May 14, 2004 (Atlanta) For most college students summer is a time to take a break from studies. Others choose to take classes. But for a group of hospitality students at the Robinson College of Business, summer is a time to experience the finer things in life.
On May 25th, eighteen undergraduate and graduate students will participate in the College's first Hospitality Study Abroad Program. While most study abroad programs focus on a particular culture and the socio-economic issues of each country, this program will focus almost entirely on the hospitality industry within each country.
Students will spend the first week on campus learning the history of the European hospitality and tourism industry utilizing lectures, videos and class discussion. During the next two weeks, students and faculty will travel to Switzerland, France and Germany to meet with top executives from some of Europe's leading hospitality venues.
Activities will include:
- Tours of landmark hotels in Interlaken, Lucerne and Paris
- Tours and dining experiences in some of the world's leading restaurants
- A tour of a major convention center in Lucerne
- A guided tour of French chateau
- A tour of a large scale catering company and French bakery
- A tour of a leading casino and resort spa in Baden-Baden
- A cooking class focused on authentic Swiss cuisine
"Robinson College has one of the most extensive study abroad program offerings in the country providing business students with once-in-a-lifetime experiences," said Deborah Cannon, director of the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality at Robinson. "Our program enhances those offerings and provides our hospitality students with an opportunity that is unmatched by any program in the southeast."
Students receive three credit hours upon completion of the study abroad program.
The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality, named for Cecil B. Day, founder of Days Inns, is ranked among the top 25 hospitality programs in the nation by the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education. It is largest and only accredited program in Georgia offering a four-year BBA degree, a certificate program for undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students and an MBA concentration.
Robinson's Study Abroad Programs are offered through the College's International Institute of Business. Students can earn up to nine credit hours toward their business degree by attending programs in Switzerland, South Africa, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, England, Russia, France, China, Germany or the Netherlands. Segments last from two weeks through a semester depending upon the program. Business, economic development, language and cultural courses are complemented by industry visits to firms such as L'Oreal, Airbus, Rede Globo, Jalisco Trade, UPS, DaimlerChrysler, Sasol, Siemens AG and Aerospatiale among others.
