How do you create exciting projects for hospitality students?

To engage hospitality students, design projects that mirror real world scenarios and challenges in the industry. Examples include creating mock event proposals, developing marketing strategies for hotel chains, or conducting sustainability initiatives for restaurants. Incorporate interactive elements like site visits, role-playing, and team collaborations. Encourage creative solutions while emphasizing customer experience, operational efficiency, and innovation to make learning impactful and fun.

Students will be able to think about hospitality as a career opportunity and all the different areas it covers and transferable skills you gain

Para impulsionar projetos inovadores na hotelaria, estabeleça objetivos de aprendizagem precisos: aprimorar técnicas, fomentar a criatividade e desenvolver uma mentalidade empreendedora. Combine teoria e prática com estudos de caso, simulações, dinâmicas colaborativas e mentorias, mensurando resultados com rigor. Inspire os estudantes a transformar desafios em oportunidades reais, cultivando competências que os preparem para liderar com excelência neste setor competitivo. Rumo ao topo!

Design a “Global Fusion Pop-Up” where students create a one-night restaurant blending cuisines from different cultures. Host a “Hospitality Shark Tank” where students pitch innovative service concepts to real industry professionals. Develop a mystery guest challenge—students must deliver 5-star service without knowing who’s evaluating them. Launch a sustainability race: teams compete to design the most eco-friendly hotel room on a budget. Create a digital storytelling project—students document a day in the life of hotel staff from different countries. Partner with local businesses for a “Hospitality Takeover,” letting students run a venue for one full day.

Identifying learning objectives is the foundation of effective project design. They provide clarity on what students should gain from the experience and help align activities, assessments, and outcomes. Objectives should be specific, measurable, and achievable. For example, instead of saying “learn about hotel management,” you’d define a goal like “students will analyze and interpret hotel occupancy data to recommend improvements.” With clear objectives, both teaching and learning become more focused, purposeful, and impactful.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? Give them 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀. Ask: “How would you design a Gen Z check-in?” or “Can a lost & found experience become a brand story?” The best projects I’ve seen didn’t just meet the brief—they expanded it. They added 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴. Let students shadow teams, host brainstorms with kitchen staff, even fail fast. 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺—𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. The future of our industry lies in their curiosity. Let’s fuel it. #PeriScope

Exciting projects aren’t about flashy formats—they’re about relevance. In my experience with hospitality students from Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, France, Spain, and the UK, the most impactful ones connect learning with real industry challenges. What makes a real difference is direct engagement with the sector. Companies support youth and communities, while students gain practical insight. I’m proud that Swiss Hospitality Company has contributed to several student-led projects—and we’re continuing that by supporting a PhD student at the University of Surrey in her final research project.

Choosing a relevant and realistic scenario helps ground the project in practical application, making learning more meaningful. The scenario should closely connect to the learning objectives and simulate real-world challenges in the hospitality field. For instance, assigning students the role of hotel consultants during a post-pandemic recovery can push them to consider market trends, staffing, and guest experience. A good scenario is clear, engaging, and gives enough context for students to explore solutions while staying within their skill level. It should spark curiosity and provide room for creativity and critical thinking.

The best projects I’ve seen land with hospitality students are the ones rooted in real-world tension—not textbook examples, but lived challenges. Give them scenarios that reflect what it actually feels like to run short-staffed on a bank holiday, respond to a PR crisis mid-service, or rework a menu with limited budget and a changing demographic. It’s not about creating drama—it’s about helping them build muscle memory for decision-making under pressure. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s confidence. And that comes from realism, not roleplay. ❤️

Defining clear project deliverables and criteria ensures students know what’s expected and how their work will be evaluated. Deliverables should directly reflect the learning objectives and be manageable within the time and resources available. For example, if the project is on sustainable hotel operations, deliverables could include a written report, a presentation, and an infographic summarizing eco-friendly strategies. Criteria should focus on relevance, depth of analysis, creativity, feasibility, and presentation quality. Sharing these at the start helps students plan effectively and stay on track, while also allowing you to provide targeted feedback during the process.

I would produce a list of pre-set project milestones that would be linked to the feedback sessions (either facilitated by a professional from the industry, or a lecturer, or a mix). In this way, you can make sure the individual project teams stay on track and can correct their course in case they go in the wrong direction. The feedback needs to be recorded (e.g. by having one team member assigned to take notes), so that everyone (including those who cannot attend the meeting) is on the same page.

Incorporating collaboration and feedback builds a dynamic learning environment where students actively engage with both the content and each other. Group work encourages the sharing of diverse perspectives, while structured peer reviews help students refine their ideas. You can assign roles within teams to promote accountability and simulate real-world hospitality settings. Regular check-ins and feedback loops—through instructor input or guest critiques—keep the project aligned with learning goals. This approach not only improves project outcomes but also helps students build interpersonal and professional skills essential for their future careers.

Adding fun and variety keeps students engaged and brings energy to the project. Gamifying parts of the experience—like earning badges for hitting milestones or showcasing top ideas on a leaderboard—can create friendly competition and boost motivation. Letting students choose how to present their work—like through a video ad, interactive brochure, or themed pitch—gives them ownership and room to be creative. Encouraging humor, storytelling, or fictional twists helps them think outside the box and makes the learning process more memorable. When students have fun, they’re more likely to stay committed and proud of what they create.

✅ Simulaciones de servicio: Organizar prácticas donde los estudiantes gestionen eventos, restaurantes o experiencias turísticas reales. ✅ Proyectos de innovación: Desarrollar iniciativas como la creación de menús para aerolíneas, donde los alumnos diseñan platos y uniformes temáticos. ✅ Retos de sostenibilidad: Implementar proyectos sobre eficiencia energética, reducción de desperdicios y prácticas ecológicas en la industria hotelera. ✅ Colaboraciones con empresas: Vincular a los estudiantes con hoteles y restaurantes para que trabajen en casos reales y propongan soluciones innovadoras. ✅ Tecnología y digitalización: Explorar herramientas como sistemas de reservas inteligentes, gestión de clientes y automatización de procesos.