Hotel Management Students Gain Real-World Sales Insights at Hilton Saigon

Through the Hospitality Sales Coach Course, Hotel Management students at Hoa Sen University (HSU) had a chance to step into the professional environment at Hilton Saigon, connecting classroom knowledge of hotel sales with real-world practice and gaining insights into how sales support hotel operations and business growth.

Real-World Hotel Sales Problem-Solving

During the Hotel Tour, students had the opportunity to interact directly with the Hilton Saigon team, including Ms. Pham Tan Bao Thuyen, Director of Human Resources; Ms. Trang Le, Human Resources Executive; Mr. Khanh Tran (Jason), Director of Sales; and Ms. Ha Pham (Rachel), Sales Coordinator. By being engaged with professionals working directly in the field, students connected what they learned in the classroom with the practical expectations, skills, and challenges of working in a hotel.

Furthermore, Hotel Management students explored how Hilton Saigon approaches market segmentation, identifies different customer groups, and evaluates the role of each segment in its business operations.

Through discussions with hotel representatives, students also gained insights into sales strengths, customer development journeys, emerging customer outreach channels, and current business trends. In particular, real-world sales scenarios provided students a clearer picture of how specialized knowledge translates into practice in a hotel environment.

From understanding what hotel sales is to exploring how customer needs can be identified, relationships built, and value created for each guest, the learning extends beyond the classroom.

Core Competencies of Hotel Sales Professionals

Beyond professional knowledge, students explored the qualities that matter in hotel sales, from listening and effective communication to understanding customer needs, building relationships, and adapting proactively to market changes.

These capabilities are shaped not only through what students learn, but also through practical experience, where every professional situation can offer a new lesson.

From the classroom to the business world, the Hotel Tour at Hilton Saigon turns the workplace into a “Practical classroom”, allowing students to observe professional practices firsthand, connect theory with reality, and build the skills needed for their future careers. It is also one way HSU brings the spirit of “Utility-oriented” to life in education.

Translated: Tai Do