Lola Villard-Coles
Background
Mrs Lola Villard-Coles has over 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, having worked in both France and Wales in a range of operational and managerial roles within luxury hotels. Before moving into higher education, she was Operations Manager for a small group of 4- and 5-star hotels in Wales, where she supported the development of service delivery and staff training.
Now a Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lola brings her industry background into the classroom to help students connect theory with real-world practice. She leads the BA Hospitality and Hotel Management programme and works closely with students to support their academic progress and professional development.
Her work focuses on creating meaningful links between industry and education, with a strong emphasis on work-based learning, employer engagement, and student placements to help prepare learners for careers in hospitality.
Specialist Subjects
- Hospitality and Guest Services
- Management and Organisational Behaviour
- Managing Hotel Administration
- Sustainable Hospitality
- Managing Guest Service Operations
- Managing Food & Beverage Operations
Professional and/or Research Experience
In addition, her postgraduate research explored the impact of Brexit on workforce composition, recruitment, and talent retention in the UK hospitality industry. The study highlighted the sector’s growing challenges and the need for new strategies to address post-Brexit labour shortages and workforce sustainability.
Qualifications
- MBA
- PGCE (PCET)