InterContinental Hayman Island Resort in the tropical Whitsundays will become a working home for tourism and hospitality students undertaking paid internships in a new collaboration between the resort and The Hotel School.
Students will be able to apply their skills and knowledge in on-the-job training at the five-star resort – the only one in the world allowing students to live and work in such an environment.
The new Hayman Island campus joins Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne as a campus for The Hotel School, which is supported in partnership by Southern Cross University and HTMi Switzerland. Campus operations on Hayman Island will be overseen by Jorn Wisselink, who brings more than two decades industry experience in business, hospitality and education roles around the world.
Students undertaking the two-year Associate Degree of International Hotel and Tourism Management will have the opportunity to make Hayman Island their home as they continue their study and apply their skills in the world of high-end hospitality. During their internship, students will be housed at specially built accommodations close to the North Queensland resort.
Southern Cross University Vice Chancellor Professor, Tyrone Carlin, said the opportunity to live, work and study on Hayman Island was unique.
“The InterContinental Hayman Island Resort is one of the world’s most prestigious hotels and Southern Cross University has built a reputation for delivering outstanding hotel and tourism courses,” he said.
“Students can be confident the five-star resort work experience gained during the paid internship, where they will put into practice the knowledge and skills gained while studying, will open doors for those seeking careers in the high-end market.”
Once completing the Associate Degree, students can build on this with a globally recognised qualification in the form of a Diploma in International Hotel and Tourism Management from HTMi Switzerland. Students can also apply their credentials as 24 months credit towards a Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management at The Hotel School’s capital city campuses.
The Hotel School General Manager, Sue Bakir, said students will be working closely with senior management at InterContinental Hayman Island Resort as part of their internship as they help to improve the hotel’s performance.
“The ultimate goal is for students to understand all aspects of a resort operation and upon graduation be ready to take on further graduate studies offered by The Hotel School and Southern Cross University or managerial roles in hotel or hospitality operations,” Bakir said.