As of 2024,[1] the colleges have been ranked third in the world among all hospitality and leisure schools, according to the
QS World University Rankings.
History
In 1982, Dr. Wolfgang D. Petri[2] opened the first college – Schulhotel Alpina – in
Brig as part of the Hotelconsult Management Company.[3] The following year, the second institute – Schulhotel Zillwald – opened in
Lax,
Valais. In 1985, the school launched Switzerland’s first Bachelor’s of Arts program in Hotel Management in partnership with
Washington State University (USA).
The school’s namesake,
César Ritz, is a well-known hôtelier and pioneer of the luxury hotel, of the
Hôtel Ritz in Paris[4] and the
Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London. In 1986, his daughter-in-law, Monique Ritz, together with The César Ritz Foundation, issued the school the right to rename the institution in his honor. As a result, the Institut Hôtelier César Ritz opened in
Le Bouveret, and the Brig campus was later renamed University Centre César Ritz in 1997.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the school forged academic partnerships with institutions in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Columbia, New Zealand, India, United Arab Emirates, Iceland, and Peru.
What is now called
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland started in Luzern in 1998, became part of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland in 2011, moving its campus to the former Hotel Union building in
Lucerne. In 2013, the school began its partnership with the
University of Derby (UK) for its master’s degree program.
In 2005, Martin Kisseleff and Bernhard Schwestermann acquired the school and the former owner, Dr. W. D. Petri, became Honorary President. Later in 2011, César Ritz Colleges Group was acquired by Invision Private Equity AG[5][6] and joined the hospitality education network
Swiss Education Group.
Swiss Education Group was subsequently acquired by the Hong Kong-based investment management company Summer Capital in 2018.[7]
Milestones
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.
1983: Opening of the second institute, the "Schulhotel Zillwald" in the health resort of
Lax, in
Valais.
1985: Transfer agreements are signed with several state universities in the
United States,
Europe and
Australia.
1985: The first Bachelor program 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).[8]
1986: The César Ritz Foundation in the Valais Region and Mrs Monique Ritz, daughter-in-law of the famous hotelier, allows the school to name its colleges after César Ritz.
1986: Opening of the Institut Hôtelier "César Ritz" in
Le Bouveret.
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 in
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
1996: The International College of Management in
Sydney (ICMS),
Australia (formerly ICTHM - International College of Tourism & Hotel Management), opened with the César Ritz program.
1997: Swiss Government authorities approve use of the name "University" for ICHA. The Brig campus is renamed University Centre César Ritz.
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.
2002: César Ritz Colleges Switzerland enrolls its 10,000th student.
2003: Recognition by the Canton of
Valais,
Switzerland for the Bachelor of International Business Degree and the Master of Business Administration in Hotel and Tourism Management offered at University Centre César Ritz. Opening of the first and only Swiss hotel school in the US, International College of Hospitality Management César Ritz, located in
Suffield,
Connecticut.
2005: The first Swiss hotel management school receives accreditation from
EduQua, the accrediting body of the
World Tourism Organization. Mr. Martin Kisseleff, President, and Mr. Bernhard Schwestermann, CPA, arrange a management buy-out. Dr. W. D. Petri, the former owner is offered the title of Honorary President.
2006: The first "Double degree" agreement is signed with the
University La Sabana,
Bogota,
Colombia. The Leadership Program is introduced at the undergraduate level.
2011: Invision Private Equity AG acquires César Ritz Colleges Group. César Ritz Colleges joins the network of
Swiss Education Group.
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 provided to all students.[9]
2013: César Ritz Colleges announces the University of Derby (UK) as its academic partner for all master's degree programs.
2023: César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is federally accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council.
Education
At César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, students can pursue a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Tourism Management and a one-year Master of Science degree in Leadership.
The school’s curriculum blends principles of American entrepreneurship with the ethos of Swiss hospitality.
Experiential learning is a core component of each program and students “learn by doing” by participating in hands-on activities alongside lectures.[10]
The student body is made up of more than 60 nationalities and classes are taught in English. Students gain work experience during their studies through internships with industry partners.
The campus in Le Bouveret is housed in a former hotel from the 1900s located on the shores of
Lake Geneva near the French border. It is also home to the Apicius Culinary Training Center[13] and the Mosimann Collection – a collection of culinary memorabilia provided by Swiss Chef Anton Mosimann OBE.[14]
Brig campus
The Brig campus is located in Brig-Glis – the largest German speaking town in the
Valais region. It is split between two buildings located in the center of town.
Valais is the home and final resting place of esteemed hotelier
Cesar Ritz, father of modern hospitality, from whom Cesar Ritz Colleges is named.