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Vatel Bordeaux: Learn the art of hospitality in France’s favourite city

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France’s “favourite city”; the world’s “best city to visit”; “the very essence of elegance,” according to the Queen of England herself — Bordeaux is all of the above and more.

If there’s one city to beat Paris with its Eiffel Tower, fashion weeks and Louvre, it’s this city. With its oceanic climate, 18th century architecture, Cité du Vin museum and thousands of world-class wine estates, most, if not all, visitors have considered packing up and moving here permanently. Not far away is Cognac and UNESCO heritage site Saint-Emilion; the French Capital is a two-hour train ride away and the rest of Europe connected by many flights — Bordeaux is a city to elevate the senses, a base to explore the finest the continent has to offer.

If you are looking for a top-ranked, multidisciplinary and hands-on education in English from a business school that takes pride in its sustainable and innovative approaches, look no further than Vatel Bordeaux.

Source: Vatel Bordeaux

“I chose Vatel Bordeaux to find out more about this very specific French art of hospitality that the world envies. As soon as I arrived, I was able to experience it. Both staff members and students put me at ease on my very first day and the only hard thing for me was the French language classes, but I progressed really quickly by going to the movies with my friends and always speaking French with them,” says bachelor’s student Regina Sabirova.

Vatel Bordeaux is a proud member of the Vatel Group, the first largest Business School Group in Hospitality and Tourism Management in the world with 55 campuses in 33 countries and winner of the “Best Hospitality Management School” category at the 17th Worldwide Hospitality Awards, beating 42 other prestigious institutions.

Achievements such as these are why hotel giants such as Sofitel, Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton and Mandarin and more entrust Vatel Bordeaux with supplying quality recruits who add value to their business. They know Vatéliens (Vatel alumni) benefit greatly from the school’s close relationships with these famous and prestigious brands. Such industry links prepare, harness and kickstart international careers in hospitality, tourism and luxury goods management — all graduates secure jobs within a year after graduation, many at some of the most beautiful and exciting locations in the world.

Experience plays a big role in explaining this track record. With over 26 years of history, Vatel Bordeaux knows how to dedicate and customise its teaching and tools to prepare students for their careers with an entrepreneurship mindset. Ninety-eight percent of instructors and lecturers are active professionals and their teachings go hand-in-hand with the school’s hands-on approach and strategical thinking.

Students are provided with a good amount of training, practice and internships (15-months, to be exact) in France or abroad to learn how to solve problems, take responsibility, and most importantly, take charge. They are also allowed to work up to 20 hours per week to add experience on their resume.

All of these happen within a carefully-designed structure. Students learn operational management during their bachelor’s degree and perfect their strategic thinking during the MBA programme. Those interested to journey into Import/Export, Sommelier and Luxe can also specialise in Wine & Spirits, and build their international career in a blooming industry.

For those coming from a different background, they can join a Passerelle programme prior to the MBA to catch up. Or if they have a two-year diploma in Tourism, Culinary Arts or Hospitality, they can join a Foundation year, the completion of which will allow them to enter Vatel Bordeaux. “Since I began, I’ve already learned management techniques, administration, marketing, wine culture and much more. What’s great at Vatel Bordeaux is that I can apply this right away, with my practical application weeks,” says foundation year student Le Minh Yen Nguyen.

With a department dedicated to placement, students can gain experience at some of the biggest hotels, like alum Adrien Cascio did. “Thanks to Vatel Bordeaux’s internship opportunities, I had the chance to work in some of the leading institutions in the international hospitality industry such as Royal Monceau Raffles Paris and learn from famous Parisian sommeliers,” says the current Head Sommelier at Le Gabriel restaurant.

Source: Vatel BordeauxThe thought of being a first-timer in France could be intimidating, but hospitality goes beyond academics for Vatel Bordeaux. The Student Affairs Departments helps foreigners to complete administrative formalities before, during and after arrivals. You will never feel alone, with students from 52 nationalities all embarking on the same journey to excellence.

Source: Vatel Bordeaux

The family element is emphasised with the school’s goal to know each and every student on a personal level. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, faculty members organised many webinars, workshops and online cafés to help students cope with lockdowns, reassuring and supporting them thoroughly. All of Vatel Bordeaux’s programmes are offered in English, but that does not take away from the full experience of the French “Art de vivre” or “art of living”.

To get a jist — imagine climbing Europe’s highest dune, tasting wine in “Cité du Vin”, enjoying fresh oysters in an authentic farm, touring a fortified castle, kayaking out in the Bay of Arcachon, or venturing to Spain and beyond.

Excited? Sounds like Bordeaux could be your unrivalled academic getaway that is bound to turn into the most picturesque home away from home experience.

If you are interested to know more about Vatel Bordeaux and its excellent offerings , you can download the brochure or click here for a virtual campus tour and check out their virtual tours below: