From Then to Now | Student Success Story
“Sondela didn’t just teach me about hospitality, it shaped who I am today. I learned how to be strong, brave, and independent, while also understanding the value of supporting those around me and growing together as a team.”
Monique Batt completed her Diploma in Hospitality Management at Sondela Academy from January 2020 to January 2023, and her journey since graduating is a great example of how the hospitality industry can open doors to exciting career paths.
For Monique, Sondela Academy was about more than just studying hospitality. It was a place that helped shape who she is today.
After graduating, Monique began her career at a Hunting Lodge in the Free State, where she worked as an Assistant Manager. The role challenged her and pushed her outside of her comfort zone, allowing her to develop both personally and professionally while gaining valuable experience in lodge operations and guest service.
She later moved to a Game Lodge in Limpopo, where she worked as a Lodge Anchor & Administrative Assistant. In this position, she continued to build on her leadership and organisational abilities while further developing her passion for creating meaningful guest experiences.
Today, Monique works as a Travel Consultant in Johannesburg, a role she has held for just over a year. In this position, she designs and manages tailor-made travel experiences for clients, planning itineraries, coordinating bookings, and ensuring that every detail of their journey runs smoothly from start to finish.
Her hospitality background plays an important role in her work today, helping her deliver exceptional service and memorable travel experiences.
Looking back on her journey, Monique recognises how every step – from her studies at Sondela Academy to her lodge experience and now her role in the travel industry – helped prepare her for where she is today.
To current students at Sondela Academy, she offers this advice:
“Trust the process, believe in yourself, and never be afraid to take on new challenges. When you uplift those around you, you grow stronger too, and the hospitality industry will open doors you never thought possible.”
Monique’s story is a reminder that the skills learned at Sondela Academy can lead to many exciting opportunities within the broader hospitality and tourism industry.
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