1

SEG Alumni in Action

SEG, Swiss Education Group

Emanuel Douglas DonhauserExecutive Academic Director

Florent Rondezchief Executive officer

Benoît SamsonExecutive Director

Business DevelopmentRonald Fitzgeraldmanaging Director

Dear Alumni,

the first edition of SEG’s ‘Alumni in Action’ highlighting successful graduates from our SEG schools generated such a response that we decided to make it a regular publication. Since that first edition, the SEG group has grown significantly, not only in size, but also in reputation.

With the acquisition of three additional campuses, SEG is now the umbrella organization for césar Ritz colleges, Him, iHtti, SHmS and the culinary institute Switzerland. SEG delivers programmes covering hospitality management, business, events, tourism, spa and resorts, hotel design, and culinary arts. its locations span the shores of lake Geneva, the Valais, neuchâtel and stretch as far as lucerne where Dct has become a césar Ritz campus.

our international Recruitment Forum has also grown and is now held where the montreux Jazz Festival takes place as the forum now attracts even more hospitality recruiters to recruit SEG students and graduates.

in this issue, we’re proud to present more success stories from outstanding SEG alumni and trust these will motivate you to keep striving towards your dreams.

Please keep in touch and let us know what you are up to so that in the SEG family spirit, we can share and celebrate your career.

Sincerely,

Welcome

clAuDEnoBSFounder of the Montreux Jazz FestivalMontreux, Switzerland

Dear Alumni,

it’s all about good hospitality.

Since the very early years of the montreux Jazz Festival i wanted artists to feel at home in montreux, or even better, i wanted them to never forget their stay. thanks to my hotel management education i knew that there is no better way to show your respect and appreciation than by welcoming your guests with open arms and an open mind. no request has been impossible, neither a diamond wrist watch for nina Simone nor a Ferrari ride for miles Davis. But the most precious things aren’t material; it’s your care and your attention. these are priceless gifts.

SEG, Swiss Education Group, puts so much effort and passion into educating students from all over the world. Switzerland’s brilliant reputation is due to their great work, renowned achievements and to all the graduates who bring this unique sense of quality and high standards throughout the world. You truly are the best visiting card our country could wish for. there is no doubt, your success will rock the world!

Warm regards,claude nobs

Alumni in Europe

Hospitality is like a bridge: it shortens distances, enables peopleto overcome difficulties and creates new possibilities.

“HIM was a great educational experience where I learned a great deal of work integrity, teamwork and professionalism.”

i knew from my early childhood that hospitality was the career that i wanted. to be able to make others happy is the greatest profession in the world.

one of the most rewarding aspects of my job is to see our employees and guests happy and if i can exceed their expectations, it is an amazing feeling.

my advice for students is to always do what you love. if you love what you do, it will show in your everyday performance and will help you to become even more successful. the key is to not stop searching until you find what you love to do. there are three key words for success; Honesty, loyalty and Hard work.

Working at the Royal monceau can’t be described with words. there is no day like another at the Royal monceau. Every day has different challenges and this is why each day is memorable and rewarding. the Royal monceau is full of opportunities, it is an institution and i am very proud to be a member of such an establishment.

www.leroyalmonceau.com

HIM alumnus 1994

General Manager, Royal Monceau – Raffles ParisParis, France

omER AcAR

Europe

Europe

www.marcfosh.com

RoBERt BRAGAGnolo

“IHTTI opened my eyes to the world and its infinite possibilities! I loved being part of such a multicultural organization.”

i am lucky as the hospitality industry really chose me! i was born into hospitality as both sides of my family have been involved in restaurants and the travel industry for several generations. the idea of being involved in a business that has so many variables and intangibilities has always excited and simultaneously scared me. i have, on occasion, thought of pursuing another profession, but actually, i can’t imagine doing anything else.

Fosh Food was born in 2005 and from its debut as a cooking school and gourmet boutique, has grown into a full-fledged tapas

and regional Spanish restaurant called ‘tasca de Blanquerna’ and a catering business. in 2009 we opened ‘Simply Fosh’, our flagship fine-dining restaurant and in 2011 ‘misa Braseria’, our third restaurant.

if it is at all possible to reduce three years of knowledge down to one quintessential skill that i learnt at iHtti, i would have to say it is the ability to critically analyse. When you are constantly pressed for time it is easy to make rash decisions without really thinking through all of the angles, and quick, under-analyzed decisions, often lead to bigger problems down the road.

my advice to students is to find a niche, specialize and, focus. if you can’t find a niche or market that you can excel at, then create one! Being the best at one specific thing makes you unique and invaluable.

IHTTI alumnus 2000

Executive Director and Proprietor, Marc Fosh Restaurant GroupPalma de Mallorca, Spain

Study hospitality management or culinary arts in Switzerland

World leader in Hospitality management Education

shms.comhim.ch ihtti.comritz.edu culinaryinstitute.ch

SEG, Swiss Education Group, is a network of leading hospitality management schools offering:» A unique combination of academic and practical training

» Full board and accommodation on campus included

» Professional internships and career placement

» the international Recruitment Forum

» A worldwide alumni network

choose the school and programme that suit you best: internationalBusiness, tourism, Events, Design, Resort and Spa, Hotel management or culinary Arts; and qualify with a Swiss Higher Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Postgraduate Diploma or a master Degree.

Contact us now for further informationor to organize a visit.

SEG, Swiss Education Groupmontreux, Switzerland t. +41 21 965 40 20info@swisseducation.com

swisseducation.com

“My time at César Ritz Colleges helped me to develop all the important skills that I use every day in the hospitality business.”

When i graduated i already had the offer of an 18-month management training placement in the united States. i began working at Dolce’s tarrytown House, new York, as a junior conference planner, which gave me a great overview of how a full-service hotel actually works. i won the manager of the Quarter award, even though i was only a trainee!

i then looked for a job in turin, italy, because i wanted to be part of the whole olympic Games experience. After a position at Express by Holiday inn, i was hired as front office manager

by a Spanish hotel chain, Ac Hotels, that was opening a five-star hotel in turin. it was a great challenge because, in the beginning, when the hotel opened, together with the general manager, i had to organize and coordinate all the different departments, as well as trying to drum up business!

i was promoted to general manager of our four-star hotel in Vicenza – i was only 28 years old! Working there was a huge challenge as the hotel had been open for only six months and guest numbers weren’t great.

my very first experience as a general manager was very valuable for me in my career as it helped me discover my managerial strengths and weaknesses. i believe it’s important to be hard working, organized, respectful, eager to learn, a good communicator and listener, and to strive for excellence.

www.villadamelia.com

César Ritz alumnus 2001

Deputy General Manager, Relais Villa d’AmeliaBenevello, Piedmont, Italy

EVA coDinA cAnDElicH

Europe

“I’m working alongside the most senior people within Hilton Worldwide, one of the largest and most powerful hospitality companies in the world.”

my career started with an internship at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel in Sydney. i then completed a second internship at the Hotel Baur au lac in Zurich before graduating with a Hotel management Diploma at césar Ritz colleges. the uS was next where i completed an 18-month rooms division management training with the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta.

moving back to Australia, i worked at the Sydney Hilton Hotel as a corporate sales graduate, completed my Bachelor of Business at the international college of management and then headed off to work in finance at the five-star Rydges Jamison Hotel in Sydney. it was there i discovered my love for the financial side of the business.

london saw me working at the Rydges Kensington Plaza Hotel where, in addition to being the hotel’s financial controller, i also acted as the it manager and assistant general manager. my passion continued to grow and i soon became director of finance at the Hilton london Heathrow Airport Hotel, one of the top-performing EBitDA hotels within the Hilton Worldwide uK portfolio.

two years later, i was promoted to director of finance of the london Hilton on Park lane, Hilton Hotels & Resorts uK flagship five-star property and the top-performing EBitDA hotel within the Hilton Worldwide uK portfolio.

Recently, i’ve been promoted to Hilton Worldwide’s Global operations centre as the new director of commercial finance for Europe, a fantastic opportunity as i’m now working directly alongside the most senior people within Hilton, one of the largest and most powerful hotel groups in the world.

Europe

www.hilton.com

mARKDAltonCésar Ritz alumnus 2002

Director of Commercial Finance – Europe at Hilton WorldwideMaple Court, Watford, United Kingdom

www.amathus-hotels.com

Europe

AcHillEASDoRotHEouHIM alumnus 1992

Chief Executive Officer, Amathus Hotels DivisionLimassol, Cyprus

“HIM has provided me with a solid platform to excel in my career and has contributed significantly towards my personal and professional growth.“

i decided to become an hotelier from the first moment i entered this industry at the age of 14. Despite the demanding hours and the work pressure, the spirit to exceed guests’ expectations, my passion for hotels and the enthusiasm to deal with people from different cultures determined my future career.

What i enjoy the most in my new role as a cEo is the continuous training and development of new leaders who i consider to be the most valuable asset within our company. the most rewarding aspects of my job are when i receive

positive comments from our guests and also constructive feedback from our valuable clientele on how to refine our services. i would recommend students who are interested in joining this exciting profession to be passionate, but to also have patience and resilience. their vision to become a Gm may take a number of years together with a lot of personal effort and sacrifice. i would advise students to learn continuously from their mistakes and celebrate every single successful step of their long career path.

the most exciting moment of my career was when i became the General manager of the Amathus Beach Hotel, at the age of 34. i was the youngest Gm on the island for such a luxury property! Such early success created in me some fear and stress due to my personal commitment and dedication, but also excitement to lead this reputable company forward into a more profitable and sustainable state.

“Without the academic base and guidance of the excellent teachers at IHTTI, it would have been difficult to achieve what I have so far in my career.”

i left turkey in 1979 and moved to Sweden where i spent nineteen years working in food and beverage, running restaurants. After all of these years spent in the food and beverage industry, i decided i needed a change and after much soul-searching decided to enrol at iHtti to study Hotel management. it was a great decision and although it was difficult to return to studies after so long, i have many fond memories of my time at iHtti. the staff were so supportive and they really contributed to my success and graduation with Honours.

my first role following graduation was management training with the Ritz-carlton in Philadelphia, uSA. From here i moved to the Four Seasons and from a starting role in reception i moved up to a role in the executive

management committee in just 2.5 years – a company record that still stands today! my work with the Four Seasons took me from the uSA to Egypt where i was involved in the opening of the new cairo Hotel, a fantastic experience as the food and beverage director. i also worked for the intercontinental and Sheraton Hotels before i decided to look for an opportunity in my home country.

As director of the mövenpick we have achieved some fantastic results including the number two ranking for guest satisfaction , the highest growth amongst mövenpick Hotels in 2009 and in 2011 the award for turkey’s leading Business Hotel.

my belief is that as a manager you have to keep in mind that you are dealing with people who are dealing with people and you should always hire people who like to make others happy.

mEliK KiZilcAnIHTTI alumnus 1998

General Manager, Mövenpick Hotel IzmirIzmir, Turkey

www.moevenpick-hotels.com

Europe

“At SHMS and HIM I learnt to be a hospitality professional.”

it was thanks to a school friend of mine that i attended an SHmS presentation in lithuania and realized that this could be the industry for me. my parents very wisely made me do some work experience before i enrolled and once i started, i quickly understood that, if like me, you like working with people and making others happy, then this is the industry in which to be.

At SHmS and Him i learnt to work with students from other cultures and backgrounds. that broadened my opinions and outlook and has really been useful in london where i have worked since my graduation! At SHmS i met people from right around the world and, in a global industry like hospitality, this is a real advantage.

After graduation, i worked at the mandarin oriental as a floor supervisor, moved to the Royal Household as assistant house manager for the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and in 2010, i joined the Boundary Hotel. i have loved each of my jobs and each one has taught me so much. i have to say, however, i enjoy working at the Boundary as it is a Boutique Hotel which means that i am involved in all of the hotel departments.

my advice to future graduates is to enjoy what you do! Remember that you have to be happy doing what you are doing in order to make others happy.

www.theboundary.co.uk

SHMS/HIM alumnus 2007

Operations Manager, Boundary HotelLondon, UK

RutA KRolYtE

Europe

“César Ritz Colleges’ alumni network was extremely helpful to me at the start of my career and remains very enjoyable to this date.”

While i was working as director of operations and hotel manager of the nine Zero Hotel in Boston, massachusetts, this very successful 190-room luxury boutique hotel (Destination Hotels & Resorts) was in the process of being sold. the selling process opened my eyes to the investment side of the hospitality industry and that really caught my interest.

Since the hotel was being sold, i took the opportunity to further educate myself on the business side of things. then, i decided that i needed to complement the investment and financial theory i had learnt with some practical experience. i therefore joined HVS, a specialized

hospitality consulting firm in london where i conducted economic feasibility studies, valuations, return on investment analyses and other advisory and asset management work for hotels, and mixed use developments on behalf of hotel operators, owners, developers and investment banks in Europe, the middle East and Africa.

After two and a half years in london, i was presented with an opportunity to join marriott international’s European development team in Zurich. my current role entails helping the company find new hotels to join the various chains within marriott’s European portfolio of brands.

i look back fondly at my experiences at césar Ritz colleges and congratulate the school for their alumni efforts. i am able to follow and stay in touch with former classmates and other alumni. there is a true feeling of belonging.

www.marriottdevelopment.com

César Ritz alumnus 1997

Director International Hotel Development – Europe Marriott International & The Ritz-Carlton Hotel CompanyZurich, Switzerland

tuomASlAAKSo

Europe

“Graduating from César Ritz Colleges meant the right doors open in my career.”

i decided to go for an international career and thought that starting out by becoming a general manager would be a good start. this was, after all, what i felt i had been best prepared for at césar Ritz colleges. Even today, i recall that the skills gained during my studies (operations such as food and beverage, service essentials, kitchen, and even the more abstract side of financial performance and optimization of processes) were what generally prepared me for my career.

i strongly believe that these skills are still providing me with the necessary insight in my responsibilities for my work in Europe’s oldest, independent luxury hotel group.

my main responsibility is to ensure that the hotels we manage deliver optimum operational and financial performance. this is part of the group’s overall strategy of creating a highly desirable and unique portfolio of luxury properties.

my favorite memories of student life at césar Ritz colleges were that i was able to enjoy being part of a very diverse student body, the intercultural exchange and the fact that i gained an awareness of how to do business in an international environment.

i would have more personal advice to give such as ‘do the right thing’. this is a value everyone knows but may disregard in business. Behave ethically, work hard and respect others. Be loyal in your career and if you are not learning or growing in the company, then move on.

Chief Operations Officer, Kempinski HotelsGeneva, Switzerland

DuncAno’RouRKECésar Ritz alumnus 1989

www.kempinski.com

Europe

“At SHMS, learning in a multicultural environment prepared me for the reality of working in the hotel industry.”

i am a people person and in what other industry can you meet new people every day? i was always curious as to what was going on behind the scenes in hotels and wanted to work in an industry with a multicultural environment, taking care of people and making a difference in their lives. Hospitality is the biggest industry in the world and i felt that by choosing this path i would be able to travel and work anywhere i wanted while reaching the top management level in a relatively short period of time.

At SHmS, i learnt to understand hotel operations as a whole in a multicultural environment and that prepared me so well for the industry. most of my teachers were from a hotel background and their input during the course was of

extreme importance in shaping my future as a hotel manager.

Following graduation, i moved to london and had my first deputy manager position within four months! After two and a half years i moved to the Holiday inn, camden lock, as deputy general manager/operations manager and during my time there, i am proud to say that we won the prestigious Hotel of the Year Award. in 2010, i moved to my current role as general manager of the Ambassadors Bloomsbury, in central london.

my advice to students is don’t look for shortcuts in your development and learning, and make sure you make the most out of the internships that SHmS will help you find all over the world! Hotel management is a profession and you will need perseverance and dedication to reach the top! Do Your Best!

www.ambassadors.co.uk

SHMS alumnus 2004

General Manager, Ambassadors Bloomsbury HotelLondon, UK

luiS PEDRo

Europe

For further information, please contact:SHMS Caux/Montreux, SwitzerlandTel. +41 21 965 40 20 • info@shms.com www.shms.com

Learn the Art of Swiss Hospitality Management

SHMS has an excellent reputation for producing highly-trained hospitality professionals. While learning in a traditional Swiss environment, you can specialise in hotel operations, events, resort and spa management, with an emphasis on practical skills.

• Swiss Diploma, Higher Diploma and Bachelor of Arts (Hons)

• Master of Arts in International Hospitality Management

• Paid internships in Switzerland and abroad

• After graduation job placement assistance

www.amathus-hotels.com

“HIM has provided me with solid foundations to build my career upon. It taught me all the elements that form a future professional.”

unlike many other people in the industry, i found myself studying Hotel management by chance. the industry at the time was booming in cyprus and i thought that it would be a good field in which to start my career. this proved to be a very wise decision as i soon discovered the hidden passion within me for the hospitality industry.

During my studies at Him i discovered the big secret in this industry; people! Whether these people are your guests or team members, managing and interacting with both are crucial for success.

my career has taken me through many different roles starting as a trainee and working my way into senior management. Since 2009, i am the director of human capital and development for the Amathus Hotels Division, a really exciting role. constantly moving between three hotels, facing different challenges and interacting with different people are for me both challenging and inspiring.

my advice for students is that nothing comes for free! Hard work combined with discipline and passion for hospitality are the key elements to guarantee your success in the field. the moment you decide to be in this industry, you choose a lifestyle, not a profession.

Director of Human Capital and Development, Amathus Hotels DivisionLimassol, Cyprus

EuGEnioS SAVVAHIM alumnus 1993

Europe

Baku B ea ve r C r e e k B e i j i n g B u eno s A i r e s Canbe r r a Ch i cago Duba i Goa Hambu rg I s t a nbu l J e ddah Ma l d i v e s Me l bou r n e

M e n d o z a M i l a n M o s c o w P a r i s S a i g o n S a n D i e g o S e o u l S h a n g h a i S y d n e y To k y o To r o n t o Wa s h i n g t o n , D C Z u r i c h

Exper ience the essence o f ind iv idua l l uxur y a t s tunn ing loca t ions wor ldwide.

For reser va t ions , v i s i t parkhya t t . com.

HYATT ™, PARK HYATT ™ and re la ted marks a re t rademarks o f Hya t t I n te rna t iona l Corpora t ion . ©2012 Hya t t Corpora t ion . A l l r igh t s re se r ved.

We a t t e n d t o e v e r y d e t a i l .

B e c a u s e a t a n y m o m e n t ,

t o a n y o f o u r g u e s t s ,

i t c o u l d b e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t

t h i n g i n t h e w o r l d .

www.thessaloniki.regency.hyatt.com

“IHTTI gave me the knowledge needed to stand strong in the face of challenges.”

to put it simply, i chose to study hospitality as i truly enjoy being of service to others and it is this enthusiasm combined with my education that has helped in my career success.

During my studies at iHtti, beyond acquiring precious knowledge on how to face the challenges of this dynamic industry, i also developed a thorough understanding of what leadership really means and the vital steps i needed to take so as to inspire others.

When i graduated from iHtti, i went to work in the uK for Hilton international as a Food and Beverage corporate management trainee and then joined Sani Resort, an exclusive luxury resort in northern Greece where i began my path in training and human resources management. in 1999, i became part of the Hyatt team,

starting as a training manager, moving up to Personnel manager and in 2008 taking on the role of Human Resources manager.

throughout my career i have been able to use what i consider to be the most important skill that i learnt in my studies and that is to be a team player. i believe in setting an example and use this as my professional philosophy. my career highlight so far has been the opportunity to be a part of the opening task force for two hotels, the Park Hyatt in milan and the Grand Hyatt in Dubai.

if i were to give advice to those considering studying hospitality, i would stress that much resilience, discipline and self-motivation are needed. For me, however, passion is essential in order to make it in the demanding world of hospitality.

Human Resources Manager, Hyatt Regency ThessalonikiThessaloniki, Greece

GioVAnni SERAFiniIHTTI alumnus 1995

Europe

SwiSS ExcEllEncE in Hotel and DeSIGN MaNaGeMeNt Educationat iHtti, a boutiquE-StylE HotEl ScHool in tHE HEart of tHE univErSity city of nEucHâtEl, you will lEarn world-rEnownEd SwiSS HotEl managEmEnt SkillS, togEtHEr witH tHE latESt induStry innovationS in dESign, tEcHnology and luxury brand managEmEnt.

SwiSS HigHEr diploma and bacHElor of artS dEgrEEpoStgraduatE diploma in HoSpitality and dESign managEmEntpaid intErnSHipS in SwitzErland or ovErSEaS

witH tHE programmES offErEd in Small claSSES, you will bEnEfit from our pErSonalizEd lEarning EnvironmEnt.

For more information:

IHTTI, School of Hotel ManagementAv. de la Gare 15-172000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandTel. +41 21 965 40 20info@ihtti.com

www.ihtti.com

www.montreux-palace.ch

“IHTTI has proven to be an outstanding choice as a starting point for my career in the hospitality industry.“

i started my career with intercontinental Hotels in london where i worked in different positions in the Food & Beverage department. this was followed by roles in the Front office department as night manager and Assistant manager. After gaining experience in london, i was ready to travel in the large world of global hospitality to discover different countries, cultures and religions.

A new challenge arose in the Sultanate of oman, as Assistant Front office manager of the well-known Al Bustan Palace Hotel. i stayed in this position for two years and gained valuable knowledge of managerial skills.

my return to Europe was a transfer as Front office manager at the Stuttgart inter*continental Hotel in Germany where i stayed for 1 1/2 years.

in order to continue my career, i needed to see different standards and operational practices and in 1996 i had the opportunity to join the mandarin oriental hotel group. i moved to indonesia as Executive Assistant manager in Jakarta.

in 1998 a new chance arose to join Raffles Hotels and Resorts and to assist in the re-branding of the famous Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany. this was followed by a role in the Head office in Singapore as corporate Director.

After an exciting time in Asia, i returned to my home country, the netherlands, where i managed the Swissôtel in Amsterdam for one year.

in 2003, i received an internal company transfer to montreux to the role of General manager of the famous Fairmont le montreux Palace Hotel.

IHTTI alumnus 1990

General Manager, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace Montreux, Switzerland

micHAEl SmitHuiS

Europe

Alumni in the Middle East

Hospitality awakens the senses like tea, creating a warm glow, perfuming the emotions and heartening the spirit.

“DCT opened a world of opportunities, a gateway to my career, and an edge for my personal and professional growth.”

i am a people person and that’s why i am in the hospitality and tourism profession. until i joined Dct (“where dreams come true”), i had little knowledge about what the hotel business was about and how it was one of the world’s fastest growing industries in both developed and developing economies.

After graduating from Dct, i had the opportunity to travel and enrich my career by working in some of the world’s top-class properties and organizations (e.g. Palace, coral international, marriott and Hilton Worldwide) in cities such as Zurich, london, Karachi, Edinburgh and Dubai. my Dct qualification also gave me leverage to further my education

and i successfully graduated with an mBA in Hospitality management in the uK in 2007.

my current job has given me immense opportunities, increased responsibility, confidence and a chance to explore the beauty of working in a multicultural environment. my day-to-day job is enriched by a variety of projects that i need to handle such as running an action plan for our pre-opening properties and looking after corporate sales. it also includes a lot of visiting and travelling.

my advice to potential hospitality professionals is to always aim higher and never lose hope. look at your objectives as targets towards which you can build great accomplishments. my philosophy is that a hospitality career presents the most energizing, inspiring and challenging options and opportunities that an industry professional could ever desire.

www.hiltonworldwide.com

Senior Sales Manager, Hilton WorldwideMiddle East and Africa Area OfficeNSO Corporate Dubai, United Arab Emirates

RAZA ABBAS

Middle EastDCT alumnus 2002

GINOXFOOD SYSTEM

Le Couturier de La Cuisine professionelle

www.ginoxgroup.com

GINOXFOOD SYSTEM

Montreux-Geneve-Dubai-Ras Al Khaimahinfo@ginoxgroup.com

Ginox Food system, known for its global turnkey solutions, is involved in all aspects of kitchen and laundry design, manufacturing and management services.Spurred by its success in Switzerland and in Europe, Ginox has built in 2007 a second Production and assembly plant in the United Arab Emirates to cater for the increasingDemand of High quality Food and beverage concepts/ equipments in the MENA region.

Since 1875

“Success can only be obtained through hard work, innovation and perseverance.”

Working in the hospitality industry prior to my studies made me conscious of what i would need to take me to the next level. i started my career at the intercontinental le Vendôme Beirut, lebanon, as a cross-departmental trainee, which gave me an understanding of the different career paths within the industry. i then decided to complete some studies in hospitality in order to progress in my career and chose Him where the international student body really taught me about cross-cultural communication and helped me set up an international network of contacts.

When i graduated i was accepted as a management trainee at the intercontinental Hotels Group and, upon completion, became the youngest duty manager at the flagship intercontinental Phoenicia. in 2007 i accepted a new challenge in Dubai working for the Al Futtaim Group as a consultant in their hotel and

development sector. it was an exciting period with many hotel openings and it led to a role in the pre-opening of the intercontinental and crowne Plaza Dubai Festival city.

Following this i became interested in the construction and design side of the hospitality industry and in 2008 joined Ginox Food System, a Swiss company with offices in montreux and Dubai that specialize in food and beverage concepts. i am now the general manager of Ginox middle-East and Africa. i am really proud of what i have achieved here in the past three years helping to grow a new company from an employer of just 10 people to our current size with 62 employees.

i would recommend to any future student to get some experience in the industry before you study; you have to love this industry to be successful as it is very demanding.

www.ginoxgroup.com

HIM alumnus 2005

General Manager, Ginox Food SystemDubai, United Arab Emirates

HASSAn Anouti

GINOXFOOD SYSTEM

Middle East

SAmiRBAiDAS

Middle East

www.marriott.com

“I learnt at César Ritz Colleges the importance of always being on top of the line, and this became a guideline for my career.”

césar Ritz colleges offers a more boutique style that is focused around a more family way of life and study experience. Personally, i benefited a lot from the training i received from very good academics and strong teachers, building in me the right attitude for success. i did great internships in Geneva at the hotel intercontinental, the Renaissance Hotel and the noga Hilton. Furthermore, i gained so much by living with other nationalities and having smooth relationships culturally and religiously.

What i remember as being absolutely vital for me was the fact that the school made me

aware of the ‘real industry’ and prepared me well for my career: the school gave me a lot and got me to where i am today.

my current position is high on the corporate level with responsibilities that include the development, control and growth of the company. i have the first contacts with future owners, developing management and franchising contracts for marriott as the international operator to manage hotels, and this includes working closely with feasibility studies, acquisitions, architectural and construction issues, and the legal team.

my advice to aspiring students: césar Ritz colleges is among the best schools in the world, so benefit from that and work hard, study hard and be focused; training in Switzerland has the uniqueness of being able to get you inside into the real world; use the school to get you to the best hotels for your development.

Senior Vice President for Development, MarriottDubai, United Arab Emirates

César Ritz alumnus 1990

Your keY to a successful hospitalitY career

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland – www.ritz.edu – info@ritz.edu – Tel. +41 21 965 40 20

César Ritz Colleges is one of the

world’s leading hotel and tourism

management institutions. At our

cosmopolitan campuses, you can

choose from courses in Interna-

tional Business, Tourism and Hos-

pitality Management at higher

Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate

or Master level.

Caring about your futureOur strong internship structure and

renowned Leadership Programme

are key tools to ensure that you

enjoy the best career opportunities

upon graduation.

Four intakes a year: January, April, July and October.

Contact us now for further information.

WWW.ritZ.eDu

5849_CR_ANN_A4_SANS_SEMI_FEVRIER_2012_PROD.indd 1 07.02.12 10:29

Your keY to a successful hospitalitY career

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland – www.ritz.edu – info@ritz.edu – Tel. +41 21 965 40 20

César Ritz Colleges is one of the

world’s leading hotel and tourism

management institutions. At our

cosmopolitan campuses, you can

choose from courses in Interna-

tional Business, Tourism and Hos-

pitality Management at higher

Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate

or Master level.

Caring about your futureOur strong internship structure and

renowned Leadership Programme

are key tools to ensure that you

enjoy the best career opportunities

upon graduation.

Four intakes a year: January, April, July and October.

Contact us now for further information.

WWW.ritZ.eDu

5849_CR_ANN_A4_SANS_SEMI_FEVRIER_2012_PROD.indd 1 07.02.12 10:29

www.kempinski.com

“Thanks to HIM I did three fantastic internships which helped me to get where I am today.”

it was thanks to a range of circumstances that i began my studies at Him and was introduced to an industry with fantastic career opportunities.

When i graduated, i began my career with the Hilton Group moving from cannes to colombo and Jakarta. in 1998 i joined the Kempinski Group and i have been very fortunate to be able to move and grow within the chain. Starting as the food and beverage manager in Jakarta, i have worked my way up via Spain, Russia, turkey, malta, Kuwait and Jordan to my current position as general manager of the Kempinski mall of the Emirates in Dubai.

the highlight of my career so far was to be involved in the opening of the Kempinski

Hotel Aqaba. it is a beautiful hotel and, as i was involved in the whole opening process, i was very proud to see it open and positioned as the number one hotel in the region in a short amount of time.

two of the most important skills that i learnt at Him and have taken with me through my career are how to deal with people from different cultures, backgrounds and religions; and the importance of discipline. i also have to thank Him for the great people i met and still remain friends with today and, most importantly, it is where i met my wife, my greatest supporter and confidante during all these years.

my professional philosophy is to remember the people you met on your way up; you will need them on your way down; and to always remember that we would be nothing without the people around us.

General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the EmiratesDubai, United Arab Emirates

AlEJAnDRo BERnABEHIM alumnus 1995

Middle East

www.cariboucoffee.com

“Every teacher in HIM and every person in HIM contributed to my career success and their diversity and experience made me what I am.”

i come from a family that has a long tradition in hospitality and it was a dream for me since my first teenage years to work in a hotel or restaurant. my father encouraged me to go for that profession as he knew that interacting with people was what makes me happy.

Since graduating i have moved from being a receptionist, night auditor, assistant front office manager and into the food and beverage business. i began as a cost controller, moved on to be food and beverage assistant operations manager to operations manager and finally, director of operations. in 2010 i had the opportunity to join caribou coffee as a general

manager where i am now expanding the brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and plan to open in 70 locations by the end of 2014.

i learnt so many skills from my teachers at Him including, patience, creativity, fine-tuning, etiquette, communication skills, responsibility and organization. From my fellow students i learnt the valuable skills of teamwork and made friendships that have lasted throughout the years.

my advice to students is to live every minute of every day and enjoy what you are doing and don’t just study hospitality to go and work in another field later. this business is very rewarding but you have to give it some time, you cannot become a general manager from the day you graduate, but with hard work you will reach this position. Remember that life is short, stay awake for it! Always try to be excellent not average.

General Manager, Caribou CoffeeKingdom of Saudi Arabia

FRAnÇoiS cREiDiHIM alumnus 1998

Middle East

www.arabian-adventures.com

“SHMS taught me to be a hotelier and imbibed me with the true Swiss hospitality culture and values.”

i have always had a passion for the hospitality industry and somehow just knew i had to do this. it began with an interest in food and soon became a passion for the attitude and the true essence of the word ‘hospitality’.

At SHmS i learnt the value of client and customer relations, how to deal with people from different backgrounds and, from comparing my skill set and capabilities to others, i can say that most of what i know is because i learnt it at SHmS.

my career since graduation has taken me from Greece to india, Dubai and Abu Dhabi and i

have worked in many roles for companies including the Ritz-carlton, the Address and the intercontinental Hotels Group. Since 2010 i have been working for Arabian Adventures, a destination management company. i love my job and am proud to work for tHE best destination management company in Dubai in a role where i deal with multiple facets of the hospitality industry.

i believe that success comes from innovation, hard work and perseverance, and students should know that memorizing the textbook and passing your exam will only take you so far. true learning lies in understanding the content and applying it in practice. Do not expect to be General manager when you graduate from SHmS, in the real world theory counts for 30% of what you do, the rest comes from experience and practice. Have Patience... a lot of patience and you will succeed.

Senior Project Executive – MICE Department, Arabian AdventuresDubai, United Arab Emirates

GoKul K.c.

SHMS alumnus 2004Middle East

www.emaar.com/www.armanihotels.com

“My journey at César Ritz Colleges shaped me – body, heart, mind and spirit.”

After graduating from césar Ritz colleges Switzerland, i started my career at the Ritz-carlton Hotel company. Starting at the bottom of the ladder was extremely hard, but only three years later, i was appointed executive director of human resources at one of the Ritz-carlton properties.

it was time for my knowledge to expand! i took my map and set off towards my dream. i landed at the Ritz-carlton corporate office, uSA as part of the Global learning and leadership center team in charge of creating and overseeing the implementation of global learning strategies: coaching, guiding and leading the global learning design functions and teams and driving organizational effectiveness. it was an extremely rewarding and inspirational three years but soon it was again time for

me to expand even further. i landed at Emaar Hospitality Group, uAE to set the group’s learning and development strategies and launch the new learning and Development Era, while participating in the company’s shift towards organizational greatness. As a certified speaker and learning and development expert flying all around the world, i live my dream of inspiring excellence. i owe part of this success to césar Ritz colleges where i learnt the most precious lessons of my life! my journey at césar Ritz colleges shaped me – body, heart, mind and spirit – and taught me how to control the wind so that it doesn’t carry me to the wrong landing spot. that journey taught me that the path i take is less important than the general direction that will ultimately lead me to my final destination – to success…

Head of Learning and DevelopmentEmaar Hospitality Group LLC / Armani Hotels & Resorts LLCUnited Arab Emirates

mElKARt RouHAnACésar Ritz alumnus 2002

Middle East

Lausanne branch of Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A., located at 2 Avenue Agassiz.

Stud

io T

win

Creating value contributes to sustainable wealth and progress in our time

Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild S.A. embodies the convictions and standards that are required not only to preserve your capital but also to make it fructify by addressing today’s technological, environmental, economic and geopolitical challenges. Building tomorrow today is one of our prime objectives.

Working from a simple, transparent structure, our Bank is focused entirely on our core business of wealth management for private and institutional clients. We have no commercial or investment banking operations and can thus provide our finely honed services with no underlying conflicts of interest. Family control moreover ensures an enduring framework and renders our specialist advice all the more objective.

Who but a bank like ours — on a human scale, founded on the values of a family that for over 250 years has forged a reputation for integrity, stability and bold creativity — can better help its clients protect their assets for the coming generations?

The Bank’s Lausanne branch is housed in a magnificent building that blends elegance and sobriety, at 2 Avenue Agassiz.

www.edmond-de-rothschild.ch

BANQUE PRIVÉE EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD S.A - T. +41 21 318 88 88

Publireportages_A4.indd 2 19.12.11 15:25

Alumni in Asia

Hospitality has the same qualities as a flower: it needs love, dispenses beauty and expresses itself with elegance.

“SHMS has provided me with the key to open many doors. Without it I would not be where I am today.”

After working in the industry for several years, i knew that i enjoyed working with people but realized that it would be hard for me to be successful without further studies. So, i chose to go to SHmS and study hospitality.

At SHmS i learnt to respect others, never to judge people based on their race or religion and, most importantly, to be hard-working. All of these skills have helped me to get where i am today.

Since graduating from SHmS, i have been lucky to be involved in the pre-opening of four properties in the uSA and thailand. From pre-opening i became management trainee for the room division and the food and beverage department at the Hotel Setai in miami, the hotel manager of the Antara lawana Resort and Spa in thailand and the general manager of

the Adelphi Suites in Bangkok, thailand. it was through these roles that i reached my career highlight: the realization of my ability to have an impact on an organization’s success. in 2010, i took on a new challenge as the general manager of the Amari Residences Sukhumvit in Bangkok, thailand.

i believe that hospitality is all about passion and care. You need to feel the needs of the customer before they even know what they need. Your instinct should tell you where you should act before it becomes evident to others. there is a quote i love that really represents this for me; an old bellman once said, “You got it in you, or you don’t got it in you… but always do it with love, lots of it.”

my professional philosophy is based on these wise words and can be summed up by passion, respect and achievement.

Asia

www.amari.com

SHMS alumnus 2004

General Manager, Amari Residences SukhumvitBangkok, Thailand

ABDElKADER BEnmouSSA

“SHMS equipped me with the necessary knowledge, skills and professional attitude to effectively work in the hospitality, business field.”

i have always been passionate about business and realizing the strong potential of my beautiful country, Vietnam, for developing tourism, i made my decision to pursue further studies in the hospitality business.

Before i came to SHmS i set up my objectives and, during my study, tried my best to achieve the best results possible. Following graduation i set up my own firm providing human resources for the Vietnamese hospitality field (www.hospitality.vn) and also worked in the sales department of a well-known four-star hotel in Ho chi minh city. i rapidly learnt about the

market and after six months, i was offered a job as a project manager for AgriBank land, a company specializing in tourism and hotel investment.

the skills i learnt at SHmS such as multi-tasking and learning to think globally have combined with my previous experience in finance and economics to lead me to my career highlight: being appointed as general director of AgriBank land within one year of my debut.

For students who are considering studying hospitality, i would tell them that it is the industry of the future. it offers fast growth, a challenging and dynamic working environment and many promotion opportunities. Hence, it is worth engaging and investing! identify your goals in advance! Set up your plans carefully! choose the best school for your study! Finally, always think positively!

Asia

www.agribank.com.vn

SHMS alumnus 2008

General Director, AgriBank Land Joint Stock Co.Hanoi, Vietnam

minH cHu

“Thanks to the credentials of HIM, I got my first job at my dream hotel.”

the hospitality business is in my blood from my grandfather who set up the family hospitality business and it’s what i love doing. i love the unpredictability of the business, the interesting people i meet, the excitement of making on the spot decisions and, the best feeling of all, serving guests and making them feel happy.

At Him i learnt the discipline that has proved to be so important throughout my career. When i first left montreux, i had my eye on just one hotel, the london Hilton on Park lane, and no matter what, i wanted to be a part of it. i was offered a role in sales and reservations and it was one of the best experiences of my life! After six months working at the hotel i

was awarded employee of the month out of the 1,500 employees at the hotel, a boost of confidence that convinced me that i was made for this industry.

After two years in london, i returned to india to learn about indian hospitality and work at the best five-star hotel at the time, the leela Palace Bangalore. i got as much hands-on experience as possible after which, with the blessing of my family, i joined the family business and plunged myself into the world of hotel construction. i led a team of architects and engineers to build what we believe is the finest five-star hotel in Kerala, the taj Residency trivandrum. now i am working on a new five-star hotel in colombo, Sri lanka.

i believe that if you serve all your guests like you would serve God, only then will you get the satisfaction of a true hotelier.

Asia

Dodla International Ltd

www.dodlainternational.com

HIM alumnus 2004

Managing Director, Dodla International LtdKerala, India

Amit REDDY DoDlA

“IHTTI gave me the best foundation in hospitality management.”

i have always been fascinated by the world of hotels and believed as a young child that they were the places to be, very glamorous and filled with people who always seemed happy! i completed my first education in finance and business management at the Punjab college of Business Administration and as it was at that time associated with iHtti, i decided to follow my true passion and gain the operational skills in hotel management that i believed i was missing.

At iHtti, i learnt to think outside of the box and the value of hard work, organization and respecting deadlines. my fellow students taught me the important skills of cross-cultural communication as they came from all over the world to study in neuchâtel.

After i graduated, i moved between the uSA and Pakistan building my experience until i was offered a food and beverage management traineeship with the Hyatt Group. Food and beverage is my passion so the role was perfect for me and led me to my next career step as the general manager of the Salt’n Pepper group of restaurants in lahore. i was the youngest general manager of the industry in Pakistan, working for a group which had 400 employees and served more than 8,000 covers every day, an exciting challenge!

my professional philosophy is to keep learning and to step out of your comfort zone which is exactly what i did when i was approached by the Prime minister to become the comptroller at the Prime minister House, islamabad. my work is my passion and it is a great honour to serve and work for the Prime minister of my country.

www.pakistan.gov.pk

IHTTI alumnus 1997

Comptroller, Prime Minister HouseIslamabad, Pakistan

SAlmAn iQBAl

Asia

L i ve Mus ic a t i t s Bes t s ince 1967Mont reux Jazz Fes t i va l Sw i t ze r l and

www.montreuxjazzfestival.com, 46th Montreux Jazz Festival, June 29 - July 14 2012

WHERE

LEGENDSMEET NEW

TALENTS

“Precision and professionalism are two key skills that I acquired at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland.”

i was born and raised in a family of hoteliers, so a hospitality career came naturally to me. After graduating from césar Ritz colleges, i started working for Hyatt hotels. through challenging assignments in a variety of countries, i was exposed to various facets of the industry, from pre-opening teams to established hotels, in india, Japan, Korea, and the uSA. When i joined the oberoi Group, i moved on as resident manager/executive assistant manager of the oberoi Bangalore. my determination to experiment then took me to the oberoi Vanyavilas as general manager. After two years in Vanyavilas, i was appointed as general manager at the oberoi in new Delhi.

together with my management team, i plan, coordinate and monitor business strategies,

and plan ahead to maximize profits. i also spend time reviewing guest feedback and ensuring that we give our guests an experience that exceeds their expectations. in today’s competitive world, i strongly believe that your success is directly proportional to the strength of the relationships you have with your guests.

the hospitality industry is not a regular nine-to-five job; it is a lifestyle. it is important to exude hospitality and to have a genuine passion for service and an eye for detail. You need personality, thorough knowledge of the job and good communication skills. more importantly, however, you need to be transparent and honest in your approach.

my motto in life is simple: be positive, focused and determined about what you want, and the results will follow.

www.oberoihotels.com

César Ritz alumnus 1994

General Manager, The OberoiNew Delhi, India

JAYRAtHoRE

Asia

“The whole experience studying at SHMS gave me additional values not only for my professional career, but my personal life as well.”

i was inspired to join the hospitality industry by my grandfather who, when i was a small boy, was working for the head of the state presidential palace of indonesia. Watching him work introduced me to the skills needed to be the general manager of a large hotel. He managed his team to serve not only the indonesian President and his family, but also any visiting dignitaries or heads of state. this all inspired me to enter the hospitality profession.

i finished my Diploma in Food and Beverage management at SHmS in 1995 and worked in the hospitality industry moving from food and beverage to human resource roles. in 1997 i had the opportunity to join coca-cola Amatil

in a human resources role and, with them, pursued my career to work my way up to my current role.

Even though i am no longer directly working in the hospitality industry, the skills that i learnt at SHmS, particularly in food and beverage management still help me today. i can share my knowledge and experience with my outlets and help them to improve their business so that ultimately they will sell more of my products!

i would have no hesitation in advising students to follow an education in hospitality. it is a proven fact that students who graduate from hospitality schools can not only work in hotels, restaurants or the catering industry, but also for multinational companies. if you adopt the professional hospitality skills of service, quality and consistency, you will be welcomed in all industries.

www.ccamatil.com

SHMS alumnus 1995

General Manager for HORECA/MIC for Central and East Java, Coca-Cola AmatilJakarta, Indonesia

FAJAR RoHitA

Asia

Culinary passion and exCellenCewww.Culinaryinstitute.Ch

Culinary Institute Switzerland | Lucerne | Le Bouveret | T. +41 21 965 40 20 | info@culinaryinstitute.ch

Make your dream of becoming a chef a reality. Choose the Culinary Institute Switzerland.

•The finest traditions•State-of-the-art training facilities•Latest management methods• In the heart of Europe.

The Culinary Institute Switzerland offers a two-year Swiss Higher Diploma and a three-year Bachelor degree programme with small practical classes and paid internships in Switzerland.

Contact us now for further information.

5680_CULINARYINSTITUTE_ANN_A4_PROD.indd 1 31.01.12 10:29

“Swiss hotel education provides the fundamentals of gearing towards an exciting hospitality career, and one that develops future industry leaders.”

i had always enjoyed communicating and working with people and, although i hadn’t thought about working in a hotel, my career in hospitality came by accident when i finished high school. it didn’t take very long to become a passion.

the idea of working in a hotel may seem a luxurious job. not many would realize that there is so much more that goes into it besides just looking smart and professional. my training at Dct certainly provided me with a solid base to fuel my passion and the solid foundation built there has proven invaluable.

Since graduating, i have matured and learnt so much. i have confidently climbed my way up the career ladder. my advice is to never be ashamed of where you start as my first job was as a banquet waiter and today i am a general manager with Starwood Hotels and Resorts in china and managing the Sheraton in the ancient capital city of Xian. Each day is a new day with different challenges and that is what makes it exciting and rewarding. i strive to motivate my staff to work for the guests and achieve great results. i am a strong believer in my people and constantly encourage, empower and guide them.

the key to success is in enjoying the industry and having lots of patience, resilience and making sacrifices. You must love your people just like your own, treat them the way you want to be treated and never stop driving for creativity and innovation. “Great is never good enough.”

www.starwoodhotels.com

DCT alumnus 1997

General Manager, Sheraton Xian HotelShaanxi, China

DEPESH SEtH

Asia

“It is because of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland that Penang Village exists today!”

i still remember that, when i made the difficult decision to switch from my fine arts studies to hospitality in Switzerland, all my friends advised me against the move. my father was an exception! Being a businessman, he insisted that the education would bring me a better future. And he was right!

After graduating from césar Ritz colleges, i went back to my hometown of Penang in malaysia and spent a few years working in various departments of several of the resorts and hotels.

Further to the start of a new chapter in my hospitality career in new Zealand, i switched

from having both feet on the ground and joined Air new Zealand as one of their pioneer Asian-speaking crew.

Frustrated by the lack of authentic Penang cuisine in Kuala lumpur, in 2000 my husband and i set up our own restaurant, Penang Village, with the goodies of Penang island as the main attraction. From a single restaurant, we have now expanded to four outlets in malaysia and five in indonesia.

Just like when you want to construct a good, strong and stable building, you need to start off with the right, solid and good foundation. that’s what césar Ritz colleges has to offer for all their students. i am still using the foundations which i learnt at césar Ritz colleges. i am a proud member of this ‘césar Ritz family’!

www.penangvillage.com.my

César Ritz alumnus 1986

Co-founder and Director, Penang Village Group of RestaurantsKuala Lumpur, Malaysia

conniESu

Asia

HIM offers hospitality and business programs blending Swiss hospitality practices with contemporary American management expertise. Our city-center campus provides a professional and supportive learning environment.

• Swiss Higher Diploma, Bachelor and Master of Business Administration• Focus on entrepreneurship• Paid internships and career placement• Internationally recognized qualifications

For further information:HIM, av. des Alpes 15, 1820 Montreux, Switzerland, Tel. +41 21 965 40 20, info@him.ch

www.him.ch

A Passion for Swiss Hotel Management

“HIM gave me the knowledge to fuel my career in this demanding and challenging hospitality industry.”

coming from a traditional Peranakan upbringing, i was always taught by my parents to be hospitable to anyone. my younger brother graduated from Him in the early 1980’s and still remains in the hospitality industry today. His experiences and my parents’ mantra of, “be humble, keep learning and adapt to any circumstances,” convinced me to change my career path and enrol to study at Him.

After graduating, my career path took me from food and beverage to sales and marketing, hotel and restaurant pre-openings, hospitality development and training. it was a tough road up to a senior position and the skills that i

learnt at Him really helped. in 2007, i transferred from hotels to the Kao Group of companies as their director for Asia Development where my role is to assist hotel owners to maximize their business and to search for new business opportunities in the thai market.

i know that in order to be successful in this business you must have self-discipline, be humble, have determination, be respectful to all rank and file staff, and be passionate. these are all key qualities that will help you on your journey in the hospitality industry.

my advice to future graduates is to take the knowledge you will learn at Him as fuel for the passion that this demanding and exciting industry requires. Above all, as my parents taught me, “Always be hospitable”.

www.kaogroup.com

HIM alumnus 1992

Director for Asia Development, Kao Group of CompaniesBangkok, Thailand

PEtER tEo

Asia

“I had three great years at César Ritz Colleges and gained knowledge and skills that have supported my young career.”

i was born and raised in the hospitality industry and my professional career started quickly after i graduated from césar Ritz colleges Switzerland.

my first year managing our family-owned hotel in Koh Samui was challenging as i joined the pre-opening team and had to adapt to a new situation. the following two years were easier and i now enjoy every minute of my job including the travelling and networking with people around the world.

Being a decision-maker at such a young age is uncommon in today’s business world, yet, i always work to correctly position myself

according to the situation and that has been key to my success. i am very proud that we have recently been honoured with the ‘Award of Excellence’ for the best tourist accommodation in the Southern Region of thailand. this was an incredible achievement, not only for me but also for my whole team.

the people i met at césar Ritz colleges have been an amazing and unforgettable part of my life and i am still in touch with several of them and they have made a difference to me. A particular aspect i appreciated was the way the teachers helped me understand how to apply theory to the real world.

my advice to today’s students: take advantage of your years at césar Ritz colleges; get prepared, graduate and enjoy a great hospitality career!

www.fairhousevillas.com

César Ritz alumnus 2006

Deputy Managing Director, Fair House Villas & SpaKoh Samui, Thailand

FAiR SitPASu tHonGSuK

Asia

“César Ritz Colleges Switzerland provided me with a very sound foundation in hotel keeping.”

in my current position, i am responsible for the marketing of both St. Regis and the luxury collection initiatives in Asia Pacific including the stewardship of the brand from brand standards to initiatives and programmes.

césar Ritz colleges Switzerland provided me with a very sound foundation in hotel keeping as well as exposure to other cultures from fellow students. this cultural awareness also came through in the work experience organized by the college. i learnt tolerance, the need for cooperation at all levels and how to work with clients, guests, suppliers, customers, managers and colleagues.

At césar Ritz colleges, the work experience was invaluable, especially working side by side with the more experienced foreign workers as well as with the locals. this also motivated me

to be competitive, develop a high sense of responsibility and gave me the drive to deliver well above expectations.

my favourite memory of student life at césar Ritz colleges was when we were cooking in our apartments with available ingredients and a lady living in the same town told us to stop using onions and garlic, as she couldn’t stand the smell and to substitute them with carrots! the Valais mountain village of moosalp was a deep immersion into what Swiss chalet cooking and ‘Heidi-land’ country living (including being introduced to an alphorn) was all about.

my advice to aspiring students is to love what you do and be passionate about it. Embrace change if you wish to survive in today’s world and always be ahead of the game.

www.starwoodhotels.com

César Ritz alumnus 1987

Director, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels and ResortsSingapore

FAY-linnYEoH

Asia

“SHMS was an unforgettable experience in my life.”

After working in the hospitality industry for several years, i realized that in order to progress in my career, i needed some further education. the Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel management that i completed at SHmS gave me the professional knowledge, language skills and multicultural experience that i needed to lead a team with confidence.

After i graduated, i joined the Accor Group and have since enjoyed a fantastic career working with the Sofitel brand. i started as a training manager and worked my way up to front office

manager, assistant director of human resources and now director of human resources.

i really believe that my career has been helped by my experiences at SHmS and my advice to any student who is considering the hospitality industry is to stick to your dreams and never give up. to work in this industry you must be open-minded, proactive, have an eye for detail and care about others. it is important to remember that several years of experience at the ‘rank and file’ level will help you to know more about the value of true service. Finally, keep on studying! the world is changing and hospitality as well, always keep your eyes on the changing and developing trends of hospitality.

www.sofitel.com

SHMS alumnus 2004

Director of Human Resources, Sofitel Qingdao (pre-opening team)Qingdao, China

EllEn ZHAnG

Asia

Daniel 2008: Ibis Hailar, China – Front Office Manager 2009: Ibis Changshu, China – Manager Today: Ibis Suzhou, China – General Manager

Nadia 1997: Accor France – Reservation Agent 2005: Novotel London Waterloo, United Kingdom – Receptionist Today: Sofitel Miami, United States – Assistant Revenue Manager

5145

- C

réd

it p

ho

tos

: P-E

. Ras

toin

- C

hen

Zh

e.

Your smile, your future Check our job offers on accor.com

3780 Gstaad - SwitzerlandPhone: +41 33 748 50 00info@palace.ch - www.palace.ch

Magic in � e Mountains…

210x297_SEG_print 1 06.02.12 14:10

liZHuo

“My advice to students is to know what you will do in the future and work out how to get there.”

my specialty at high school was tourism management and it included some subjects on hotel management. When i learnt about these topics, i decided to study them as well as i could. my thinking was that china would need more hotel management level people to work in the industry.

the most memorable moment in my career so far was when our hotel obtained the highest grade of the ‘Golden leaf’ reward for chinese green hotels in 2010. this was very important to me because, from 2008 to 2010, i was responsible for the green hotels project and i knew that we needed more engineering

reforms applied to the national green hotel standards. in the end, we applied for and received a chinese green tourism hotel. Another important highlight in my career was when i become a national star-rated hotel assessor in 2011 according to the chinese national tourism Administration for hotel management, the best grade in the hotel industry in china.

my advice to students is to know what you will do in the future and work out how to get there. A job in a hotel is hard work and your goal is to focus on the customers and know how to serve them so that they feel comfortable and happy. You should also communicate with your staff, team leader and guests and strengthen your relationship with them. During your internship, you must be conscientious and humble.

to sum up, my philosophy is to develop self-confidence, conscientiousness and hospitality.

www.hkctshotels.com

SHMS alumnus 2008

Deputy General Manager, Grand Metropark Wanshi Hotel ShanxiShanxi, P.R. ChinaAsia

“Patience, pride and dedication; the words my DCT chef instructor told me, have been the main reason for my continued success.”

Although i remember spending many nostalgic moments in the kitchen with my mother preparing sweets while growing up, i didn’t always aspire to be a pastry chef. i started baking as a part-time job during high school and, before long, that grew into a passion. once i discovered the happiness you are able to bring to others through food, it was a natural decision to dedicate my future to the culinary arts.

the great thing about being a chef in the hospitality business is that the rewards continue to grow. From being a part of creating memorable dining experiences for our guests, to mentoring and working along side many individuals on several continents, the rewards are never ending.

For me, creativity is what keeps us alive and evolving. Keeping my head in the clouds and feet on the ground is how i like to approach every day.

When i look back on my past experiences, it is hard to believe how many great moments i’ve had. Being part of the opening team at the Ritz-carlton Sanya in china and building an amazing team and developing an incredible product and service is something impossible to forget!

my advice to students? Patience, pride and dedication; the words my Dct chef instructor told me, have been the main reason for my continued success.

Hospitality has allowed me to experience so much and visit many places. i never imagined i would one day travel to Asia to work and now i have proudly called Hong Kong home for the last six years.

DCT alumnus 2002

Pastry Chef, Marco Polo Hongkong HotelKowloon, Hong Kong

RYAn ZimmER

www.marcopolohotels.com

Asia

Hospitality is an intersection of destinies: it is both a resting point and a place of encounter along a constantly evolving path.

Alumni in the Americas

RolAnDDuERR

USA

“All this started with my education at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland and my strong desire to exceed my own expectations.”

After graduating with an award for high academic achievement, my professional life started at one of Switzerland’s best hotels, the Relais & châteaux hotel le Vieux manoir on lake murten.

then it was off to Dubai where i was offered a position as a management trainee at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. i was quickly promoted to the position of restaurant manager at the Beachcombers Restaurant, the resort’s second largest outlet. i left to pursue my studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.

i then joined the Four Seasons Hotel in Berlin as assistant manager in the food and beverage department. Six months later, i became purchasing manager and the following year, was

appointed restaurants manager, supervising the operational and administrational side of the food and beverage department.

For seven years i worked in Dubai at the famous Burj Al Arab hotel working my way up to executive assistant manager (EAm) in food and beverage. During this time i also achieved my mBA from the london Business School. in 2011 i transferred to new York and the Jumeirah Essex House, an iconic and historic hotel in the middle of the city where i am now the EAm in food and beverage.

During my time at césar Ritz colleges, i participated in the Evian Prize for Young talent organized by the Société des Eaux minérales d’Evian. i received a prize for my design, the true taste Wineglass. Eager to pursue the idea, i transformed the concept into a product that was launched at the beginning of 2006.

www.jumeirah.com

César Ritz alumnus 2001

Executive Assistant Manager – Food and Beverage Jumeirah Essex HouseNew York, USA

www.solmelia.com

“HIM provided me with a top-level education and the opportunity to make friends for life.“ i joined the hospitality industry a little over 24 years ago in my birth country, columbia, as the laundry Valet Person at la Fontana Hotel. it was there that i fell in love with the industry. Every day was a different experience, an opportunity to meet great people from all over the world, to practise my language skills, but most importantly, an opportunity for me to make a difference in our customers lives.

As hotel professionals we have an incredible opportunity and a duty to make a person smile,

to change someone’s day, to make people happy and to deliver an unforgettable experience. it is this responsibility that makes me do my very best every day to make sure that i accomplish this goal. the best reward is that at the end of the day, the week or the month, someone will approach me and say, “thank you; i had a great stay at your hotel”.

i started in the industry without an education in Hotel management but very quickly realized that i couldn’t accomplish my goal without a good foundation. i decided to go back to school and continue my education. over the years i have combined practise and education. i think it is a perfect combination to help me face the daily challenges and reach my main goal, to deliver great and unique experiences.

USAHIM alumnus 1997

VP Development Americas & Caribbean, Sol Meliá Hotels and ResortsMiami, Florida, USA

FERnAnDo FERnánDEZ

ASHiSH SEtHi

“HIM gave me the opportunity to live and work with people from all over the world and taught me essential skills for the hospitality industry.”

Since graduating from Him in 1998, i have pursued my career with the Frenchman’s creek Beach and country club, gaining experience in many departments and working my way up to my current role as food and beverage director. Working in a club environment is very different to other roles as guests live, work and play on-site. When i chose to study hospitality, i did not go to learn to say ‘no’ but rather to learn how to succeed in this industry. Success that is built by continuously exceeding guests expectations, anticipating their needs and providing a personalized service.

one of the highlights of my career and a responsibility as a part of my role is to look after the training of international staff and interns. i love to see interns who are so full of passion for the career they have chosen and to know that i can help them to grow and achieve their goals.

At Him i had the opportunity to live and work with people from all over the world. i learnt to adapt to changing situations and be flexible, skills that are very important in the country club and hospitality industry in general.

my advice to future hospitality students is that it takes true passion. Hospitality is a very hard profession, it is a lifestyle and you will be working when everyone else is off enjoying their holidays! But, if it is your true passion, the rewards are endless and the sky is the limit!

www.frenchmanscreek.com

HIM alumnus 1998

Director of Food and BeverageFrenchman’s Creek Beach and Country ClubPalm Beach Gardens, Florida, USAUSA

“Employers like Swiss-educated graduates and SHMS has a very good reputation within the industry.”

i wanted to study hospitality ever since i was a child. i used to travel a lot with my parents and i really liked the ‘hotel job’ environment. i never really thought of studying anything else.

i finished my undergraduate degree at SHmS and worked for several years at the Swissôtel in new York as assistant front office manager and assistant housekeeping manager. Following this, i returned to SHmS to do my master of Arts, that really enhanced my analytical skills. two years ago after roles from front office to general manager and director in real estate and hotel investment, i decided to take the risk and establish my own company, tay Group. With offices in Argentina and uruguay, we manage

and develop hotels and real estate projects in South America providing consulting services, capital structuring and asset management for institutional investors.

Founding my own hotel company has given me the possibility to do what i want, with the people i want, for the people i want, when i want and the way i want, and that is a career highlight for me!

my advice to students is to remember that the first years after graduation are difficult and you have to be patient to build a successful career. it is important to go through the bottom line jobs to become a better manager and a better person. A successful career is the combination of good skills, good contacts and good luck. You have to pursue all of them.

www.tay-group.com

Latin AmericaSHMS alumnus 1999

Chief Executive Officer, Tay GroupBuenos Aires, Argentina

FEDERico BliZniuK

“My success happened because I studied at DCT. There I received all the knowledge needed and the seed for my passion was planted.”

constantly seeking perfection, the adrenaline rush of always working against time and the large range of opportunities; these are the most important reasons that led me to want to be a chef de cuisine.

Satisfying your customers is the most rewarding aspect of being a chef and there are few other careers where the main objective is to make people happy.

For those who want to follow this career, get prepared to be welcomed to a different and much faster world where pride, passion, professionalism and patience, as we learnt at

Dct, will be the keys to your success. it will be totally strange at the beginning but you’ll get used to the fast environment in the kitchen and it will be a career you will love after all the hard work is done.

in July 2011, i won the Bocuse d’or Brazil contest at São Paulo, the most important culinary contest in my country. it qualified me for the Bocuse d’or latin America in mexico city in September where i placed second. that then qualified me to for the Bocuse d’or lyon in France, one of the world’s most important, individual culinary contests organized by legendary chef, Paul Bocuse.

i can honestly say that all of my success happened because i studied at Dct. there i received all the knowledge needed and the seed for my passion was planted. i’m very grateful and proud to have had a Dct background in my career.

www.bocusedor.com

DCT alumnus 2010

Bocuse d´Or finalist in 2013Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil

FáBio HEnRiQuE WAtAnABE

Latin America

66

“SHmS introduced me to the world in a way i can’t describe. An unforgettable experience!”

“learning at SHmS was an eye-opening experience which laid a solid and professional foundation to my career.”

“Working in the hospitality industry is not a job. it’s a lifestyle. Passion and genuine interest are crucial components for success.”

“SHmS has provided me with the necessary skills covering every aspect of the industry.”

“Education and performance are the main ingredients to reach one’s dreams, relying on one sole ingredient will probably keep you dreaming.”

“A solid educational background takes your professional career to another level.”

“iHtti gave me a well-rounded course in a wonderful setting and the excellent professors helped me to be successful in my professional career.”

“iHtti gave me an excellent career foundation in a supportive, multicultural environment. A fantastic education for a future in the hospitality industry!”

“Him’s focus on developing strategic aspects of our industry as well as our personal development, have been instrumental in my career.”

“Him gave me an excellent knowledge of all aspects of our profession and prepared me to work in a multicultural environment.”

More Alumni...

Read more success stories on our school websites, including these from our previous edition.

“iHtti gave me the knowledge needed to launch myself in the industry in a multicultural environment.”

MARIA JARL CROCIDirector, Hôtel EDElWEiSS manotel and Hotel and Residence cityZenGeneva, Switzerland

IHTTI alumnus 1992

LéOn F.M. RAAIJMAAKERSGeneral manager langley Resort Fort Royal Guadeloupe

IHTTI alumnus 1993

EDuARDO SERRAnODirector of the training and consulting company, Eduardo Serrano martínez & PartnersBilbao, madrid, and Seville, Spain

HIM alumnus 1993

RAInER WIEGAnDArea Director, operational innovationStarwood Hotels & Resorts, Abu Dhabiunited Arab Emirates

SHMS alumnus 2004

CAROLInE ZAHERArea Public Relations manager; Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Yemen & Pakistan Sheraton Kuwait / Starwood Hotels & Resorts Kuwait city, Kuwait

SHMS alumnus 2004

PHAn InG PAIGroup General manager, modena Hospitality management co. ltdShanghai, china

SHMS alumnus 1996

PER KREDnERGeneral manager, Roppongi Hills club, Hyatttokyo, Japan

HIM alumnus 1999

DAnILO ZuCCHETTIGeneral manager, Villa d’Este Hotelcernobbio, lake como, italy

HIM alumnus 1995

LuIS M.C. DE BRITOchief Executive officertzar’s collection – Hotels & Resorts odessa, ukraine

IHTTI alumnus 1990

IVy THEMAoperations manager, Shangri-la ResidencesJakarta, indonesia

SHMS alumnus 2001

THEO WATTPublisher – Founder, thirsty Work Productions - DRinK magazineShanghai, china

SHMS alumnus 2004

© S

ébas

tien

Stau

b | M

ontr

eux

– M

ontr

eux

Mus

ic a

nd C

onve

ntio

n Ce

ntre

2m

2c, A

udito

rium

Str

avin

ski

Stay inspired.

Study

TasteMeet

Relax

Enjoy

Discover

Find us on

Montreux Riviera has a vast array of original venues to organise seminars or congresses, as well as numerous social activities like teambuilding, sports or just relaxing in one of the famous wellness centres of the region. Being centrally located for excursions our region is an ideal departure point for visiting Switzerland.Montreux Riviera Convention Bureaumice@montreuxriviera.com, T. +41 21 962 84 27 montreuxriviera.comMontreux Vevey Lavaux

AnnonceAlumni-CM-15.12.11.indd 1 16.12.2011 14:27:09

Printed in march 2012

SEG, Swiss Education Groupmontreux, Switzerland t. +41 21 965 40 20info@swisseducation.com

shms.comhim.ch ihtti.comritz.edu culinaryinstitute.chswisseducation.com