Michel is currently working in New Zealand
What is your current job and what does it entail?
I am currently working at the concierge desk of the Novotel Queenstown Lakeside in New Zealand. In between my graduation last year and the commencement of a master study Imagineering, I was left with a spare year that I wanted to spend overseas.
A concierge in luxury hotels is the one to see for making excursion bookings, restaurant bookings, getting recommendations and any other possible questions to be answered. Since Queenstown is known as the ‘Adrenaline Capital’ of the world, being a concierge in this upper-class village is an exiting job.
You could say it is usually one of the most popular jobs because selling all the activities and restaurants in town, means that you are always invited for some free product sampling. This does not only include free bungee jumps, ski-passes or exclusive dinners, but you’ll get to meet a lot of people too
How would you describe International Hotel Management, the programme you followed at NHTV ?
Great people and atmosphere, at both the academy and the work field, make you getting the best out of a creative and international learning phase.
When you look back, do you think studying at NHTV was the right thing to do for you? Why?
Definitely. Because the ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘when’ of learning are very much adapted to each individual. In this way the study will always fit you.
Secondly, a strong focus on internationalisation, creativity and personal development ensures high work field demand for graduates from the academy.
Is your current job linked to the NHTV studie International Management?
Absolutely. However, with my experience and a hotel management degree I am somewhat over skilled for this job. But I have chosen for it because it gave me the opportunity to see as much as possible from the world within 1 year, before I’ll start my master study in Imagineering at NHTV. This master study implies business innovation for experience concepts and perfectly connects to hotel management as well.
Can you describe your average work day?
Checking all group arrivals and departures, checking promotions and specials from the various activities, booking and recommending activities and restaurants, booking and packaging activities for email requests, cashing up activities (the hotel receives booking commission), cashing up the valet car parking.
What is your best or funniest memory of NHTV and/or your stay in Breda?
We were sent to the Marriot Rive Gauche Hotel in Paris. We basically slept, lived and worked there for 3 days to do research and give strategic feedback to the Area Revenue Manager. It was good fun and true hotel management.
What would you advise prospective students who have to make the difficult decision about where/what to study?
All hotel schools in Holland are of very high quality. It is therefore about which one touches your drive for hotel management and which one will get you where you want to be? For me this was very clear by just seeing and feeling what’s going on at the academy.
Michel Brokke
Graduate International Hotel Management
