MSc Hotel Innovation and Sustainability

Why study this subject? 

This sector contributes significantly to the national and global economy and is moving towards a more sustainable and innovative way forward. Employers and consumers are looking to the hospitality sector to make change in the way we live now and in the future. This masters in Hotel Innovation and Sustainability will give you the knowledge and skill set you’ll need to find solutions, helping to transform and drive the sector forward. 

Why study at BNU? 

This MSc Hotel Innovation and Sustainability course has been developed to mirror today’s Hotel and Hospitality industry. 

Working closely with professionals from the sector, we’ve made sure the course helps you to develop the skills and knowledge the industry is looking for. We’ve used the pillars of sustainability, innovation, and social responsibility. You’ll be taught an important mix of core leadership approaches, theoretical input and industry practice to ensure the relevance of your studies to employability.

Undertaking work experience at our Missenden Abbey Hotel and Conference Centre is an integral part of the MSc Hotel Innovation and Sustainability programme. This unique approach to studying at BNU is underlined by our core belief that practical, hands-on experience must always complement a theoretical, research-informed teaching strategy. 

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities, by taking part in community projects organised in collaboration with local hotels, as well as attending guest talks, industry visits and a wide range of networking events, conferences and seminars organised by our school and our industry partners.

What facilities can I use? 

During your time studying on the MSc Hotel Innovation and Sustainability degree, you will spend time at Missenden Abbey Hotel and Conference Centre. A former medieval abbey with a history of over 800 years, Missenden Abbey provides the professional backdrop for linking theory to practice. It enables a unique, experiential learning approach that will help to cement your knowledge and skills during your studies. You will also benefit from the industry mentorship programme offered by our partner organisations, where you have the opportunity to learn directly from successful hotel leaders.

As well as this you’ll have access to our High Wycombe Campus. Here you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, as well as newly built study and social areas. Our Library is open 24/7 and offers a range of resources to support your studies. We also have a Student Learning Achievement Team, who offer tailored support with research skills, critical thinking and referencing . 

You’ll also be automatically a member of our Students’ Union, which was rated as 1^st in the UK in the 2023 National Student Survey. We are the only university in the UK to offer free access to a huge range of events and entertainment,  CV building activities,  as well as competitive and recreational sport and wellbeing activities to enrich your time with us as part of our ‘Big Deal’.

What will I study? 

The MSc Hotel Innovation and Sustainability programme empowers you to drive innovation and shape the hotel management landscape by seamlessly merging innovation and sustainability. 

With a deep understanding of cutting-edge concepts, practical skills, and a commitment to ethical responsibility, you will be poised to drive positive change, enhance guest experiences, and contribute to a more sustainable and responsible future for the industry. 

You’ll benefit from a mixture of theoretical and practical knowledge, including undertaking work experience at our Missenden Abbey Hotel and Conference Centre. This will enhance and develop both the ‘soft’ skills the industry needs as well as the industry specific knowledge that will be required for supervisory and managerial roles. The programme draws upon the research, knowledge, and expertise of our lecturers and industry partners.

You’ll study modules related to sustainable innovation; leadership; corporate reputation, and sustainable business performance analysis. By the end of the programme, you will be undertaking an industry consultancy project. This enables you to research and explore critical issues related to innovation and sustainability from a global hotel leadership perspective.

We take great pride in our extensive industry links, including professionals from nationally and internationally renowned hotels, and other hospitality businesses. 

Our membership to the Institute of Hospitality and the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME), gives you access to unique industry networking events, research conferences and mentorship opportunities. You will also benefit from field trips, site visits and residential trips to some of the most iconic hospitality locations. These include places such as  Red Carnation Hotels, Firmdale Hotels, Good Hotel London, and Zetter Hotels, but may vary from year to year. Another unique feature of the programme is the ability for you to interact with and be mentored by successful leaders in the hotel industry.

Work experience is also an integral part of this course. During your duty management shifts at Missenden Abbey Hotel and Conference Centre you will have the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding on how strategic innovation and sustainability is being approached within an established hotel and conference business.

How will I be taught and assessed? 

We adopt a research-informed, industry-centric teaching and learning approach. This includes classic lectures and seminars, as well innovative teaching methods such as real-world case studies, hands-on projects and practical work experience at our Missenden Abbey Hotel and Conference Centre.

We balance the academic requirements of a master’s degree with practical skills and industry experience. You will benefit from our strong employer, industry, and trade association links as well as case studies, debates, competitions, masterclasses, and placement opportunities with our industry partners. 

You’ll learn from lecturers with years of industry and academic expertise. Many of whom are research-active, and are involved in a wide range of research areas, from green corporate reputation to sustainable hospitality management, sustainable business behaviour and customer attitude.

We also invite guest speakers to deliver sessions, so you can learn from their expertise and insights. 

Our strong links with industry professionals and trade associations ensure that you will have access to unique guest talks, networking events, industry trade shows and seminars.

We encourage you to attend free networking events offered by our school and our partner organisations, to enable you to build strategic cultural capital that is so valuable for being a successful leader in this fast-evolving industry.

You will be assessed through a range of traditional and innovative assessment methods, including:

• essays
• reports
• debates
• student-led seminars
• pitches
• live briefs
• podcasts
• case studies
• industry projects
• Dragon-Den style assessments

And creative live presentations.