Educational Hotel Visits as Non-Internship Strategy in Vocational Learning: Identifying Best Practices

Abstract

Educational visits to hotels provide contextual, out-of-classroom learning experiences that are highly relevant within vocational education, particularly for students in hospitality programs. These visits bridge the gap between theoretical instruction and real-world application, offering an alternative to internship programs that are often limited to the final year of study. Through direct exposure to hotel environments, students begin to develop essential soft skills such as communication, professionalism, and service orientation. These competencies are crucial for enhancing students’ work readiness and preparing them for future careers in the hospitality industry. A qualitative approach was used in this study, incorporating literature review, field observations, and semi-structured interviews. Data were gathered from vocational teachers and hospitality industry practitioners to explore how educational visits are conducted and what impact they have on student development. The findings show that educational hotel visits significantly improve students’ workplace readiness and strengthen collaboration between vocational schools and the hospitality sector. Program success depends on thorough planning, the use of structured learning tools, and cross-sector cooperation. These visits offer a practical and strategic method to align vocational education with industry needs and to support students’ transition into the workforce.