School of the Oriental Hotel Apprenticeship Programme

The programme was established in May 1990 in response to growing demands for well-trained hotel personnel in rank-and-file and lower middle management categories. According to a survey conducted by Mandarin Oriental, the workforce in these categories is regularly impacted by high turnover. Various hotel schools have been created in an attempt to address these issues. However, theories have tended to receive more attention than the practical training required for success at operational levels.

OHAP was launched with an emphasis on practical training at one standard, that of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, which has been ranked many times as the ‘Best Hotel in the World’.

Theory is kept to the basics. Seventy per cent of the instructors are highly qualified Mandarin Oriental hotel staff. The rest are specialists invited from various distinguished institutions. The courses available upon established were Front Office, Housekeeping, and Food & Beverage (International Cuisine, Traditional Thai Cooking, Bakery & Pastry, Restaurant Operations and Bartending). Currently, the courses are emphasized on Culinary programme; International Cuisine, Traditional Thai Cooking, Bakery & Pastry. 

The School of The Oriental Hotel Apprenticeship Programme, as stressed by Mr Kurt Wachtveitl, former General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, “Is a contribution, a response and an invitation towards creating qualified personnel for the hospitality industry in Thailand.”