CETT-UB's “STRtists” team, winner of the STR & ICHRIE EMEA Student Market Study Competition 2024

• First of all, congratulations! How was the experience of participating in an international competition of this level and what did you learn from it? 

Berta: Thank you! It was honestly so amazing and rewarding to participate in such a competition among some of the highest-level universities.

Pau: The experience is unmatched. It has helped us to grow and to want to improve day after day. Moreover, the fact of being selected to represent CETT in a competition like this at an international level makes it even more rewarding. We took with us the learning of how the Dubai hotel market works and an opportunity to exploit skills such as English. 

Thea: I would say this whole journey was tough but very meaningful. I’ve never learned anything about market analysis or read industry reports. It was challenging at first to find the right direction to work towards. I learned a lot from it, not only knowledge but also the spirit of not being afraid when I am completely lost and learning things step by step.   

• What does this recognition mean for your academic and professional career?    

Berta: The recognition I’ve received from my participation and winning, in general, is incredible. All the staff at CETT were congratulating us, and the fact that I am now a more well-known student on campus gives me more confidence to strive and aim higher.

Pau: It really is a turning point between our academic and professional careers. We have taken advantage of the opportunity and in the best way, and this gives us a reputation at the academic level inside and outside CETT, and professionally it helps to open paths more easily.   

Thea: It means that If I put in enough effort, I can be the winner and become the top 10% of this industry. Academically, this recognition gave me more confidence and willingness to dive into more professional knowledge.   

• The project focuses on a market study of the hotel sector in Dubai. Could you explain what it consists of?    

Berta: STR provided us with all the data. It was quite challenging at the beginning because I had never dealt with that many numbers, especially as a first-year student, but we slowly got the hang of it and were able to deliver an outstanding result.

Pau: It is clear that the countries of the Middle East are currently an attractive focus for the business world, as it is an emerging area, but for the tourism sector and large hotel groups it is even more so. That is why our study focuses on the evolution of the Dubai hotel market in recent years due to its rapid growth.    

Thea: The market study consists of the general market makeup, a short-term analysis of industry performance, a long-term analysis of the whole industry, types of business, pipeline development about future planning and direction, and comparable markets, which compare Dubai with other similar markets.   

• What does it bring to the sector and what impact could it have?    

Berta: Analyzing data is crucial, and since Dubai is a rapidly growing market with significant and noticeable changes, it allows for a deeper understanding and the ability to identify shifts more quickly.

Pau: It helps the hotel sector to expand around the world, creates jobs and generates income for the area where tourism is being exploited.   

Thea: I think this market analysis gave us a comprehensive understanding of the hotel industry in Dubai. This report can bring some insights for investors and managers cause we analyze the trends and the customer portfolio to provide a better understanding of the market and the customers. 

• You have been preparing for the competition for weeks. What role has CETT and its teaching team played in the process? 

Berta: CETT provided great support; both Helena and Nehru were amazing. They have extensive knowledge about the sector, and when Alvaro and Oriol joined our pitch presentations, they boosted our performance and gave us excellent advice. 

Pau: It is clear that CETT is a reference center in the sector and from the first day we have felt supported in this intense process. For this type of competitions it is essential to have a good team and work all as one and so we did from day 1. Special thanks to the coaches Helena and Nehru, and teachers Oriol Anguera and Alvaro Arrieta, with whom we have been able to improve day by day and gain more confidence.   

Thea: First, I want to say our two coaches, Helena and Nehru are very responsible and took this competition seriously. They spent a lot of effort and time supporting us both mentally and academically. CETT played the role of mentors, when we needed support, lots of CETT’s professors, like Oriol and Alvaro came and helped.  

• Would you encourage CETT students to participate in the STR & ICHRIE EMEA Student Market Study Competition? For what reasons? 

Berta: Absolutely! Keeping in mind that this is a competition and requires hard work, if you’re an ambitious person and eager to learn more about the sector, you should definitely join. It challenges you and pushes you to new horizons. Everything I’ve learned has given me great advantages.

Pau: Of course. It is ideal to break the ice, get out of the comfort zone, be more critical and, above all, to gain knowledge, which is always important if you want to achieve your goals. One of the reasons why I encourage you to participate is because the sector needs more and more well-trained professionals and this experience helps to build your resume and expand your network of contacts.  

Thea: Definitely yes, this is a great opportunity if you wish to learn more about the statistics and analysis side of our industry and gain some hard skills like using Excel. You can also utilize this opportunity to network with capable peers in our industry.