EHL Course Catalogue 2011-2012 - Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne

financial structures of the major actors in the hospitality industry, as well as the main trends of the
sector. Furthermore, students will develop their quantitative analytical capacities through mastery of
descriptive and inferential statistics tools. These tools will specifically allow them to evaluate the
impact of managerial decisions and to estimate the variables guiding these decisions. Finally,
students will be able to master the cost structures of a hospitality sector enterprise, establish a
coherent budget and be able to explain and evaluate its performance.
8121BC – Quantitative methods
40 hours of contact – 5 US quarter credits – 6 ECTS credits
� Summary
Managers are confronted to a huge quantity of numerical information. This information has to be
accurately analysed in order to take the right decisions.
Through this module, students will learn how to analyse numerical information with various
descriptive and inferential statistic tools; they should be then able to take a decision according to the
analysis results. They will also learn how to identify problems, how to define data necessary to
analyse the problem, what method to choose for collecting data, how to use the appropriate
statistical tools to analyse the problem and how to interpret the statistical results obtained.
� Objective
� Learn to select and use tools of descriptive statistics and appropriate statistical tests.
Interpret the results. Present and analyze data from a population or a sample in a process of
decision support.
8133BR – Tourism economics
40 hours of contact – 4 US quarter credits – 4 ECTS credits
� Summary
Students learn to appreciate the importance of tourism as a driver of economic growth. They will
learn the key definitions and acquire an overall view of tourism demand and supply. The student
assesses both the impact of economic developments on tourism and tourism‟s impact on an
economy. Specifically, the student evaluates the determinants of tourism flows, including transport
links, attractions and demand drivers, as well as accommodation supply. Furthermore, the student
also learns to analyse a destination in terms of its marketing strategy, financing of tourism activities
and environmental and sustainable development practices. The student, as well, acquires an
understanding of how the tourism industry is structured, including hotel chains, tour operators and
travel agents (both online and offline) and transport providers.
� Objective
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to evaluate the future trend in supply
and demand for tourism services in a destination, region or country, taking into account the outlook
for arrivals and prospective developments in attractions, accommodation capacity and transport
links, as well as the impact of state regulation and macroeconomic forces on the hospitality and
tourism industry of a destination, region or country. Conversely they will be able to evaluate the