BUSINESS

A Career in Hospitality

Opens up the World to You

Life takes the graduates of the 1st International School of Ostrava to unexpected places. One of

them, Martin Vu, got a degree in International Tourism and Hospitality Management from Oxford

Brookes University, which he claims opened up the world to him.

Why did you decide to study hospitality?

It started off as a mere interest in travelling. A career in

hospitality opens up the world to you. You can work in

various countries while meeting people from different

backgrounds and cultures. Some hotel chains offer free

or discounted accommodation in all of their branches

around the world. Becoming a hotel manager isn’t

just a career, it’s a lifestyle choice. You are more than

just a waiter or receptionist. You organise events and

catering, manage finances and travel arrangements

and deal with sustainability and human psychology.

“

Good grades are always a bonus if

you want to secure a place in your dream

University, but personally I consider my

International Baccalaureate Diploma

along with the English language skills,

to be one of my greatest assets.

”

Extraordinary days and special events become your

daily bread. Dealing with people on a daily basis is

demanding but rewarding at the same time. You get to

spend plenty of time with your colleagues, it’s as if they

become your work family. It is a lifestyle that makes

you yearn for more, especially when you are at the top

of the profession. Top hotels and restaurants aren’t

just expensive for the sake of it. You pay extra because

their employees have high-quality knowledge and skills

that they have gained over many years.

Where did you study? And what does it take for

a Czech student to get accepted to this University?

I studied International Tourism and Hospitality

Management at Oxford Brookes University, which is one

of the top ten Universities for Tourism and Hospitality

Management in the world. Good grades are always a bonus

if you want to secure a place at your dream University,

but personally I consider my International Baccalaureate

Diploma along with the English language skills I gained at

1st International School of Ostrava to be my greatest assets.

Both my high school and University education focused

on critical thinking, searching and processing information,

argument skills and establishing connections.

What does a hospitality management student’s

profile look like? How did your University education

help in your career?

It was very important for me to learn computer

programming and work with MS Word and Excel. I also

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improved my presentation skills in PowerPoint and

Prezi, studied languages and refined my writing skills.

It’s essential to possess empathy and have good people

skills. Top Universities aren’t necessarily the ones with big

budgets. When I first started, the University buildings were

in a derelict state. It’s the connections and collaboration

that make it a top University. Other British Universities

don’t offer the same opportunities. In my previous

employment as a managerial assistant, I was responsible

for creating the standards across the hotel and its various

departments. The skills I gained through my University

education were a distinct advantage when it came to

efficiency, competition and salary negotiation. I gained

a high level of Spanish language skills at 1st International

School of Ostrava which I put to good use when

supervising a team of 30 Spanish-speaking employees.

I wouldn’t have been able to manage the team effectively

without my Spanish language knowledge.

was open to new experiences

“andI learned

new skills in each job.

This makes me a well

rounded individual.

”

What are the attributes of a good hotel manager?

It’s important to be versatile and familiar with all the areas

of hospitality. So far, I’ve worked in various departments,

divisions and real estates. You should be open-minded

and willing to learn new things. Knowledge is power.

Therein lies the difference between an excellent and

an exceptional employee. I’ve worked as a chef, waiter,

sommelier, event organiser, security guard, housekeeper

and receptionist. I was open to new experiences and

learned new skills in each job. This makes me a well

rounded individual. I’ve never missed an opportunity

to learn something new. Every experience is useful

because, now as a hotel supervisor, I understand the

challenges my team members have to face on a daily

basis. Theoretical knowledge isn’t enough. Everything

needs to be balanced. And of course, having knowledge

in the English language at a high level is a must.

Martin, thank you for the interview.