Sixth Form pupils discover the exceptional in Switzerland

December 7th 2025

To hold positions 1, 2, and 6 in the global higher education league tables in their field takes some doing. Keen to find out what makes them so special and to discover the justification behind these rankings and their incredible employability ratings, 8 Sixth Form pupils travelled to Switzerland this December to visit the pinnacles of International Hospitality and Luxury Business Management that are EHL Les Roches and Glion Institute of Higher Education What they discovered was exceptional.

Day 1 was an early start and 0810 flight from Gatwick to Geneva, followed by a stunning train journey along the lakeside, took the group to their first stop. High above Montreux, with breathtaking views perched Glion’s campus. Boasting a Michelin restaurant, the Glion campus exuded quality and calm. The campus is the front-end of the Institute, where pupils go to learn the intricacies of luxury management and customer service, along with the practical aspects of Michelin-standard cuisine. Located a further 30 minutes inland was Bulle, home to the business training school for the students. An afternoon tour of the campus, from the sushi and pastry training facilities, to the high-tech instruction theatres, as well as the impressive student accommodation and club, was rounded off with a mocktail class with the lead drinks instructor and current students.

Day 2 saw us take the funicular down the steep hill from Glion, followed by an early train to Crans Montana, home of the #2-ranked Les Roches for their open day. Walking into the huge chalet-style building, the group were struck by the impressive, modern, open plan ground floor, which was abuzz with students and visitors. With a warm welcome and immaculately dressed students and staff, it was soon clear why such reputations exist.

After an introductory talk, the group were toured around their incredible facilities. From the entrepreneur incubator suites, to the VR experience training rooms, state-of-the-art classrooms, mock hospitality suites, photography suite for careers photographs, digital media skills rooms, and yes, another Michelin-starred restaurant, it was clear that Les Roches sought to be at the cutting edge of luxury business and hospitality.

Pupils heard about the high standards inspected of the students, from the 7am roll calls and inspection, to the attention to detail in all aspects of their work. But they also heard about the incredible field trips, with visits to luxury businesses in Milan, Zurich and elsewhere, enhancing the students’ incredible employability.

At the heart of the Les Roches model is their preparation for high-end careers across both elite hospitality. Individualised career mentoring from day 1, along with career fairs featuring 250+ exhibitors on campus, and their own employment listing with over 2000 opportunities open for application at any one time, were complemented by a global network of alumni, with active chapters in 40+ countries supporting ongoing aspirational careers. Little wonder that an astonishing 94% of Les Roches students graduate with a job already lined up and an average of 4 offers per student (this compared to UK graduates, where typically between 60% and 70% find graduate work within 6 months). What was perhaps more surprising was the range of industries that students entered,

Following an exceptional lunch cooked by chefs, with the sushi and raclette being particular pupil favourites, the pupils heard further talks on student life, practical support and more. With time to spare, the group then headed further up the mountain for a tour of the skiing and luxury retail meccas that are Crans and Montana. The group then returned to Montreux, where they enjoyed the Christmas market by Lake Geneva, featuring ferris wheels, artisan market stalls and delicious local cuisine.

Day 3 of the packed itinerary saw the group hop on a short train to Lausanne, before heading up to the EHL (formerly Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne). EHL was on an altogether different scale to the previous two locations put together. With a huge, but somehow also low-profile, sleek and contemporary campus building (built in 2022) set into a sunken plot seemingly enhancing the old, traditional Swiss buildings that were its neighbours, EHL is designed to impress, to drop jaws and define standards from the moment you enter the glass façade. This it achieved in spades, with every aspect highlighting the professional, elite and market-leading training on offer. A campus tour highlighted to the group how the site meshed elite business training, with exceptional hospitality and leisure, as highlighted by the 12 different food and beverage venues (including – you guessed it – another Michelin-starred restaurant), the 25m competition pool, 1^st class living areas. The venue oozed luxury, and yet it also managed to demonstrate innovation and a business mindset and uncompromising standards in the training it delivered.

With over 1500 guests at the open day, the campus was alive with visitors and impeccably attired students. At the English-spoken talk to nearly 700 of the visitors (teaching is either in English or French and all students learn at least one other language as part of their intensive training), the Dean welcomed the guests, with the highlight of the other speakers being a year-one student who spellbound the students with her recalling of her 6-month internship at the exclusive Manor Club at the Rosewood in Hong Kong. A third year student spoke of his 6-month internship at BNP Paribas in Paris, highlighting the focus on business and transferable skills that are at the heart of EHL’s DNA. The talk on the curriculum was fascinating, with the heart of the EHL model being one which, whilst it starts with faultless hospitality, centres on business and soft skills which make for extraordinarily employable students, with (similar to Les Roches) a globe-spanning employability network. Indeed, EHL boasts an unrivalled 96% employment rate at graduation, rising to 100% within 6 months. It was particularly interesting to hear how graduates went into a whole range of different careers, with just 40% joining (elite) Hospitality careers, while 60% go into a whole range of roles – from investment banking to sports management and much more in between.

A brief stop in Lausanne followed for some last-minute Christmas gifts, before the group headed home via Geneva airports.

So, had the 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th global ranking positions been justified? The group returned with a resounding “yes”. Pupils and staff alike returned with eyes opened to exceptional experiences across all three locations. Inspired, pupils’ ambitions were raised - and who knows, perhaps Geneva will welcome them back before too long.

Will Daws - Deputy Head, 6th Form

Flickr album: Hospitality & Business Trip to Switzerland - December 2025 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin