The 2023 edition covered strategies for overcoming industry challenges while delivering exceptional guest experiences, insights on adapting to market trends and global dynamics, and innovative approaches to improving guest services and sustainability.
On campus, PIHMS students apply knowledge in all operational departments across 20-week semesters. Source: The Pacific International Hotel Management School
Meanwhile, the 18-month Master of Hotel Management takes things up a notch. It was designed for those who already hold a degree and aspire to lead at the senior level. On this route, you’ll undertake a comprehensive thesis focused on your chosen field within the hotel and hospitality industry, allowing you to deepen your knowledge and become a recognised expert in areas such as Marketing, Digital Marketing, Management, Human Resources, Food and Beverage, IT, Front Office, and Rooms Division. The Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Management is an equally apt choice for degree-holders who seek to excel in management roles within the hotel and hospitality industry.
All programmes lead to great outcomes. This is a fact backed by numbers — 96% of PIHMS graduates are employed on or within three months of graduation, with 85% receiving promotions within a year and 58% advancing to management positions within five years.
“When you have an education at PIHMS behind you, I think employers are more likely to take a chance on you, knowing you have skills and a good work ethic,” says graduate Ajinkya Jagdale from Mumbai, who is currently the Director of Hospitality at Shining Peak, an acclaimed brewery in the heart of Taranaki.
Sold? “Try before you buy” and make informed decisions about your future in hospitality by connecting with the PIHMS community through its international study tours and domestic career weeks. Learn more about living, learning and working in New Zealand today.
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