SHMS students launch a new Internship Magazine

Hotelier: Real-World Hospitality, Through Student Eyes

At Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS), learning extends far beyond the classroom. Practical, hands-on learning is a key reason students choose SHMS — gaining real-world experience by interning with some of the best of the best in hospitality, and preparing to become some of the finest hospitality professionals. With the launch of Hotelier, our new student internship magazine, SHMS brings those experiences to life through the voices of the students who live them.

Produced twice a year and created by SHMS students, Hotelier is dedicated to sharing the stories, lessons, and insights gained during internships across the global hospitality industry. Each edition captures what it truly means to step into professional hospitality roles: adapting to new cultures, learning under pressure, and discovering where passion meets purpose.

Created by Students, Inspired by Experience

The first edition of Hotelier is led by two student Editors-in-Chief, each representing a different SHMS campus and stage of study.

Minnie Kexin Zhu, a first-year student at SHMS Caux and Internship and Career Ambassador for Fall 2025, introduces the magazine as a space for exploration, connection, and inspiration — a platform where students can share knowledge and ideas shaped by hands-on experience.

Maryia Shnyp, a final-year student at SHMS Leysin and Internship and Career Ambassador for Fall 2025, highlights the magazine’s purpose: to celebrate the incredible journeys of SHMS students and the growth that comes from real-world learning.

Together, they bring authenticity, curiosity, and student perspective to every page.

Internships Without Borders

The stories featured in Hotelier span continents, cultures, and career paths — reflecting the breadth of the hospitality industry and the global outlook of SHMS students.

Readers will meet:

• Nicolò, a hospitality enthusiast from Italy, who completed his internship at The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka, refining his skills and deepening his passion for luxury hospitality.
• Susanna, from China, who gained hands-on experience in sales at Gallery Metropole in Interlaken, learning the importance of guest relationships in one of Switzerland’s most scenic destinations.
• Taliah, from Saudi Arabia, who took her passion into the kitchen of OAK, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Ghent, Belgium.
• Hassan, also from Saudi Arabia, whose internship at the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski in St. Moritz shaped his commitment to delivering exceptional service.

The magazine also features inspiring alumni reflections, including Eliza Zephir, Class of 2018, who credits SHMS with preparing her to face challenges, embrace opportunity, and build lasting professional connections.

Shared Perspectives, Lasting Lessons

Hotelier goes beyond individual stories to explore shared learning. Sister-and-brother duo Vesa and Rron reflect on completing internships at two different luxury properties in Lucerne, offering practical advice on what to do — and what to avoid — during an internship.

Other features include:

• Serena, who chose the iconic Mandarin Oriental, Milan for her internship, gaining experience with an internationally renowned luxury brand.
• Evelina, from Greece, who completed a one-year internship programme in the United States, rotating through four luxury hotel properties in Florida.
• Synne, whose internship at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon in Iceland became one of the most defining experiences of her life.
• Ellie, from China, who immersed herself in luxury resort operations at LUX* Belle Mare in Mauritius.

A Guide for the Next Generation of Hoteliers

Through honest reflection and global perspective, Hotelier offers insight into the realities of working in hospitality — the challenges, the growth, and the moments that shape future careers.

As a twice-yearly publication, Hotelier will continue to spotlight student experiences across the world, reinforcing SHMS’s commitment to practical learning, international exposure, and student voice.

This is hospitality education, as lived — and as told by those who are becoming the industry’s next generation of leaders.

We invite you to read Hotelier here.