'I make sure that my guests, especially the VIPs, are well taken care of, that they are impressed by our service and that they get whatever they want whenever they want it. The job involves very heavy guest interaction and most of the time I'm in the lobby area.'

The degree programme at the school focused on hotel management rather than the practicalities of operations, and included modules on finance, human resources, real estate and economics.

'I wanted to learn more about the theory and about how to manage people, which were the main reasons I chose this course,' Ms Tai said. She was one of several students who won sponsorships to spend one semester at Cornell University's hotel school as part of an exchange programme.

Exposure to different people in an international environment and the opportunity to network can be great for a career in the hotel and tourism industry.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) final year students Gloria Chan and Dickson Cheng, who are taking the bachelor of science in hotel and tourism management at the school of hotel and tourism management, have worked overseas as part of the programme's compulsory internship requirements.

Ms Chan spent a year with the World Tourism Organisation, a special agency of the United Nations, between completing her higher diploma and starting the bachelor's programme. She then worked one summer at a hotel in Spain.

Mr Cheng completed two three-month internships, the first at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong hotel and the second in Shanghai with a marketing research and consulting company.

'At the degree level, unlike the students in higher diploma courses, we don't have practical lessons in areas such as front office operations,' he said. 'Through the internships we learn to apply the theories and can pick up on the practical skills that we'll need as entry level employees.'

He wants to work in hospitality consulting, including hotel planning and development, but is flexible about his prospects because of the economic downturn.

'I have applied for some jobs, mainly management trainee positions in and outside the hotel industry but I've also been looking at postgraduate education,' he said.

Ms Chan is also considering further education. While working at the world tourism body she helped organise climate change and tourism conferences and workshops, and these areas have become special interests for her.

'I am thinking of doing research on climate change and the hotel industry, looking at how the hotel industry can develop in a sustainable manner. I was planning to start looking for a job after I graduated but, with the poor economic environment, I think I will enrol in the master's programme at PolyU's school,' she said.