By Josh Wegman
Many students fear they may have to lower their expectations when looking for a job right out of college. But this isn’t the case for bachelor of hospitality and tourism management student Cassie Doyle.
Doyle was accepted as a management trainee into the Starwood management training program at the Ottawa Westin hotel. It accepts just eight out of 800 applicants each year across the country.
“I was ecstatic when I found out I got in,” said Doyle. “I was surprised, but extremely happy and grateful.”
Doyle, who is in her fourth and final year in the bachelor of hotel and tourism management program, will be part of the first graduating class this program has seen.
“It’s pretty cool to say that you’re part of the inaugural class,” said Doyle.
In the four year program, students receive a diploma and a degree. Michael Tarnowski, the program coordinator of the bachelor of hospitality and tourism management, has been teaching at Algonquin for 15 years and was part of the development of the diploma/degree combination.
“Cassie shows a lot of promise,” said Tarnowski. “She’s always involved, in and out of class, always volunteering.”
Doyle will be working in all facets of the hotel business including the rooms division, front desk and reservations.
After the training you’re very likely to become a department head, said the chair of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Altaf Sovani. “I could see Cassie becoming a GM (General Manager) one day.”
Ameet Tyrewala, a professor in the school of hospitality and tourism, has taught Doyle in several classes over the past year.
“The BHTM program is geared towards preparing students to be future managers, leaders and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry and the success of Cassie is an indication that the program is heading in the right direction and is achieving the goals it aimed to achieve,” said Tyrewala.
Doyle has experience working at the Chateau Laurier Hotel and Restaurant International at the college.
The program really helped prepare us for real work, it was really hands on, said Doyle. “We even got to run our own hotel online.”
Doyle was chosen by her peers as her class’ representative.
“Cassie shows a lot of promise as a leader,” said Tarnowski. “She has the right mix of skills, the right attitude and the desire to succeed.”