International Hotel Management MA

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course considers international hotel management at both operational and strategic levels and places a strong emphasis on developing the management skills and knowledge required to run a hotel. As part of the international courses you will develop an in depth understanding of the hotel industry and its place within the service sector. You will be encouraged to develop innovative solutions to real world problems and appreciate the need for delivering service excellence and exceeding customer expectations.

  Input from representatives of the international hotel industry and opportunities to shadow members of the onsite hotel operations team will create a challenging environment in which you can analyse operational and strategic solutions to the running of the business. These Learning Partners will help you understand the nature and challenges of a real world business environment, preparing you to be an industry professional ready to tackle the world of work when you graduate.

  This programme considers international hotel management at both operational and strategic level and places a strong emphasis on developing the management skills and knowledge required to run a hotel. As part of an international cohort, students will develop a holistic understanding of the hotel industry and its place within the service sector as a whole. Students will be encouraged to develop innovative solutions to real world problems and appreciate the need for delivering service excellence and exceeding customer expectations internationally.

  The MA is delivered by a team of University of Northampton staff who demonstrate excellence in research and operational knowledge in both a UK and international context. Key subject modules are delivered within a real world environment, allowing you to contextualise your learning and observe the challenges to managing the various functions of a hotel in real time.

  Semester 1

  The first semester introduces students to the international hotel management industry, considers its link to tourism and focuses on a range of operational and strategic issues that contribute to sustainable competitive advantage. Students will work on a range of live operational challenges within the hotel environment and reflect on their solutions and the implications for management.

  Semester 2

  Building on the input from the first semester, students will develop their critical thinking skills and focus on several strategic considerations that impact on the success of hotel operations globally. Key areas include strategic marketing, service excellence and cross-cultural management.

  Semester 2 and 3

  An area of individual research will be developed into a clearly defined and evidenced dissertation that demonstrates critical thinking and research at postgraduate level.  Guided by a dedicated subject specialist, students will collect, analyse and interpret a range of secondary and primary data, culminating in a 15-20,000 word dissertation.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 24/25. The modules relating to the academic year 25/26 will be available from June 2025.

  • Stage 1
    • Strategic Destination Management (20 Credits)
      Module code: LEIM020

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to examine the potential benefits of tourism as a preferred development tool such as increased income, foreign exchange, employment and economic diversification. It focuses on adopting a strategic and responsible approach that recognises the complexity of the interconnected forces at work whilst addressing the economic, social and cultural challenges.
    • Dissertation & Research Methods (Tourism, Hospitality, Hotel and Events Management) (60 Credits)
      Module code: LEIM031

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to develop a critical understanding of research methods as they can be applied to analysis of the service industries, and in so doing facilitate the production of an independent piece of research by the student of relevance to their curriculum.
    • Service Excellence and Innovation (20 Credits)
      Module code: LEIM036

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to provide a framework for service excellence and innovation in terms of enhancing the customer experience and generating lifetime value for the business. It enables students students to develop their knowledge and understanding of existing frameworks for service excellence and consider the need to adopt an external, customer focused view of the organisation through innovatively, and ethically adjusting what the business does internally.
    • International Hotel Management (20 Credits)
      Module code: LEIM037

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to outline and analyse the form of the international hotel industry, providing students with a clear understanding of the nature and structure of hotel operations globally while developing a critical appreciation of the management challenges at both operational and strategic level.
    • Transforming Organisational Cultures in the International Hotel Industry (20 Credits)
      Module code: LEIM040

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to analyse a range of challenges associated with managing organisations in the international hotel industry. These challenges are obfuscated by ownership, traditional approaches to management and outdated strategic thinking. Such complexities require leadership and the ability to continually transform and revisit the organisational commitment to its long term strategy.
    • Strategic Digital Marketing (20 Credits)
      Module code: MKTM027

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to examine digital technologies and social media from a marketing perspective, evaluating the impact they are having on the evolution of business practice. Students will investigate the role of digital tools and techniques in developing markets, communicating with customers and channels.
    • Managing Across Cultures (20 Credits)
      Module code: STRM089

      Status: Compulsory
      The purpose of this module is to enable learners to understand business cultures around the world, evaluating the impact that different cultural contexts have on individuals working in non-native cultures. Learners will reflect upon these issues to improve own professional effectiveness in management and leadership in international contexts.

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• Industry Placement Opportunity

  The industry placement enables you to develop your skills and knowledge in a real-world work environment related to hotel management, whilst completing an applied research project. This will give you an advantage over the competition for jobs and scholarships after you graduate and could be a good starting point for setting up your own consultancy business.

  Your placement will need to be appropriate to your level of study and you should also be paid for this work. We will support you in finding and securing a suitable placement opportunity, however it must be noted that placements are highly competitive and there is no guarantee of a placement offer being made by an employer.

  If you are unable or unwilling to progress with an industry placement, for whatever reason, you will have the option to transfer onto our Dissertation and Research Methods module in order to gain the required credits to complete your programme of study.

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• FAQs

  How will I learn on the International Hotel Management MA degree?

  The course emphasises a small group teaching and learning experience that combines a range of methods including lectures, seminars, workshops, practical fieldwork assessment and online learning materials. Each 20 credit module accounts for 200 hours of learning; with three hours of scheduled contact per week per module, with a strong emphasis placed on directed and self-directed independent study. All modules are taught within the academic calendar but the pattern of delivery may be flexible and will depend on the needs of the cohort.

  How will I be assessed?

  Assessments for the International Hotel Management degree include: portfolios, video journals, debates, presentations, reports, essays and case study analysis.

  What is the schedule like for this course?

  You will generally spend between nine and 12 hours a week in class. You will observe the work environment, and attending on-site visits and input from industry speakers may add to the timetabling requirements during the course of the year.  You will be encouraged to actively engage with all aspects the course.

  Are there any opportunities for work experience?

  Several of the International Hotel Management modules have a vocational emphasis embedded within the assessment. The international hotel management and strategic marketing modules place specific emphasis on developing appropriate, timely and innovative management responses to day to day challenges.

  Are there any trips?*

  There is an international trip available to support the development of your strategic and operational knowledge of the hotel industry with overnight and site visits in recognisable hotel chains and destinations.

  *Future study trips are dependent on Government and local travel guides relating to Covid-19.

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