Cesar Ritz Colleges

Coordinates: 46°23′12″N 6°51′00″E / 46.3867°N 6.850°E / 46.3867; 6.850

“César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland
Motto	Excellence in Hotel and Tourism Management Education
Established	1982
Type	Private University
Academic staff	over 120 staff & faculty
Students	525 in 2009
Undergraduates	225
Postgraduates	300
Location	Le Bouveret & Brig, Valais, Switzerland
Campus	Le Bouveret & Brig
Website	http://www.ritz.edu

Since 1982, “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland has provided international hotel and tourism management education. Located on two campuses, the “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland and Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland are situated in Le Bouveret, and the University Centre is in Brig, Switzerland.

“César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland programmes:

• Higher Diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management
• Advanced Certificate and Higher Diploma in Culinary Studies
• Bachelor of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management⁽¹⁾
• Postgraduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management⁽²⁾
• Master of Science in International Hospitality Management⁽²⁾
• Master of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management

⁽¹⁾Accelerated access to the MBA programme, Washington State University, USA
⁽²⁾Validated by Manchester Metropolitan University, UK

About “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland

Hotel school in Switzerland

“César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland offers Hotel and Tourism Management Education. Academic subjects, practical training and foreign languages are encouraged in addition to business acumen and leadership skills. “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland offer diploma, bachelor, postgraduate and master programmes in international business, tourism and hospitality management and have a global reputation for combining academic study with practical experience. A dedicated culinary programme is available through the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland which takes place on the Le Bouveret campus. The Leadership Programme combines professional, personal and social attributes and is an integral part of all courses; “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland was one of the first hospitality schools to introduce this programme. All programmes are taught in English. The extended Bachelor programme is available for students seeking to improve and consolidate their English skills before joining their chosen course of study.

With over 120 staff and more than 500 students from all over the world.

 

 

 

 

Professional & Academic programmes

Programmes available:

• Higher Diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management
• Bachelor of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management (option taken internationally)
• Postgraduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management
• Master of Science in International Hospitality Management
• Master of International Business in Hotel & Tourism Management
• Advanced Certificate in Culinary Arts
• Higher Diploma in Culinary Studies

Internship programme

It is compulsory for Diploma and Bachelor students to participate in an internship in Switzerland. The Placement Careers Teams assist students in finding suitable positions.

Leadership programme

The “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland’s Leadership Programme prepares hotel and tourism management students for leadership roles in their future careers. Every student benefits from a personal adviser as well as the assistance of the career planning department throughout their entire programme.

Careers services

The World Travel and Tourism Council has forecast a bright future for the industry and its career opportunities, predicting 297 million jobs by 2018 WTTC website. The Careers Team offer a range of services to assist students in taking the first step towards an exciting new career, from creating a professional CV, interview techniques and business attire, through to helping find the best internship for a chosen career path. “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland publishes its own “Network” magazine for career news.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campus facilities

The staff and student body consists of approximately 500 students of over 60 nationalities.

Le Bouveret Campus

Le Bouveret Campus

Located in Le Bouveret, a small French speaking town on the shores of Lake Geneva, in a listed building that dates back to the early 1900s. The student accommodation is surrounded by parks and gardens. Le Bouveret campus has a formal dining room where students practice their skills and host events, and a separate cafeteria for every day dining. It is also the home of the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland with specialized demonstration, application and production kitchens for students to learn hands-on skills. Other facilities include: student car park, student mobile phone network, wi-fi, two laundry areas, library, computer lab, study areas, student club & bar, TV and entertainment areas, fitness room, and free bicycles to explore the lake-side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brig Campus

Brig Campus

University Centre “César Ritz” is located in the city of Brig-Glis, the largest German speaking town in the Valais region. Brig is easily reached by intercity trains and is just 20 minutes from the Italian border town of Domodossola, two hours from Milan and less than two and a half hours from both Geneva and Zurich. Nearby tourist attractions include Zermatt, the famous Glacier Express route to St. Moritz and the Aletsch glacier. Students live in purpose built accommodation of single rooms in the new Themis & Xenius building, located five minutes walk from the University. Accommodation facilities include student kitchens, laundry rooms, secure underground parking, student bar & nightclub, coffee lounge, internet access and student mobile phone network. Student recreational activities include free golf driving range and tennis courts, whilst the student committee organize activities and events all year round. Switzerland is a winter paradise for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, Brig has excellent access to some of Switzerland’s most famous ski areas such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee and the Bernalp region. The Brig Baths are one of the biggest open-air thermal centres in Switzerland. In summer the students can enjoy over 150 km of marked hiking trails and cycle routes in the Simplon, Lötschberg and Aletsch glacier regions.

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer opportunities

“César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland has partnerships with leading educators and universities worldwide. These partners are selected on the basis of academic excellence in the delivery of hotel, tourism and business management programmes. Transfer options with Manchester Metropolitan University UK, Washington State University USA, International College of Management Sydney Australia, Queenstown Resort College New Zealand and European International College Abu Dahbi
Global Partners Webpage

Alumni association

With over 10,000 alumni from all over the world, the “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland alumni network has 36 active chapters for members to maintain friendships and promote professional networking. All alumni can log in to a dedicated portal for news, reunions, career events, job boards and professional directory service. “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland publishes its own alumni magazine called Connection which is provided free of charge to all its alumni.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accreditation

“César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland is the first and, at present, only Swiss hotel management school to receive the prestigious tedQual certification. This important certificate for quality tourism education has been developed by the World Tourism Organization (WTO), part of the United Nations. List of members
Manchester Metropolitan University validates the Postgraduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management, the Master of Science in International Hospitality Management and the newly introduced PhD programme. Washington State University (WSU) accreditation offers student the opportunity to complete a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in only 4 years, via the Bachelor in International Business programme at “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland. WSU also offer a summer programme at “César Ritz” Colleges in Switzerland.

History of “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland

2008 Opening of the 225 single room "Themis & Xenius" student accommodation in Brig.
2007 Partner school agreements are established in New Zealand, India, United Arab Emirates, Iceland and Peru.
2006 The first "Double degree" agreement is signed with the University La Sabana, Bogota, Colombia.
2006 The Leadership Programme is introduced at the undergraduate level.
2005 The first Swiss hotel management school receives accreditation from tedQual, the accrediting body of the World Tourism Organization.
2005 Mr Martin Kisseleff, President and Mr Bernhard Schwestermann, CPA, arrange a management buy-out. Dr W. D. Petri, former owner is offered the title of Honorary President.
2003 Recognition by the State of Valais, Switzerland of the Bachelor of International Business Degree and the Master of Business Administration in Hotel and Tourism Management offered at University Centre “César Ritz”
2002 “César Ritz” Colleges Switzerland enrolls its 10.000th student.
2000 The first Master of Science in International Hospitality Management is launched in Switzerland at University Centre “César Ritz”, in co-operation with Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
1997 Swiss Government authorities approve use of the name “University” for ICHA. The college is renamed University Centre “César Ritz”.
1997 US Bachelor degree delivered in partnership with Washington State University.
1996 The International College of Management in Sydney (ICMS), Australia (formerly ICTHM - International College of Tourism & Hotel Management), opened with the "César Ritz" programme.
1992 Opening of the International College of Hospitality Management "César Ritz" in Washington, Connecticut, USA.
1992 Creation of the ICHA Foundation and opening of the International College of Hospitality Administration in Brig.
1992 Opening of the International College of Hospitality Management “César Ritz”, the first and only Swiss hotel school in the USA, located in Suffield, Connecticut.
1992 First US Bachelor degree in hotel management in Switzerland in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
1991 Launch of the first hotel management postgraduate diploma programme in Switzerland.
1986 Opening of the Institut Hôtelier “César Ritz” in Le Bouveret, State of Valais, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
1986 The "César Ritz" Foundation in the Valais Region and Mrs Monique Ritz, daughter-in-law of the famous hotelier, did to the school the honour of allowing to name its colleges after César Ritz, "The Hotelier of Kings" and "The King of Hoteliers".
1985 The first Bachelor programme in hotel management in Switzerland is launched in co-operation with Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, WA, USA (2 years "César Ritz" + 2 years WSU).
1985 Transfer agreements are signed with several state universities in the United States, Europe and Australia.
1983 Opening of the second institute, the "Schulhotel Zillwald" in the health resort of Lax, in Valais.
1982 Creation of "Hotelconsult Management Company" and opening of the first college, the "Schulhotel Alpina" in Brig, State of Valais, by Dr Wolfgang D. Petri.

External links

• Hotel school
• Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland