January 2002 - HSC graduates are taking a long-term view of tourism and hospitality and seeing the industry as a highly desirable career option, according to Peter Lewis, General Manager of The Hotel School, Hotel Intercontinental, Sydney. 

According to Mr Lewis:  �Students are aware that tourism continues to be a long-term growth industry in Australia, which in total accounts for $25.2 billion or 4.5% of Australia's Gross Domestic Product. There are excellent future prospects for young people who choose a career in hospitality. International tourism alone contributes 11.2% or $12.8 billion of total Australian exports and this will continue to be the case because Australia is seen as a particularly safe destination�. 
 
The Hotel School is a joint venture between Hotel Intercontinental, Sydney and Southern Cross University, with full-time lectures from both the Hotel and SCU.  At the 2001 NSW Tourism Awards The Intercontinental Hotel School once again won the Industry Training � Private Sector category, the same category for which it won NSW Tourism Award of the Decade in 1999. 

�Places are filling fast�, he says. �There are only 3 vacancies in the Certificate in Commercial Cooking course; 4 places in the Certificate in Food and Beverage course; 2 Certificate in Front Office spots; and very limited availability in the Diploma of Hotel Management and Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management degree years. I would advise interested applicants to enrol quickly !�.

Situated in a landmark historic building adjacent to Hotel Intercontinental in the centre of Sydney CBD, The Hotel School is in its 13th year of operation and enrolments are incrementing annually. In 2002 it will have a student head count of around 350. Over 1,200 students who have graduated from Certificate, Diploma and Bachelor degree courses have found employment in hospitality related industries, with a 100% graduate employment success rate. Many graduates have already reached senior management status both here and internationally.

Courses alternate two weeks lecture room theory with two weeks work experience in the Hotel throughout the year, paid at award rates. Students therefore graduate with the extra employment advantage of ongoing, up-to-the minute work experience in a 5 star international hotel - and have course fees substantially amortised as well. 

Hotel School vocational and tertiary qualifications are internationally recognised and totally industry-based, leading to employment in hospitality at all levels. The Intercontinental Hotel School is part of Six Continents PLC, one of the world�s largest hotel groups, which manages over 3,000 properties in more than 90 countries worldwide, so graduates have access to unlimited potential employment prospects. The only hotel school accredited by the NSW Vocational Education Training Accreditation Board, the City and Guilds of London Institute and Southern Cross University, The Hotel School is a founding member of the Association of Australian Hotel Schools.