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08 March 2024

Vatel Program Students Visited Portonovi and Got Acquainted with Employment Options

Vatel International Hotel Management School first-year students visited Portonovi and One&Only Portonovi. The group of 60 students got acquainted with the resort's career options. They went for a tour of the resort and were informed about the development of Portonovi and its operational processes, employment options, and practice opportunities offered together with One&Only Portonovi, where the presentation was held.

“A visit to a luxurious complex such as Portonovi allows students to get acquainted with the high standards in the area of the tourism industry. Additionally, I believe that this is the opportunity for all our students to obtain a deeper understanding of destination management, tourism sustainability, human resources development, and marketing strategies,” said the Dean of Vatel International Hotel Management School at the University of Donja Gorica, Sandra Tinaj, PhD. She pointed out that Portonovi is one of the best examples in Montenegro.

“Outstanding infrastructure, premium facilities, and dedication to sustainable development are an example of how investments in Montenegro can positively impact the local economy, tourism, and the standard of living,” she said.

The academic program International Hotel Management School was founded in Montenegro in 2019 as the first program in Montenegro entirely in the English language. Back in 2019, the Agreement on Cooperation between the University of Donja Gorica (UDG) and Azmont Investments provided for the international franchise for VATEL for a period of 11 years.

In addition to the franchise and having in mind the development of future human resources, Portonovi created a three-year scholarship program for students who decided to enrol in this program.

Since 2016, a large number of students from this program have found employment in Portonovi, One&Only Portonovi, and other hotels and hospitality chains in Montenegro. This project not only contributed to the development of tourist offers in Montenegro but also created new positions, encouraged economic growth, improved the country’s image as an attractive investment destination, and created a socially responsible business environment.

“Vatel is a leading education institution in international hospitality and management in the world, whose first school was founded in Paris 43 years ago. It was essential for us to lead by example and influence personnel development in Montenegro. In addition to the development of Portonovi, we are very proud of this program, which is what we point out as a significant part of our business, community contribution, and joint efforts we invest in the sustainability of tourism and development of luxury tourism,” said Rashad Aliyev, the CEO of Portonovi. 

This year, Vatel welcomed the eighth generation, and currently, 200 students are enrolled in undergraduate and master studies. Since 2016, there have been 466 students in undergraduate and 34 in post-graduate studies.

“There is a great interest from students from Montenegro and abroad for this program, which makes us happy and encourages us because human resources and their development are key for extending boundaries, providing services to the most demanding guests, and strengthening the tourist offer, which is our shared goal. With Portonovi, One&Only Portonovi has, in the last couple of years, become one of UDG’s most prominent partners, providing our students with an exceptional opportunity for a high-quality professional practice. Their dedication to training and mentoring enables students to obtain precious experience in the hotel industry and develop various competencies. Our cooperation represents a union of shared efforts in preparing students to work and develop in this dynamic industry,” added Aliyev.

In addition to students from Montenegro and the region, students from the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine are enrolled in this program. Thanks to the Marco Polo exchange program, which was proclaimed the most innovative student exchange program in the world, every year, 15 students from Vatel School in Montenegro complete their second year of studies in one of the 52 Vatel schools worldwide.