Les Roches Global Hospitality Education: A World-Class Overview

Introduction

Founded in Switzerland in 1954, Les Roches Global Hospitality Education has established itself as a leading institution in hospitality and leisure management. Ranked among the world’s top institutions, Les Roches offers a range of programs focused on various sectors of the global experience economy. This article provides an overview of Les Roches, its campuses, programs, accreditation, and unique approach to hospitality education.

A Legacy of Excellence and Global Recognition

Les Roches is not just a school; it's a globally recognized brand synonymous with excellence in hospitality education. The Les Roches name is known and trusted the world over. The institution is ranked as the world’s No.2 for Hospitality & Leisure Management education. This reputation provides students with an "unfair advantage" in the job market, making them highly sought after by leading brands in hospitality and beyond. In 2021, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked Les Roches among the world’s top three institutions for employer reputation in hospitality and leisure management.

Academic Programs and Specializations

Les Roches offers a comprehensive suite of academic programs designed to cater to various career aspirations within the hospitality and related industries. These programs include:

Undergraduate Programs: Providing a foundational education in hospitality management.
Graduate Programs: Offering advanced knowledge and skills for career advancement.
Executive Education Programs: Tailored for professionals seeking to enhance their leadership and strategic capabilities.
MBA Courses: designed to offer a pathway into management.

These programs focus on hospitality, tourism, sports, events, private aviation, and other key sectors of the global experience economy. The curriculum is designed to impart both hard and soft skills, making graduates highly employable. For example, 98% of job-seeking graduates leave Les Roches with at least one job offer.

For Spanish speakers whose English level doesn’t meet admissions criteria, Les Roches offers a Bachelor stream in Marbella that combines academic classes taught in Spanish with English language tuition. This allows students to graduate with a full Bachelor’s degree and "professional standard" English.

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Accreditation and Recognition

Les Roches is officially accredited as a University of Applied Sciences Institute by the Swiss Accreditation Council. Additionally, its academic programs carry international accreditation by NECHE, ensuring that the education provided meets rigorous global standards. Les Roches Global Hospitality Education is also a member of AACSB and EuroCHRIE.

The Swiss Model of Hospitality Education

Les Roches proudly follows the Swiss model of hospitality education, which emphasizes experiential, hands-on learning. This approach is complemented by real-world professional exposure, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the demands of the industry. Education at Les Roches goes beyond academics, aiming to help students grow personally and professionally by opening their minds to new ideas and nurturing compassion.

Global Campus Locations

Les Roches boasts campuses in some of the world's most dynamic and attractive locations, each offering a unique learning environment. These campuses are located in:

Crans-Montana (Switzerland): The flagship campus, nestled in the Swiss Alps, combines tradition with cutting-edge innovation.
Marbella (Spain): A sun-kissed, hi-tech learning environment with a Mediterranean flair, located in a world-famous luxury resort.
Abu Dhabi (UAE): A modern campus in a rapidly growing city where Emirati tradition and innovation blend seamlessly.

These campuses provide cosmopolitan environments for a culturally diverse student body, representing more than 100 nationalities.

Les Roches Crans-Montana

Nestled in the beautiful Swiss Alps, close to the world-famous ski resort of Crans-Montana, the flagship campus blends tradition with cutting-edge innovation. Les Roches Crans-Montana is a state-of-the-art hospitality education environment where students live in chalet-style residences, all within strolling distance of campus. The campus offers Innovation Spaces, a VR Room, and a digital media studio.

The campus has its own food outlets and a bar, offering a wide range of healthy meals and delicious drinks. Keeping fit on campus is easy, too, with access to sports courts and a renovated fitness center. The campus takes its name from the ski and golf resort of Crans-Montana, a renowned luxury destination. There you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained - including high-end food, culture, shopping and outdoor sports. Head down the mountain and you’ll discover the town of Sierre, with its mainline railway station.

Nestled in the French-speaking part of Valais, the campus is well connected to the rest of Europe by Switzerland’s famously efficient public transport system. From skiing in winter to mountain biking in summer, you’ll never be short of outdoor activities. There’s also plenty to do without ever leaving campus. Students can join a club, take up a sport, and dive into something new.

Les Roches Marbella

As a world-famous luxury resort, Marbella is a living hospitality classroom. The campus is a sun-kissed, hi-tech learning environment bursting with Mediterranean flair. Les Roches Marbella features four professional training kitchens, plus a demonstration bar, front office, housekeeping office, and hotel room. Academic facilities include Apple technology-equipped classrooms, a Mac Lab, plus a 158-capacity auditorium with real-time connectivity to Les Roches Crans-Montana.

The professionally-staffed school library contains more than 6,000 books and professional publications, while students can also access an online library featuring more than 135,000 eBooks, plus thousands more online publications and academic papers. The campus has four restaurants, ranging from buffet-style to ‘a la carte’ dining. In addition, all students have free access to the nearby Manolo Santana Racquets Club featuring tennis courts, gym and pool.

Throughout their time in Marbella, students have plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow students, take up hobbies, and play their part in organizing student-led cultural, sports, and leisure activities. Outdoor life is centered on the city’s beautiful sandy beaches, where you can swim, try a variety of water sports or simply enjoy a Mediterranean meal in any of the famous ‘chiringuitos’. Marbella also features many upscale boutiques, bars, and nightclubs, while the Costa del Sol is home to world-class events, including sports championships, music concerts, and traditional Andalusian fairs.

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Les Roches Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy brings Les Roches’ renowned hospitality education to the heart of a dynamic and rapidly growing city. Here, Emirati tradition and innovation blend seamlessly, creating an ideal environment for students to thrive. The Academy’s state-of-the-art facilities are designed to meet the highest standards of hospitality education, enhancing the learning experience for students and effectively preparing them for real-world scenarios.

Positioned at the heart of the school, the cafeteria serves a dual purpose, functioning not only as a dining space but also as a barista and mocktail lab. The campus additionally incorporates a fully-equipped training kitchen, a comprehensive pastry lab, and a 30-seat demonstration lab, designed to accommodate students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike. On the first floor is a hotel lab and demonstration room, complete with a training reception area.

Designed to an exceptional standard, and surrounded by sustainable architecture and green spaces, the campus delivers a competitive edge in the eco-conscious hospitality industry. Consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the world, Abu Dhabi provides a unique lifestyle that offers something for all tastes - from internationally acclaimed museums and sports events to cultural festivals and historic sites.

Experiential Learning and Internships

A cornerstone of the Les Roches education model is experiential learning. Students are encouraged to apply their knowledge in real-world settings through internships and hands-on projects. The second internship is an opportunity to take on a more senior position in the industry sector that you are targeting for your future career.

Executive MBA Program

The world-renowned Les Roches MBA is now available in a flexible, Executive format. Four online modules combine topics which are key components of a modern hospitality leader’s toolkit. Students will also experience two intensive residential weeks, comprising face-to-face classes, workshops and field visits - the first at our Crans-Montana campus and the second in Dubai.

The Online MBA Hospitality from Les Roches will enable you to lead change, drive financial performance, and shape the strategic journey of a business. The diversity within hospitality means you could use your new skills to succeed in hotels, restaurants, luxury retail, finance, real estate, events, and more.

The Executive MBA Program from Les Roches is a 12-month program that allows you to study without interrupting your career. It includes four online modules, two intensive residential weeks in Switzerland and Dubai, and one-to-one executive coaching to build your personal brand.

Benefits of the Executive MBA

Career Advancement: Develop high-level professional expertise and abilities without interrupting your career.
Immediate Impact: Add value to your current employer while you study the program.
Knowledge and Skills: Gain expertise in digital marketing, sustainability, asset management, data analytics, corporate finance, and risk management.
Executive Coaching: Build self-awareness, improve storytelling, and make the most of your professional network.
Global Alumni Network: Join a network of more than 16,000 individuals spread across every part of the world, with access to news, insights, job opportunities, and exclusive benefits.

Career Opportunities and Alumni Network

An academic qualification from Les Roches is students’ opportunity to launch or accelerate a global career in the industry of their choosing - whether hospitality or one of the many other sectors where empathy, creativity, leadership and intercultural fluency are prized by employers. Les Roches graduates are highly sought after in various sectors, including hotels, restaurants, banking, and more. The institution boasts a strong alumni network of over 16,000 individuals worldwide, providing graduates with valuable connections and opportunities. 200+ leading brands visit Les Roches campuses each year to find talent. 94% of career-seeking students have one or more job offers on graduation.

A Brief History

The École des Roches, an international boarding school for young people, was founded in 1954 by two brothers; Marcel and Jean-Pierre Clivaz. In 1979, "Les Roches International School" became “Les Roches Hotel and Tourism School". It was the first hospitality school in Switzerland to offer all courses in English. The main campus was destroyed by a fire in April 1985, which obliged the school to house students and facilities in three hotels. In 2016 the name change to Les Roches Global Hospitality Education.

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