Jesse Morris
07 Jan 2026
In an industry where service is everything, it’s easy to forget that our future doesn’t lie in trends, tools, or tech- It lies in people. At TrevPAR World, we don’t just build strategies for today’s clients, we invest in tomorrow’s talent. That’s why we’ve made youth development a core part of how we give back to the hospitality industry. From welcoming interns into our team to delivering guest lectures at institutions like the University of Johannesburg and Stenden South Africa, we’re opening the door for future leaders to step into the real world of hospitality strategy.
From Classroom to Client-Side
There’s a growing disconnect between what students learn in theory and what they experience in practice. As revenue strategy, data science, and digital marketing evolve rapidly within hospitality, the divide between curriculum and real-world application is wider than ever.
Our goal? Bridge that gap.
Through structured internship programmes, TrevPAR World provides students with exposure to real life projects, market research, performance audits, client interactions and actual decision sit in on meetings, they participate in ongoing discussion. They don’t just observe campaigns, they help build them. Whether they’re assisting with STR benchmarking or learning how to build revenue forecast models, interns work side-by-side with our specialists and directors. It’s hands-on. It’s fast paced. It’s real.
And by the time they leave, they’re not just interns. They’re industry ready.
Guest Lectures & Thought Sharing
We don’t believe in gatekeeping knowledge. That’s why our leadership team regularly delivers guest lectures and industry talks at institutions such as Stenden South Africa, UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality, and hospitality-focused events across the country.
These sessions aren’t rehearsed slide decks or recycled theory as they’re raw, practical insights straight from the field:
· How OTA visibility really works
· How to spot revenue leaks before they happen
· How to grow ADR without dropping occupancy
· How to balance data with instinct
We show students what hospitality looks like beyond textbooks. We show them how strategy becomes action.
More Than a CSR Box
For us, youth development isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s not an “initiative”, it’s a long-term responsibility. The students we train today are the hotel managers, general managers and even consultants of tomorrow. They will influence pricing decisions, shape guest experiences, and lead teams across Africa and beyond. If they understand strategy early, they won’t just work in hospitality… they’ll change it.
And that’s why we care.
Why Industry Needs to Step Up
The reality is, not every student gets access to real mentorship. Not every institution has guest lecturers who’ve worked on pricing audits in Kruger, built content calendars for coastal lodges, or adjusted rate ladders for a city hotel on the fly. That’s why we’re encouraging more hospitality businesses, not just consultancies to step up. Offer shadowing programmes. Host open days. Build alumni pipelines. Take students behind the scenes and show them what it means to lead in a service economy. The future of hospitality depends on the investments we make today — and it doesn’t always cost money. Sometimes, it just takes time, honesty, and a willingness to teach.
The Bigger Picture
At TrevPAR World, we don’t just talk about growing the industry, we live it. Whether it’s mentoring a student on their final-year project, giving a first year intern access to a social analytics dashboard or helping a young graduate land their first client facing role… We take pride in building futures.
Because ultimately, when we invest in youth, we’re investing in the future of hospitality. And that’s a strategy we’ll never stop backing.