Hotel management - it's more than a job, it's a lifestyle and a passion. Twice a year, generally July and October, ICHM runs two one-week programs designed to help students make an informed decision regarding ICHM and a management career in the hotel industry.

What to expect

This live-in introduction to the course is your opportunity to experience the hotel/ hospitality environment and ICHM first hand. You can expect to:

• Learn about the tourism & hospitality industry.
• Discover different career paths.
• Learn the job of a Hotel Manager.
• Have a fun, hands-on introduction to hotel operations.
• Practice being a hotel manager & work through issues together with your executive team.
• Introduction to supervision & management topics including communications, HR, management & marketing.
• Visit local hotel & tourism sites.
• Ask questions of ICHM students.
• Meet the teaching staff.
• Experience the world class ICHM teaching facilities.
• Learn about ICHM’s worldwide undergraduate industry placement program (internship).
• In-depth understanding of Courses.
• Learn the workload & demands expected of students.
• Experience ICHM’s outstanding on-campus accommodation.

ICHM Career Week 2008 Brochure & Application Form (PDF)

SIMONE'S STORY

SIMONE HANSEN ATTENDED A CAREER WEEK AND IS A CURRENT ICHM DEGREE STUDENT

When I was still in high school I had no idea what I wanted to become or what I wanted to do. My main aim at the time was just to finish and than go to university. Although I had no idea what I wanted to be, I knew I enjoyed hospitality and wanted to work in some way in the industry. The main draw for me was I could travel, meet new people, see new places and gain work experience whilst doing it. I learnt about the ICHM Career Week through an advertisement on our Career Counsellors notice board.

After noticing the advertisement I went home and did some research and decided that I liked the look of it. After comparing it to other hotel schools in Australia I decided that this was the one that best suited me and decided to come to one of the Career Week's, to gain a better understanding of what ICHM had to offer. By coming to the Career Week program my decision on what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go was made for me.

Attending ICHM has opened my eyes to the possibilities of the hospitality industry. As I look back over my time here, I realise that ICHM has been everything I expected and more. The standards are very high making you raise your own expectations.

The opportunities that you can gain whilst being on Internship are excellent. My first Internship was at The Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas working in Rooms Division. During my six month placement I also got to work in Banquets, Food & Beverage and Switch. For my other internship I went to work at the Crown Plaza Wiesbaden in Germany! And being I had completed sufficient industry hours I used one placement to study language to fulfil the SHA second language requirement. Internships provide a fantastic opportunity as it helps you to gain a good insight into the industry, develop networks around the world and just enjoy your self.

Living on campus whilst studying at ICHM is a great experience also as you are living with people form many different nationalities; you make so many great friends and is itself a good learning experience.

If you're interested in hospitality and want to pursue a career in the industry, I highly recommend attending a Careers Week. It will help you gain an understanding of what ICHM has to offer and what opportunities there are in the hospitality industry.

All the best.