Driven by the firm belief of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality in the vital importance of integrating industry practices into its academic curricula, in alignment with international quality standards in tourism and hospitality education, and with the generous support of the Head of the Department, Dr. Fatima Al-Maghrabi, the department's students embarked on several educational field visits. These visits were organized as part of the practical requirements for the following courses: Revenue Management in Tourism and Hospitality, Heritage Management, and Museum Management.
For the Revenue Management course, the course instructor, Prof. Dr. Youssri Nabil El-Sayed, accompanied the male and female students on two separate visits for each section to Swissôtel Al Maqam and Swissôtel Makkah. Dr. Imtithal Sindi also accompanied the female students during their first visit. During these visits, the students met with several esteemed executives, including the Cluster Director of Revenue for Swissôtel, Fairmont, and Raffles; the Cluster Director of Sales; the General Manager of Swissôtel Al Maqam and Swissôtel Makkah; the Operations Managers of both properties; the Front Office Managers; the Rooms Division Manager at Swissôtel Al Maqam; the Training Managers of both hotels; and the Assistant Training Manager at Swissôtel Makkah. The students engaged in comprehensive, in-depth discussions regarding the science of revenue management with these industry leaders. They also explored the various methodologies implemented at both properties for revenue management, and learned how Swissôtel Al Maqam and Swissôtel Makkah achieved record-breaking results, earning both properties and their general manager international accolades, including the "Best Hotel Manager in the Middle East" award.
For the Heritage Management and Museum Management courses, Dr. Muhammad Basandwah accompanied the students to the Hira Cultural District. There, they met with the officials in charge of the district and its various exhibitions, receiving detailed briefings on the modern technologies utilized in exhibitions and public presentations, as well as methods of showcasing cultural heritage within the activities and design processes of this renowned cultural district. During the visit, the students recorded field observations to prepare academic reports reflecting their insights on the experience, while identifying key strengths and opportunities for improvement for the cultural site. This activity aims to develop their analytical skills and reinforce their practical comprehension of both the Heritage Management and Museum Management curricula.
