Zainub Ibrahim’s Tips for College Field Trip Experiences
Zainub Ibrahim
Smooth Operations: Students sample staycation location
Fourth-year Bachelor of Hospitality and Tourism Management (BHTM) students at Algonquin College learned a thing or two about the perks of staying close to home as part of their research project. Professor Zainub Ibrahim brought them on location and introduced them to the team and amenities at Brookstreet Hotel, right here in our vibrant city!
Students were warmly welcomed by two exceptional leaders, Annie Corriveau,CHRL Vice President of Human Resources, and the General Manager, Nyle Kelly. Their insights, guidance, and hospitality made the day memorable, and the insights gained played an important role in the direction of their research projects.
The Brookstreet Hotel, a gem in Ottawa’s hospitality industry, is known for its commitment to excellence and innovation. The students had the privilege of delving deep into its operations and learning from the best in the business.
Classroom Assessment and Activity Design Ideas
The Brookstreet Hotel is located a short bus ride from the Ottawa campus, convenient since bus passes are available to full-time students at a reduced rate. If a case study location is too far to be accessible, alternate experiences could include:
- Faculty can visit hotel managers on site and create a quick video tour for those unable to attend in advance and conduct the interview using remote conference software
- Post links to media interviews with hotel managers in various contexts in LMS
- Encourage students to conduct field work on their own, by visiting a hotel near where they live or work
This project gave students a chance to see things from the perspective of operating a hotel that is independent; rich because there is a lot more flexibility in terms of what the hotel can do. Key take aways from the students’ research was the importance of environmental factors such as nearby entertainment venues and identifying competitors for such a unique hotel. When students expanded their definitions, they found that sometimes hotels that were further away were more direct competitors than others that were closer in proximity.
Lessons learned from the project included evaluating the usefulness and challenges of survey data. There were many discussions about identification of target market, and how difficult it is to specify and identify target markets based on demographic information gathered. The staycation market was one of particular interest due to the hotel’s amenities!
Key Takeaways for Workplace Skill Development
Zainub’s networking contacts provide her with stories, suggestions, and feedback on their interactions with students. When interacting with students, she treats them as professionals.
- Students engage when faced with compelling problems
- Professors who set workplace expectations prepare students for success
- Constructive feedback can be delivered through manager lens instead of professor
About the author
Dr. Zainub Ibrahim is a full-time Professor in the School of Business and Hospitality at Algonquin College. She holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Waterloo, a Master’s degree in Applied Environmental Studies (Local Economic Development — Tourism Policy and Planning), a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a Certificate in University Teaching from the University of Waterloo. Her work focuses on tourism planning, sustainability, and risk management, with a particular interest in fostering collaborations between academia and industry. Passionate about applied learning, she brings her experience to the classroom, where she encourages students to engage with real-world issues and develop solutions that make a positive impact.
