Jeff Lee - BA in International Hotel Management

Perhaps it was from hiking through the Swiss Alps or wandering the scenic beaches of Croatia. Either way, I knew a job in international tourism was the career I wanted. Unfortunately, the career I had was about sitting behind a desk and crunching financial data, but Royal Roads University turned that around fast.

For almost ten years I had worked as an investment advisor and stock trader for various securities firms in Vancouver. Dealing with volatile financial markets was interesting, but my jobs were largely cubicle-bound with little face-to-face interaction with people.

Various backpacking trips around Europe convinced me hospitality was more my style, but I had invested in stock trading for my future. Opting out of my career didn’t seem like an option, and I was even planning to upgrade my financial management diploma with a bachelor of commerce degree at Royal Roads University.

But an education information session in Vancouver convinced me otherwise. Royal Roads was offering its inaugural BA in International Hotel Management program, and I jumped at the chance. It promised was what I was looking for — the chance to travel, to experience different cultures and to interact with people from around the world.

I didn’t have any experience in the hospitality industry, but my travel adventures, enthusiasm and previous career got me into the program. My strong financial background helped me in law, accounting, economics, risk management and conference planning. My advice to future international hotel management students: try to have some comfort with numbers.

The learning experience at Royal Roads was the polar opposite of my first round of education. Studying finance for my diploma was dry and boring. The international hotel management curriculum was hard but engaging. We moved through the course work in a team system, which meant navigating different personalities, learning how to cooperate and coming to a consensus. It was challenging, but we became a tight group of friends. Another spot of advice: be ready to be social.

I have my career sights set to be the general manger of a resort, preferably somewhere tropical. After three semesters in the one-year BA in international hotel management program, I’m well on my way.

I’ll be interning at the Aleenta Resort in Thailand for management training. For six months I’ll be immersed in the industry at a five-star tropical beach resort just south of Bangkok. What more needs to be said? Earning this degree is the best thing I’ve ever done.