Master of International Business in Hotel & Design Management

Master's Programme

This industry-accredited professional programme, Master of International Business in Hotel & Design Management, is designed for graduates who aim to advance their career by gaining advanced knowledge of theoretical and applied topics in the spheres of luxury, hotel design and executive leadership. Through the programme, you will acquire skills in analysis, critical evaluation, professional application and gain the ability to solve problems rigorously and independently. The Master programme has been designed in consultation with the industry and is endorsed by IHTTI’s industry partners.

 

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Semester 1 (5 months)

• Food & Beverage Management
  • This module aims to provide a knowledge and understanding of the management of food and beverage operations, incorporating the history of the food service industry, the composition of the sector, marketing, menu design, facilities design, layout and equipment. The module also introduces the element of human resources management within food and beverage operations.
• Visual Technology
  • Visual Technology is increasingly being used in hospitality establishments to enhance interaction and communication with clients. The module covers a broad spectrum of visual principles and techniques. The course starts with an introduction to web design; students will be challenged, as hospitality professionals to build their own professional website using WordPress. Students will learn the basics of HTML, CSS, PHP, and will use WordPress to build their website. Design concepts for personal websites and hotel websites will be studied. During the second half of the semester students will aquire in-depth overview of SketchUp, Photoshop, and Vray. Essential design software that will allow you to graphically express creativity and design concepts.
• Rooms Division Housekeeping Management
  • This module is designed to enable students to develop their understanding of the principles of housekeeping management and their application in today’s hospitality industry. It also incorporates knowledge and application of budget control, staff productivity and performance, as applied to housekeeping, within the hospitality environment.
• Human Resources Management
  • The course is designed to introduce students to the functions of managing people in the Hospitality industry from a Human Resource perspective. The course is centered towards the interaction of management and employees, with the key focus on team work. This module provides basis for critical appraisal of organizational and managerial processes, which influence the behavior, and performance of people in the hospitality industry. It will also give students a better understanding of the HR function as an employee or as a manager.
• Food & Beverage Service Theory & Menu Planning
  • This module aims to provide students with the theoretical underpinning for the concurrent practical application in the modules: Food & Beverage Service Practice & Supervision. This module embraces the principles and techniques required for professional execution of food and beverage production in tandem with food and beverage service.
• Food & Beverage Service Practice & Supervision
  • This module is designed to introduce MIB1 students to the fundamentals of food & beverage service, initially through practical application with an emphasis on supervisory techniques.
    Students learn and practice the application of the previously acquired theory in F&B service theory & menu planning. The styles of service practically taught providing the simulation of what will be expected during employment in the food and beverage industry.
• Managerial Accounting
  • The module focuses on the use of financial analysis and control techniques utilizing relevant data, based on a variety of case studies. It also addresses investment in the hospitality industry, financial projections and portfolio management.
• FO/RD Management & Concierge Services
  • This module aims to give students a 360 degrees’ overview of the concierge, rooms division and front office department of a hotel. It starts by developing world-class concierge service skills, along with the required leadership and communication skills needed to succeed in concierge and hospitality operations. The rooms division department in a hotel overlook the front office, security, and housekeeping management of the property. The module is designed to introduce students to the world of rooms division, looking into management contracts, star ratings, and the guest flow in a hotel. We will then work on hotel Ratios, and Revenue management concepts. Room sales techniques and innovation in these departments end the course.
• Hotel Information Systems
  • This module aims to provide students with the concepts and skills associated with hotel software. The module addresses different kinds of technologies that are installed and used to operate a hotel. Students will create and install processes and systems associated with hotel software. The course will focus on two types of technologies mainly efficiency and performance based technologies.
• Marketing Management for the Service Industry
  • This module will explore the phenomenal growth of consumption on a global context and the role of marketing, and specifically promotion in relation to this. In so doing, the module will identify links between the strategic marketing process and marketing roles within global competitive business environments. This module aims to give students knowledge of the planning process that is specifically related to service industry marketing. The module aims to develop students’ market students and analytic skills related to practical marketing planning issue, through the use of real world case studies and guest lecturers. The module aims to deliver a balance of service marketing planning theory, practical problem-solving case assignments and current topical issues in service marketing.
• AutoCAD
  • AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software for 2D, 3D and drafting. It is used across a wide range of industries: by architects, engineers, graphic designers, project managers, and other professionals. This module aims to be in parallel with DES402 (Visual Technology) course, where design softwares as SketchUp and Photoshop allowed students to express their creativity and design concepts. The AutoCAD module covers an in-depth understanding of the space, scale and measurements; also in combination with the DES401 (Interior Design) course, where the underlying concepts behind interior design (within hotels, restaurants and retail spaces) are being taught. The first part of the semester focuses on the use of the main commands in order to be able to draw at a fair designer level. The second half of the semester will focus on the space analysis through elevations, sections & perspectives and setting Layout spaces.
• Interior Design
  • The module covers a broad spectrum of interior decorating principles in order for the student to personalise and transform interiors and to acquire the knowledge and skills of dressing a room in different finishes. Students will be challenged with transforming a specific room, taking clients’ needs into consideration. Emphasis will be placed on applying the use of different colours, styles, textiles, lighting, window and floor coverings, textures and accessories, in order to create aeshetic appeal.
• Career Development
  • The career development Module which aims to prepare our students for the International Recruitment Forum or for their internships.
    The Module aim is to provide you with an understanding of employability, an opportunity to develop relevant career management skills, introduce you to the key issues of career decision making, and personal development and to equip you with the skills to make effective decision.
    Your success and career satisfaction is the primary goal of our school and we believe that you can turn your motivated strengths and interests into meaningful careers. We believe that it is not just about the destination but it is also about the journey. And it is more than just a job, it is about creating a life.
    One of the tools that we have created to assist you with this process is the Career Development classes which will run from week 1 to week 10. During those classes, relevant and valuable information on how to fight for a job that interests you.

 

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Semester 2 (5 months)

• Project Management
  • The temporary nature of projects indicates a definite beginning and end. Project management is accomplished through the appropriate application and integration of systematic and logically grouped project management processes within initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, as well as closing. For a project manager it is therefore essential to understand and successfully execute all project management processes for each unique project while communicating effectively within their own teams as well as all stakeholders across the organizational network. This course is designed to deliver greater appreciation of fundamentals behind the management of projects, such as breakdown of project conception, inception and realisation processes, risk mitigation planning through evaluation of external/environmental and internal forces, contingency theory, and communications plan. Acknowledgment and application of the exiting concepts, tools and techniques have become prerequisite of any project success, especially in the field of design and management of projects in hotel industry.
• Virtual Design Construction
  • The module is a project based course and will develop the skills and knowledge required to effectively utilise Building Information Model (BIM) tools in virtual design and construction. The aim of the course is the implementation and management of integrated multi-disciplinary performance models and BIM concepts throughout the life cycle of the building from planning, design, work processes, construction, and operations. The module will focus on project performance with regards to achieving specific objectives. It has become an important strategic method for organisations.
• Strategic Customer Relationship Management
  • This module will investigate the growth of E-marketing activities and how it enables hospitality companies to interact with consumers. Students will learn the use of Strategic Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and digital media by hospitality organisations to connect, interact and develop lucrative customer relationships. E-marketing and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) will be examined from a strategic perspective. An emphasis will be given on how ‘Web 2.0’, “Web 3.0” and "Web 4.0" technologies influence existing marketing activities and enable the development of consequential customer relationships.
• Interior Design Management
  • Nowadays Interior Design is one of the most important factors for Hotel’s guests and definitely a key tool to increase customer satisfaction. This module will focus on understanding client’s brand design philosophy in order to critically analyse successful interiors and be able to develop and obtain an efficient design brief.
    Interior Design Management will investigate how hotels attract their specific markets through design meanwhile reflecting brand’s value and corporate identity.
    The module will develop students’ understanding of customer relationships and how these may be strengthened through strategic interior design. It culminates with the production of a variety of interior proposals applied to a specific hotel project.
• Advanced AutoCAD
  • AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) software for 2D, 3D and drafting. It is used across a wide range of industries: by architects, engineers, graphic designers, project managers, and other professionals. This module aims to be a continuation of the IS201 and IS301 courses, where design awareness skills were taught and software such as SketchUp and VRay allowed students to express their creativity and design concepts. 
    
    This AutoCAD advanced module synthesises the importance of the space, measurements and scales; also in combination with DM702 and DM704 courses, where the underlying concepts behind hospitality architectures and facilities design (within hotels from F&B Outlets until recreation or function spaces) are being taught. 
    
    The first part of the semester focuses on the use of the advanced commands in order to deliver an in-depth space analysis on the core project given. The second half of the semester will focus on efficient visual communication through appropriate layout spaces. 
    
    Please note that this module is an essential tool for the final DM705 - New Venture Design Project portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester.
• Facility Development & Design
  • The aim of this module is to develop a property into a hotel, which strengthens and enlarges the client base of the specific hotel, either being a boutique or brand hotel. All finishes, spatial manipulation, furniture, lighting and furnishings selected or commissioned should tie in with the public perception of the property. Research, property analysis, space planning, disabilities act compliance, creativity and technical ability should be evidenced through presentation, written reports and visuals. Work will be assessed in terms of research, creativity and the analysis, accuracy, understanding and application of knowledge.
• New Venture Design Project
  • The module is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to develop a project that will explore all the main design and technological issues raised by other modules.
    You will be considering your previous Interior Design experience and skills acquisition in order to plan a major project. You will research associated areas and evaluate the opportunities for generating original and innovative ideas within an area of Interior Design.
    You will receive a client brief, which will be sufficiently challenging but also realistic in its expectations. You will provide a rationale for your design and then work on concept and mood boards before finalising your designs and submitting a complete design pack as if to a client. It is expected that the work you will present will include visuals, presentation boards, development electronic layouts and product specifications.
• International Luxury Business Management
  • This “International Luxury Business Management” module aims to develop students’ practical knowledge and understanding of the following fields linked to the luxury industry at a management level.
    It provides an opportunity for students to understand the fundamentals & the specificities of management in the luxury industry (products & services) as well as the numerous topics which are related to management positions. It also supports the students in their understanding of the evolution of management in this specific industry which is growing fast throughout the world and still remains a small industry in terms of volume and value vs fast moving consumer goods. The students would be required to transfer their knowledge, skills & expertise to the luxury hospitality industry. To achieve this goal, students will be associated to an hospitality project (field project) throughout the semester which itself will be linked to several MIB modules.
    This module will facilitate the employability of students within the luxury industry or the luxury hospitality industry. The future managers must be capable to manage business, innovation and creativity within a fast changing environment.
• Applied Corporate Finance for Hotel Managers
  • Hospitality and design industry executives are required to have an extensive knowledge of corporate financial management along with a multitude of other skills to make sound decisions and effectively carry out their duties in an increasingly global environment. This module will provide the students with a toolkit designed to allow them to have an extensive overview of the challenges faced by multinational hospitality and design industry firms and the tools used to monitor and counter these challenges.
• Executive Professional Development
  • The module will focus on individual development and team focused professional relationships, with an emphasis on leading high performance teams. Specific skills in tactics of negotiation, influencing and communication will be integral part of the module.
    The student will acquire coaching and mentoring skills, as well as the art of facilitation and managing conflict. Managing their professional image will cover concepts such as a good impression, appearance, etiquette, body language, hosting and acknowledging clients, maintaining positive on-going relationships.
• Internship – Career Development
  • The module aim is to provide students with an understanding of employability, an opportunity to develop relevant career management skills, introduce them to the key issues of career decision making, and personal development and to equip you with the skills to make effective decision.
    Our students’ success is the primary goal of our school and we believe that students can turn their motivated strengths and interests into meaningful careers. We believe that it is not just about the destination but it is also about the journey. And it is more than just a job, it is about creating a life.