Natalie Muscat explains how she’s combining studying in Switzerland with international work placements, to prepare for a career in hospitality management.
For those who want an international career in the hospitality industry, studying abroad at a top hospitality school is certainly a good way to get started – especially when combined with a prestigious work experience placement at a major world event.
The event in question is the London 2012 Olympics, where hospitality student Natalie Muscat is currently working as an assistant venue manager.
Speaking ahead of the placement, she said, “I am excited to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is going to be hard work, but I think the experience will be worth it.
In fact, this is just one of a number of prestigious work placements Natalie has completed during her time as a student at Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, based in Switzerland.
Expert guidance and hands-on experience
Originally from the UK, Natalie completed her IGCSE and A-level qualifications in France, and it was here that she says she realized she wanted to pursue a career in the hospitality sector.
“I’d always loved being around people, and I held a lot of dinner parties, which created curiosity about the restaurant industry,” she recalls. “I then took a career test, which told me that hospitality was not only compatible with my skills, but also suited my personality.”
The director of her school recommended Les Roches, which has a worldwide reputation as one of the best places to study hospitality.
“Now I am here, I know I made the right choice,” Natalie says. “The teachers have so much background knowledge of the industry that I can really relate to them. It is not just something taught from a book.”
As well as benefitting from the expertise of her teachers, Natalie has also had multiple opportunities to gain her own first-hand experience.
In addition to her current Olympics role, she’s completed a number of other internships, including a placement at the Lecture Room & Library, a Michelin-starred restaurant in London overseen by acclaimed French chef Pierre Gagnaire.
A strong foundation for further exploration
This experience taught her the true meaning of ‘high standards’, Natalie says. Meanwhile a second restaurant placement, as a management trainee, allowed her to learn about all the background work that goes into running a restaurant.
Finally, she travelled to New York, for a placement as a junior assistant manager of the fine dining restaurant at the luxurious five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel. She describes this as “the cherry on the cake,” adding, “It was a tough job, but I survived and that is thanks to the teaching of Les Roches.”
While most of her work experience to date, excluding her Olympics role, has been within the restaurant industry, Natalie says her true passion lies in the world of events.
“I am very passionate about organizing different celebrations or meetings and making someone’s dream a reality. I find it very fulfilling to see satisfied faces at the end of the night – that is truly the sign of a job well done.”
When she completes her degree, she aims to find a role in event management at a top hotel, and perhaps one day start her own business.
In terms of location, she’s open to new possibilities, pointing out that while she has explored several different countries, there are still huge regions of the world she has yet to experience.
However, with her degree from Les Roches and her extensive on-the-job training, Natalie should be all set for a successful career in hospitality, wherever she ends up.