Cesar Ritz Colleges

About César Ritz Colleges 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.

Professional & Academic programmes

Programmes available:

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.

Campus facilities

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

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. 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

University Centre César Ritz is located in the city of Brig-Glis, the largest German speaking town in the Valais region. 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.  

Transfer opportunities

César Ritz Colleges has partnerships with educators and universities worldwide. Transfer options with Manchester Metropolitan University UK, Washington State University USA, International College of Management Sydney Australia. Started in 2013,César Ritz Colleges have a partnership with University of Derby about its 2 master programmes.

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. César Ritz Colleges Switzerland publishes its own alumni magazine called Connection which is provided free of charge to all its alumni.

Certification

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is the first and, at present, only Swiss hotel management school to receive the tedQual certification. This certificate for tourism education has been developed by the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

History of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland

2013 César Ritz Colleges announces the University of Derby (UK) as its academic partner for all master's degree programmes and reinforces the status as an international hotel management institute, rooted in Switzerland.
2012 DCT becomes part of César Ritz Colleges and moves to Lucerne. Opening of the Lucerne Campus in the former renovated Hotel Union building. César Ritz Colleges introduce iPads as an interactive learning tool.
2011 Invision Private Equity AG acquires César Ritz Colleges Group. César Ritz Colleges joins the network of the Swiss Education Group.
2010 The annual European conference of the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organization is held at the University Centre César Ritz in Brig.
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's 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's 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.