Wellness Tourism and the Hospitality Industry

The tourism industry is thriving. Therefore, it seems there has never been a more exciting time to enter this market for a rewarding career in this industry. The hospitality sector is expanding and with it the list of vocations is growing too.  Training in this area can cover a huge range of fields, as evidenced by the variety of courses offered by the Alpine Center. There is much more expansion on just the standard ‘travel & tourism’ courses.

How is the industry shifting?

Despite the recent stretch on the economy, it seems the hospitality and tourism industry is still booming. This could be because the industry is meeting the needs of the evolving consumer demands. With the recent fascination and drive on healthy living, it seems that there has been a development in something now widely known as ‘wellness tourism.’ According to statistics produced by the Global Wellness Tourism Economy report this trend is now worth $US438.6 billion dollars and is set to continue growing.

What is Wellness Tourism?

Wellness tourism is any trip or holiday that results in taking direct action to be beneficial to the health and well-being of the traveller. This includes yoga retreats in Turkey, and fasting at an ashram in India. It could also be anything from a fitness boot camp in Ibiza, to a juice fasting cleanse in Nicaragua. There are so many niche markets cropping up, in order to cater to everyone’s needs. This is a new breed of travel, and it is big business. It is no longer just about boozy week-long holidays where the person returns with burnt skin and a damaged liver. Wellness tourism is about enhancing someone’s life whilst on holiday, so they return feeling refreshed and revitalised.

The Global Wellness Tourism Report indicates that some of the associations with Wellness Travel are authentic experiences, disease prevention and management, relaxation and healthy living. This is the opposite end of the spectrum to a typical lads’ holiday, which constitutes ‘unwell travel’ and includes some of the factors, such as excessive drinking, travel stress, unhealthy eating and lack of sleep.

How the Tourist Industry Can Support the Increase in Wellness Tourism

It is important for businesses in this industry to understand that there is a shift in this area, and that wellness tourism is a growing sector. It helps businesses to be flexible. It doesn’t matter if your business is not a yoga retreat, or a health spa. It is about tailoring your trip to meet all customers’ needs, and recognising that catering for wellness tourism could increase your customer base.  It is helpful to see what kinds of services your business can offer in addition to what you already cover. Could your business focus on health cuisine? Maybe you are a ski lodge; could you extend your customer base and products by adding a spa? Could you continue developing your menu to a high standard to attract different clientele? Could you personalise your customer experience a little more, by offering tips about the holiday, sent by email beforehand, or offer an online resource such as Iglu Ski’s dedicated "first ski trip checklist" . This gives your guests a little added service to show them you care, even before they arrive. You have the opportunity to tempt them with your nutritious menu and pampering services.

How Businesses can Meet these Demands

A study from the Global Wellness Tourism report showed that lodgings alone amounted to $93.4 billion dollars of the global market, with food and beverages contributing to about $71.9 billion. The report suggested that people interested in wellness tourism were typically middle aged, wealthy, educated and from western backgrounds.

People are becoming more refined in their choices, they want to eat at quality restaurants, they wish to visit spas and health resorts, and they want to incorporate sports and activities such as yoga and skiing into their vacations. That is why it is essential to have high class professionally trained staff working at your business. The experience begins the moment the customer steps from their front door to begin their journey to their travel destination.

Therefore, it isn’t all about changing the entire structure of the business, simply building on what is already there. In most cases, the trend can be accommodated by the business, which enhances the customer stay and adds value to the business.

by Melissa Moram 

exclusively for Alpine Center

Testimonial *Hotel Management

Michalis (Mike) Mamais, Graduate of Alpine Center in Hotel Management, with the assistance of Ramon Amor,  lecturer and owner of Jobonship, started working with Disney Cruise Line beginning of January.

 

 

We discussed with Mike who was trilled to share his new working experience with the Alpine community.
 

 

"It is so nice here. My position is Assistant Dining Room Server. It is a unique experience. The colleagues, my superiors, even the customers are so different in a perfect way! The photo that you see below with Goofy is from my first day at work. 

 

Here you may see a picture of me and my colleagues 30 days later, with our Ears. 'Earning our Ears' is a fabulous Disney tradition! 

It is amazing! We are busy with a lot of work but we don't quite understand it. We have so  much fun! We travel along the Western Caribbean (Mexico, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Key West and the private island of Disney, Castaway Cay). As of June, we will be also travelling to Spain, Greece and Turkey. The Cruise Ship is fantastic and the places we visit like paradise.

That's a statue of Mickey Mouse from inside the ship I work. Every ship of the Disney Cruise Line has a different statue. Everybody feels like a child here. Even the older people at the 'Pirates Night' buy costumes and dress up like pirates".

 

Mike continues his fantastic journey and he knows that this is only the beginning. The future looks even brighter ahead! Good luck Mike!

Testimonial *Cruise Ship Management

“I had a dream to work and travel on a cruise ship! Alpine Center made my dream come true!

 

Firstly, I attended their first-class course in Cruise Ship Hotel Operations which was so comprehensive and exciting, delivered by a fantastic course tutor, Mrs Katy Taveira, and secondly Alpine’s dynamic Career & Placement office assisted me with my recruitment on Celebrity Cruises!

 

Now I’m sailing away hoping that many more students would be attracted to follow in my footsteps! I have already been promoted once since I went on board in May and am training to become an International Hostess now.

 

Everything is going fast onboard: time, development, promotions, and seeing the world at the same time!”

Efi Sidiropoulou

 

Some photos of Efi with her classmates and the Course Tutor Katy Taveira

when they visited Celebrity's Equinox cruise ship

 

Efi is second from the right and Katy second from the left

 

Study Hospitality & Cruise Ship Management at Alpine Center... the Swiss way!

Apply now at admissions@swissalpinecenter.com

 

Alpine Diploma in Hospitality & Cruise Ship Management and Career Opportunities

The course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the hospitality operations part of a cruise, as well as providing an essential understanding of elements relating to life and work on a cruise ship. In addition to being introduced to the wider world of the cruise industry, its history, players, customers, regulations, concerns such as safety, security, professionalism etc., students will be studying specialist operational elements such as front office, customer service, effective communication, essential information technology skills etc.

 

Students who then continue to the Alpine Diploma in Hospitality & Cruise Ship Management course will enhance their knowledge of the business and management of ocean cruises and operational issues involved, but also approach wider managerial issues such as personnel management, organisational behaviour, research methods etc. at an advanced level.

The course, headed by an experienced and accomplished professional in hospitality operations on cruise ships will also include guest lectures by cruise industry professionals and student visits to cruise ships in order to ensure an engaging delivery of the latest knowledge and issues in this exciting field.

 

After completing six months’ study (Semester 1) you will be given the opportunity to gain insight and confidence in the hospitality industry by completing a period of industry placement at a 5-star hotel. This placement is an important element of the course and will enable you to put the theoretical knowledge and skills you have gained during your studies into professional practice. An important part of your placement will be the written report that you must submit at the end of your placement, in which you have to identify a problem area in the hospitality operations area and recommend solutions or improvements. Upon completion of the first semester and placement, students receive a Certificate in Cruise Ship Operations.

 

 

Aim

The aim of the course is to prepare students for employment in the international cruise ship industry. The necessary practical skills are developed early in the programme to ensure that students are able to operate quickly and competently within a cruise ship hospitality environment. Management competencies are developed throughout the programme to provide the tools for assuming greater unit and people responsibility over time.

 

 

Career Opportunities

For those who choose Hospitality & Cruise Ship Management, career opportunities abound!!!

Alpine Center's partners with JobOnShip recruiters to ensure your immediate placement and successful cruise ship career! 

 

Check them out!

www.jobonship.com

 

 

 

Welcome Aboard!

 
 

JobonShip is your personal Job-Recruiter on luxury Cruise Ships worldwide. Our Service for Candidates is free of charge. If you have an education in the hospitality Industry you are welcome to apply with us. We are always looking for Leaders as well as candidates for all Entry Positions. 

On the site you can apply directly for a Job of your profession. You can find a lot of information about us and our Cruise Line Partners. We are looking forward to receiving your application and cannot wait to talk to you. 

The Jobonship-Recruiting Team

Jobonship www.jobonship.com