The hospitality industry offers endless opportunities for people who have an adventurous spirit and a passion for providing unmatched service in food and/or beverage-related businesses, hotels, resorts and tourism destinations. Johnson & Wales Online’s Hospitality Management bachelor’s degree program combines courses in business management, communication and technology skills with the ability to customize the program according to your interests.
Students can immerse themselves in diverse cultures through participating in the Study Abroad program or gain hands-on experience by opting to complete a hospitality internship. Chloe Perren ’25, B.S. Hospitality Management chose to do both, as she studied abroad and also completed an internship at a 5-Star luxury hotel. Perren shares how experiential education has complemented her studies at JWU Online and helped her grow personally and professionally.
Choosing To Pursue A Hospitality Career
Traveling with her parents, Perren learned she loves talking with people from various backgrounds, tasting local cuisine and experiencing different destinations. Perren and her parents agreed that after high school, a college hospitality program would be a natural fit.
Her father suggested that Johnson & Wales was close to her Connecticut home but far enough away that Perren could feel she was on her own. Perren shares, “When I compared schools, I fell in love with JWU. The smaller class sizes would allow me to interact directly with professors.”
Appreciating JWU’s worldwide reputation for providing industry-focused hospitality training, Perren enrolled in the Hospitality Management program and moved to the Downcity campus in Providence. “I loved being on campus and made a lot of friends,” Perren says. “Unfortunately, less than a year into the program, COVID-19 forced JWU to close down the campus.” Returning home to Connecticut, Perren took a semester off and then continued classes online.
“Accustomed to learning face-to-face in the classroom, initially I struggled to adapt to online learning. Fortunately, a lot of professors from my classes on campus were conducting classes on Zoom. Seeing familiar faces helped me feel comfortable that if I had questions, I could talk with them.”
Adapting To Online Education
As Perren adjusted to virtual learning, she recognized that an online program would allow her to work five days a week and save money. She asked her advisor to transfer her to JWU Online.
“I learned I could still have the experience of being on campus while studying online. I continued to feel that my professors were invested in their students and that they wanted us to succeed. Everyone at Johnson & Wales is really dedicated to helping students, so the transfer felt seamless.”
Perren appreciated that she had access to the same resources offered to people attending school on campus. “Everything I needed was online,” she notes. “For example, the library has an electronic database to search for books and articles by topic. The database made it easier for me to navigate the library resources online than it would have been in person.”
Studying Abroad
Aspiring to work in ultra luxury hotels, Perren recognized that studying abroad would give her a global view of hospitality and help her communicate better with hotel and tourism guests from multicultural backgrounds. When Perren needed to fulfill her elective requirements, she consulted her student advisor about earning them in the Study Abroad program.
Deciding where to go, Perren explains, “My dad’s originally from Australia. He asked me, ‘Why don’t you go to school in Australia?’
“My academic and experiential education advisors were very helpful in setting everything up for me to attend school in Australia. After completing the Study Abroad program, they helped transfer the credits I had earned abroad back to JWU Online.”
Living Away From Home Helped Perren Grow
“While living in Australia, I attended classes at the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS). A 30-minute ferry ride outside of the city of Sydney, ICMS is located in the small beach town of Manly. The school sits atop a massive hill, overlooking most of Manly.”
“Although I was mature for my age, I had only lived away from home while on campus at JWU. This was the first time I had to rely on myself to figure everything out — including the transportation system and the rate of exchange for Australian to US dollars.”
Perren chose electives, including a photography class, a fashion course and a business design class. “The delivery of classes in Australia felt more laid back than in the US, but the courseload was a little heavier. In the past I had struggled with time management, so I learned to plan ahead to meet deadlines and still enjoy time with my new friends. After returning home, I was able to apply my new time management skills to my studies at JWU Online.
“Living in another country was an adventure for me. I became more confident in my independence. I built a network of friends in Australia and made memories that will last a lifetime.”
Finding A Five-Star Internship
Approaching her final semester, Perren needed 12 credits to complete her program. “I had learned a lot about hotel operations and business applications, so I had a good academic understanding of how a hotel is run. But you need to be on site to see how everything works. An internship would give me the opportunity to apply my knowledge in a hands-on, practical way.
“Sonia Scaglia, my advisor from Experiential Education and Career Services, would send me posts from Handshake and LinkedIn to help me find an internship. What helped the most to get an internship offer was persistently making cold calls to hotels to identify contacts in human resource departments.”
Perren leaned into her experience communicating with high-end clientele. She had worked since she was 16 at her parents’ luxury resale and consignment stores, advancing from sales to assistant manager and to manager. “I wasn’t afraid to talk with hiring managers at upscale hotels. I would ask for the name of someone to whom I could send a cover letter and resume — and call if I didn’t hear back from them. I researched each hotel and expressed interest in the specific company I called. I also emphasized my willingness to start at the bottom and grow with them. It can feel like you are bothering people, but calling demonstrates that you are serious about wanting a position.”
Southern Hospitality
Perren was particularly interested in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, which has a booming hospitality infrastructure. “I compiled 15 pages listing hotels in the area and called them all. I spoke with the People & Culture Manager at the Four Seasons Nashville, explaining that I was familiar with their brand and high standards.”
The Four Seasons Nashville is a top-tier luxury property with hotel rooms and suites that include exceptional amenities and services. A tower houses exclusive Private Residences featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Cumberland River and downtown Nashville, a 14th floor garden for the residents and a 24-hour concierge.
The Four Seasons Nashville’s ethic is that “every interaction with guests, residents, staff or partners exceeds expectations.” Working with guests and residents, Perren would have the opportunity to level up her communication and hospitality skills to meet the standards of an ultra-luxury hotel.
“After four rounds of interviews with representatives in People and Culture, the director of food and beverages, and the assistant general manager who has been with the company for 32 years, I accepted an internship offer and relocated to Nashville at the start of the spring semester.”
Arriving in Nashville during April, Perren notes, “It was extremely hot — but it was even harder to acclimate to the humidity.” She qualifies, “Besides the heat and humidity, I really enjoyed my job and loved the people I worked with.”
Throughout the summer, Perren filled roles as a pool attendant, hostess, and server assistant. Towards the end of summer, she trained a work study-based exchange student as a pool attendant.
“I did a little of everything,” Perren says. “In each role, there are numerous steps you must take throughout the day to ensure that the guests and residents are maintained to the standards the Four Seasons Nashville has set. Fortunately, my hospitality professors instilled in me an attention to detail that served me well.
“In every role, I endeavored to remember guests’ faces and names and their preferences. Everyone at The Four Seasons Nashville strives to create an amazing experience for guests that makes them want to come back.”
Her willingness to pitch in to do whatever was needed earned Perren a complement from her manager. “So many people say they are hardworking but don’t deliver. It’s rare to see that work ethic in a young person.”
Solving Problems With Heart In Hospitality
Perren says that practicing scenarios in classes helped her understand guest issues and resolve them diplomatically.
“At the hotel, if there was a minor problem involving guests, we would call it a ‘glitch.’ We’d note it in the system so that everyone throughout the hotel would be aware a guest had experienced a glitch. When that guest checked in at the pool, I would see under their name that they had experienced this glitch.
“A guest’s wife had requested that, upon arrival, a little cake be in the room to celebrate her husband’s 60th birthday. The hotel was very busy that day and it didn’t happen. Working at the pool, I heard about the glitch and asked my manager if we could do something for this guest. She responded, ‘Yes, absolutely!’ We asked the chef to send complimentary popsicles in assorted flavors to him at the pool.
“He and his wife thanked us and expressed their appreciation. It helped soften any feelings that may have been caused by the glitch, and we honored his birthday. I learned if we make a mistake, we should acknowledge it and make extra efforts to make the guests’ stay enjoyable.”
“My manager, Jaky, the hotel manager, Brooke and the general manager, Sunil, modeled the level of service I aspire to deliver. If I work up to a manager’s position — or one day open my own bed and breakfast — I will benefit from having seen the small things that go on behind the scenes that help make a better guest experience.
“I learned so much during internship, including how to manage reservations in OpenTable and seeing how the POS system worked. Most important, I gained insight into the requirements for working at a hotel like the Four Seasons Nashville.
“JWU has one hundred percent helped me because if I hadn’t trained in hospitality, working at the Four Seasons Nashville would have been just another summer job. Filling multiple roles during an internship confirmed that I enjoy, and want to work in, hospitality.”
A Bright Future
“When I transitioned to JWU Online and could work full-time, I was able to make payments toward my tuition. As proud as I am of being a JWU alum, I am also proud that by working while in school, I was able to graduate with no student loans.
“Customizing courses to my interests, studying abroad and completing an internship has enriched my educational experience. My internship with the Four Seasons Nashville has given me professional references and a foot in the door to the hospitality industry. I see myself having a good future.”
The Hospitality Management Degree Program
Ready to start your adventure in an exciting industry with our fully online Hospitality Management bachelor’s degree at JWU Online? Complete the Request Info form, submit your free application, or email [email protected].