With almost one billion clients, tourism is the largest services market worldwide. Competition is intense and the market is complex as it also affects the events and leisure sectors. In order to cope with an increasingly varied offer, businesses must constantly adapt.

At the heart of a region with a multi-faceted tourism sector, La Rochelle Business School has drawn on local resources in a move to develop strong expertise in this sector. In 2002 it founded La Rochelle Business School of Tourism, a dedicated school that offers undergraduate (Bachelor in Tourism Management) and graduate (MBA in Tourism Management) programmes specialised in tourism, leisure, hospitality and events. 

These programmes aim to train highly-skilled and operational managers at middle (undergraduate) or senior (graduate) management level.

The curriculum focuses on:
- international experience - in order to adapt to markets worldwide
- creativity - in order to acquire new clients and secure their loyalty
- new technologies – a must for a career in the sector
- professional training – in order to apply theoretical concepts in the field
- partnerships with key businesses in the sector

Management programmes dedicated to the tourism sector
Students receive management training in multiple fields, adapted to all aspects of the tourism sector: facilities, logistics, developing and marketing new offers, etc. The course covers all of the fundamentals and also provides students with new managerial approaches, as well as offering them sector-specific specialisations as they progress. Moreover, they have many different opportunities worldwide to put what they learn into practice.
In 2010-2011, La Rochelle Business School of Tourism has 550 students with one quarter from overseas. And from September 2011, all courses can be taken exclusively in English.

Partners

Partner companies

La Rochelle Business School of Tourism works with major companies from each branch in the sector: Reed exposition, GL Event, Sodexo Sport Loisir, Disney, Accor, Belambra, Marriot, Hyatt, Atout France, SNAV, Odalys, UMIH and many others.

Educational advisory committees
Alongside faculty representatives, most of these businesses belong to Educational advisory committees whose aim is to improve the programmes offered by La Rochelle Business School of Tourism. These committees, which meet once a year, allow the school to adapt its programmes and teaching materials to the needs and problems facing businesses in the sector.

Disney, official sponsor of the class of 2010
Disneyland Paris has decided to become a privileged partner of La Rochelle Business School of Tourism by sponsoring the class of 2010.

“At Disneyland Paris, we place great emphasis on developing all our talents. As a partner of La Rochelle Business School of Tourism, we want to support young students and contribute to their development in various professions such as catering, hotels, property, trade, marketing, finance, human resources, communications and many more! This gives students a unique opportunity to become immersed in the magic of Europe's premier tourist destination, where simple and straightforward exchanges with our staff will allow them to discover over 100 nationalities and 20 different languages.” Sébastien Tourné – Academic Relations – Disneyland Paris

Professional forums and conferences
Finally, all year long the school organises professional forums and conferences related to the tourism sector with its partner companies; these allow participants to improve their knowledge of the market and give students looking for internships the chance to speak directly to potentially interested companies.

Partner institutions

On the academic side, La Rochelle Business School of Tourism has several partnerships with French and foreign universities that allow students to benefit from dual accreditations.

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

This French-speaking university has been developing its expertise in the tourism sector for several years and enjoys an international reputation in this area. La Rochelle Business School of Tourism signed a partnership agreement with the UQAM (link to website). The pedagogical methods and workload of the MBA specialisations in Destinations, Events and Hospitality are inspired by the Anglo-Saxon model of degrees awarded by the UQAM. This partnership also offers students at La Rochelle Business School of Tourism wonderful opportunities abroad.

As an active member of the UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation) Educational Council, the UQAM receives the international body's TedQual accreditation.

University of Angers – ESTHUA

A partnership with the ESTHUA (University of Angers School of Tourism and Hospitality Management) allows students in the MBA programme to earn a Master in Law, Economics and Management in Tourism.

Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale (ULCO) in Boulogne-sur-Mer
 
Institut Français du Tourisme

La Rochelle Business School of Tourism is also a member of the Institut Français du Tourisme. The aim of this association is to bring together those who contribute to the development of tourism worldwide (businesses, training centres, local authorities, public institutions, professional organisations, etc.). Its main objectives are as follows:

• to improve the performance of each of its partners in their chosen sector by developing a collective understanding of changes in supply and demand, both qualitatively and in terms of jobs and skills
• to improve their capacity to compete worldwide in an environment of sustainable development

Research

La Rochelle Business School has set up a research department dedicated to tourism management. It brings together research professors (management experts, geographers, sociologists and economists) who conduct multidisciplinary research in order to :

• develop understanding of changes in consumer behaviour and the consumer experience, especially with regard to customer loyalty 
• identify the role of information and communication technologies in defining new tourism-related professions
• promote the concept of quality in tourist companies and activities 
• chart the impact of tourism in the environmental, socio-cultural and economic spheres
• understand the relationship between tourist activities and the environment in which they take place and identify indicators of sustainable tourism

Events

Together with two of its academic partners, UQAM and ESTHUA, the school organises the Rendez-vous Champlain sur le tourisme every two years. These French-speaking meetings provide a biannual platform for international professionals and academics to meet, discuss and exchange views on themes related to the tourism sector. Their aims are as follows:

• to improve understanding of the tourist phenomenon and anticipate its future development
• to encourage contributions to a better understanding of emerging tourist practices
• to promote Franco-Québécois research and help make it more dynamic via a multidimensional and comparative approach
• to position the work of academics, researchers, institutions, students, tourism professionals and corporate partners in the wider French-speaking network
• to encourage new partnerships worldwide and consolidate these links over time
• to produce high-quality work that will lead to the publication of conference proceedings or other collective works
• to enable the creation of a range of targeted offers for professionals, and voice strategic views on various themes

In June 2011, the school is organising a "Tourism Management Day" at Disneyland. This event will be open both to academics and professionals from the tourism sector.

Accreditations

La Rochelle Business School of Tourism is the first French tourism school to earn TedQual accreditation, which is awarded by the World Tourism Organisation under the authority of the United Nations.