The University of Baguio’s School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (UB-SIHTM) isn’t just sending students abroad; they’re launching them as international professionals, backed by a strategic faculty immersion trip designed to keep UB-SIHTM’s curriculum globally competitive. The recent Bridge USA Cultural Exchange visit, which included a detailed itinerary for the faculty delegation, was a high-impact mission to solidify student readiness, strengthen industry ties, and infuse the latest global insights into the classroom.
Alt text: Student Delegates from UB-SIHTM along with Academic Leaders and Program Chairs, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, CEO and members from ZIP Travel Philippines during the cultural immersion at the Ritz Carlton-Amelia Island, Florida
The core goal of the academic mobility trip was to set a high bar for the students entering the Bridge USA Cultural Exchange program. From the moment the school representatives arrived in Orlando on June 29, 2025, the team began an immediate audit of program readiness. The seamless transition and efficient handling of logistics by the delegation from the airport to check-in at Fairfield by Marriott Kingsland confirmed the success of UB’s intensive pre-departure training, highlighting all the crucial parts of traveling abroad.
The students who were deployed at the luxurious The Ritz Carlton Hotel at Amelia Island proved that UB-SIHTM’s commitment to training worldwide experts is very evident. began at luxury and large-scale operational properties, providing a dual training mandate. The school representatives were Dr. Janice Kaylyn K. Lonogan, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Ms. Joanna Marie V. Villavicencio, and Ms. Maria Victoria L. Natividad, met with company representatives at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, to benchmark the luxury standard.
Here, service is defined by extreme personalization and staff empowerment. UB student delegates are challenged to become not just task executors, but emotionally intelligent service designers, mastering the attention to detail required in a high-end setting. The faculty also toured the housing to verify the safe and comfortable accommodations for the students.
Alt text: Faculty Delegates and Leaders from UB-SIHTM along with UB’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, CEO and members from ZIP Travel Philippines during the cultural immersion at the Ritz Carlton-Amelia Island, Florida
The following day is a day filled with learning and reunion among the school representatives and the students. A meeting with representatives from the Sea Island Cloister provided a benchmarking focused on operational scale. The strategic necessity of the Student Welfare and Safety Audit was fulfilled during the housing verification, which included a visit to the Sea Island Cloister. The delegation confirmed the positive and safe conditions of the accommodations for the students. This observation emphasized that the employer’s commitment to providing comfortable, secure, and well-maintained housing acts as a key factor in staff performance and retention. This crucial benchmark established that UB will continue prioritizing employer partners who proactively invest in their staff’s well-being.
Alt text: Student Delegates from UB-SIHTM along with Academic Leaders and Program Chairs, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, CEO and members from ZIP Travel Philippines during the cultural immersion at the Ritz Carlton-Amelia Island, Florida
One of the highlights of the trip is the visit to the famous Marriott Orlando World Center. The key learnings centered on efficiency, technology integration, and sophisticated systems, demanding that students learn to excel within a structured, tech-driven, high-throughput environment.
In general, the entire trip was a vital opportunity for professional development and curriculum validation, ensuring UB’s offerings align with the demands of the international tourism and hospitality industry. The school representative’s week-long journey was meticulously designed to expose them to the full spectrum of the modern Experience Economy.
The visit to the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management on July 3 was key for Curriculum Validation. Faculty gathered insights on pedagogical approaches, facility standards, and the integration of real-world scenarios. This direct exposure provides a roadmap for SIHTM to integrate specific curriculum structures, such as advanced revenue management and data-driven decision-making, to maintain global competitiveness.
The trip included two major cultural activities that served as active lessons in customer experience and narrative immersion. Attending the Cirque du Soleil show, described in the itinerary as a “world-renowned contemporary circus company,” demonstrated how integral entertainment and seamless customer experience are to the US tourism model. It taught the faculty that success requires mastery over the guest’s emotional journey. While the Pirate Dinner Show Adventure is an interactive theater reinforces that high-quality, theme-driven dining requires staff to act as storytellers and masters of immersion, effectively turning a simple meal into a memorable, high-value experience.
Alt text: Academic Leaders and Program Chairs, along with the Vice President of Academic Affairs at various locations found remotely in Amelia Island, Florida
Maintaining the integrity of the academe, the cultural immersion program stands tall as an effective way for student and faculty delegates (including the management) to expand the horizon of quality education (supported by SDG 4), and immerse themselves in real-world experiences for economic development and growth (supported by SDG 8).
The success of the mission, which included visits to key host companies and a world-class academic institution, confirms that UB-SIHTM is committed to world-class experiential learning and is actively molding its students into independent, highly effective international professionals. This strategic leap across the USA has guaranteed that the University of Baguio’s Bridge USA partnered international programs and opportunities (that directly contributes to SDG 8 and 17) will continue to produce graduates who are not only employment-ready but can thrive in and lead the dynamic international hospitality landscape, and mentors who will continue to hone the talents and skills of these soon-to-be industry experts.
Written by: Joanna Marie V. Villavicencio
