MCI I The Entrepreneurial School® organized a tailored program for executive students from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, USA, in Innsbruck from April 17 to 22. During their Global Business Intensive Course, the group focused on family tourism businesses in Tyrol. The program aimed to provide participants with unique insights into the tourism industry in a European environment and learn from MCI faculty experts in the field.
Expert sessions on various tourism-related topics such as an introduction on family businesses and their strategies, sustainable tourism, and innovative business models as well as destination management were included in the program. In addition to MCI faculty, an external speaker from the SOS Children's Village also shared his experiences and insights on the topic.
One of the program's highlights was a session held on top of the Alpine mountain range called Nordkette, where participants enjoyed breathtaking views while discussing the tourism opportunities in Tyrol. The program also included visits to family businesses in the old town, production visits, and onsite visits to Med-El (a leading manufacturer of medical devices), Huter & Söhne (a sixth-generation family construction business), Alpenresort Schwarz (a luxury hotel and resort), and the oldest Austrian family business, the bell foundry Grassmayr. These visits allowed the participants to see firsthand how these businesses operate and how they have managed to maintain their family traditions and values over the years.
As the program came to an end, MCI would like to extend warm thanks to our faculty and external speaker for their valuable contributions to the program. We hope that our American visitors and friends had a lovely time in Tyrol and that they gained valuable insights and experiences that will help them in their future endeavors. A unique opportunity was provided to connect with industry experts, visit local businesses, explore the beautiful Tyrolean landscape and taste the local cuisine. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and other institutions from around the world to our campus in the future.
Students of Pepperdine Graziadio Business School at their introduction session with Anita Zehrer, Head of Family Business Center © MCI / Kim Fladda
Pepperdine Students during their city tour: A moment with Monika Unterholzner from the Grassmayr Family and a tour guide of Austria Guide Innsbruck © Pepperdine / Kristin Bailey
Gathering at Stöttlalm with Professor Kevin Groves and Associate Professor Darren Good as well as Kim Fladda, Coordinator Transnational Programs and Ondrej Pesek, Exchange Coordinator © Pepperdine / Kristin Bailey
Exploring Local Treasures: Pepperdine Students discover Greenroot, a hidden gem in the heart of Innsbrucks’ Old Town © Pepperdine
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