When Emily Raaijmaakers was in high school, one experience cemented what she wanted to study at university: three months working at a resort in Guadeloupe, France. Seeking the same family-like atmosphere, she signed up to study at SHL. Now several semesters in, her instincts proved right and she has zero regrets about that fateful decision.

«Walking the halls, hearing classmates swap stories about their internships and personal adventures made me feel like I was stepping into a community, not just a school» she says.

Emily Raaijmaakers,
The Netherlands/ Switzerland

Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management

Akin to many students who’ve attended SHL, she loves how practical and relevant the courses are to a future career in the industry. «Whether it’s learning what ‘quality’ truly means in hotels and restaurants or breaking down the process of managing a business step by step, I can see how these skills apply both professionally and in everyday life,» she says.

Raaijmaakers is currently in her third semester, undergoing the rooms divisions operations portion of her curriculum where she covers topics in economics, revenue management, and real-world business projects. She’s set to begin her front office internship in February with a five-star boutique hotel in Belgium.