EHL (École hôtelière de Lausanne)

EHL (École hôtelière de Lausanne)
Name	École hôtelière de Lausanne
Established	1893
Type	Private
City	Lausanne
Country	Switzerland
Campus	Urban

EHL (École hôtelière de Lausanne) is a Swiss hospitality management school founded in 1893 in Lausanne, Vaud, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The institution is known for training professionals for the hotel and hospitality industries, engaging with corporations such as Accor, Hilton, Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. It maintains relationships with international organizations including the World Tourism Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Labour Organization, and private foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

History

EHL was established in 1893 during the Belle Époque era alongside contemporaries like the Savoy Hotel and institutions in Paris and Vienna, reflecting trends in hospitality exemplified by figures such as Auguste Escoffier and venues like the Ritz Hotel. Early development paralleled transport and leisure innovations tied to the Orient Express, the expansion of SNCF and Swiss Federal Railways, and the rise of alpine tourism associated with Zermatt and St. Moritz. Throughout the 20th century EHL adapted to disruptions including the World War I, the Great Depression (1929), and World War II, while alumni entered companies such as Fraser Hospitality, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Postwar growth coincided with global hospitality brands like Conrad Hotels and educational trends influenced by establishments such as Cornell University and Glion Institute of Higher Education.

Campus and Facilities

The Lausanne campus is situated near landmarks such as Cathedral of Notre Dame (Lausanne) and Olympic Museum (Lausanne), offering facilities comparable to university campuses like École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and University of Lausanne. Campus infrastructure includes teaching kitchens and restaurants used for training, analogous to training sites at Le Cordon Bleu, demonstration theatres similar to those at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and hospitality labs resembling those at MIT. Student accommodation and services are coordinated with municipal entities like the City of Lausanne and regional transport providers such as Transports publics de la région lausannoise. Event spaces host conferences drawing delegates from World Economic Forum, Davos, multinational firms including Nestlé, LVMH, and luxury groups like Richemont.

Academics and Programs

EHL offers degree programs with curricula informed by industry standards seen at institutions such as INSEAD, London Business School, Harvard Business School, and professional pathways used by Le Meurice and Casa de Campo (Dominican Republic). Program levels range from undergraduate to master's degrees, integrating practical training similar to internships at AccorHotels and study-abroad links with universities including University of Gastronomic Sciences, Bocconi University, and University of Oxford. Course modules address operations, finance, marketing, and leadership with case studies featuring companies like Starbucks, McDonald's, Airbnb, Uber, and luxury operators like Aman Resorts. Pedagogical partnerships and guest lectures have included executives from Bernard Arnault, Warren Buffett, Indra Nooyi, and chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Joël Robuchon.

Admissions and Rankings

Admissions procedures reference benchmarks used by business schools such as INSEAD, HEC Paris, and London School of Economics, often requiring assessments akin to GMAT or portfolio reviews used at Parsons School of Design; applicants come from countries including China, India, United States, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Rankings by global publications and agencies compare EHL to programs at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Les Roches, and Glion Institute of Higher Education, and visibility is influenced by corporate recruiters from Accor and Marriott International. Scholarship programs involve partners such as the Swiss Government, philanthropic organizations like Rhône Group, and family offices in Geneva and Zurich.

Research and Industry Partnerships

EHL hosts research centres and collaborates with institutions like ETH Zurich, HEC Paris, Imperial College London, and Columbia University on hospitality, tourism, and service innovation projects citing case studies from Las Vegas, Macau, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Industry partnerships include pilot projects with Siemens, Microsoft, Google, SAP, and hospitality technology firms such as Amadeus IT Group and Oracle Hospitality. Research topics have covered sustainability initiatives inspired by Paris Agreement, corporate social responsibility models such as those by Unilever, and studies referencing events like the EXPO 2020 Dubai and 2024 Summer Olympics. Funding sources include European programs like Horizon 2020, private sector grants from Accor, and endowments linked to foundations such as The Rockefeller Foundation.

Alumni and Notable People

Alumni have taken leadership roles across hospitality, entrepreneurship, and government sectors, joining companies like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hilton, Marriott International, Accor, and launching ventures comparable to Airbnb and OYO Rooms. Notable figures among graduates and affiliates have appeared in executive positions alongside industry leaders such as Isadore Sharp, Barry Sternlicht, Arne Sorenson, Christopher Nassetta, and hotel founders like Cesar Ritz and Conrad Hilton. EHL alumni networks interact with professional associations like International Hotel & Restaurant Association, World Travel & Tourism Council, and alumni organizations linked to University of Lausanne and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Category:Hospitality schools in Switzerland Category:Universities and colleges established in 1893