The professional was invited as a guest by Sándor Huszár, one of the lecturers of the Tourism Marketing course. The Tourism and Catering BSc places a strong emphasis on practical knowledge and industry experience. Guest lecturers from the tourism sector regularly visit classes to help students better understand how theoretical concepts translate into everyday professional practice.

During the session, the speaker — who completed her studies in Commerce and Marketing at the university and is now a hotel manager before the age of 30 — shared her professional journey and discussed how careers in hospitality often begin with hands-on operational roles.

“It doesn’t matter what level you study at — in this sector you have to start from the bottom, often as a receptionist. When promotion opportunities arise, hotels usually choose from their existing staff, so it is extremely important to already be working there,” she explained.

Her career path clearly demonstrates how dedication and industry experience can lead to rapid professional advancement even at a young age.

Understanding Guests Through Buyer Personas

The lecture focused on the concept of buyer personas and how hotels adapt their services to meet the expectations of different guest segments.

The hotel she manages is a four-star property with 44 rooms, offering seven different room types designed to match the needs of various traveler groups. Some rooms are tailored to business travelers, others to families, while standard rooms serve a broader audience.

This segmentation helps hotels better understand their guests and provide services that meet their expectations. The speaker also emphasized that working in hospitality requires flexibility and strong customer-orientation.

“You cannot fulfill every request, because sometimes guests have unrealistic expectations. Some people think they can do anything. These requests must be evaluated carefully and agreements should be reached through reasonable compromises,” she noted.

A Dynamic and Competitive Market

The presentation also provided students with insight into the dynamics of the hotel market in Szeged. Booking platforms remain the most important sales channels for many hotels, while the composition of guests often reflects the city’s international connections.

The hotel receives visitors from several markets, particularly Romania, Serbia and domestic Hungarian tourism, illustrating the cross-border tourism activity characteristic of the region.

Pricing in the hospitality industry is also highly dynamic and strongly influenced by seasonality. “There is no standard price in this market. Room rates constantly change depending on the season. During peak periods prices can even double compared to low-season periods. In Szeged the summer months, national holidays and the Wine Festival are typically the busiest times,” the hotel manager explained.

Learning From Industry Professionals

Experiences like this demonstrate how the Tourism and Hospitality programme prepares students for real careers in the industry. By connecting classroom knowledge with real business cases, guest lecturers help students better understand both the opportunities and challenges of working in tourism.

The success of alumni working in the sector also highlights the strong career prospects available to graduates. As the guest speaker’s story shows, even a position at the reception desk can be the first step toward a leadership role in the hospitality industry.