Luxury hotels are not just defined by grand ballrooms or opulent corner suites. Instead, they鈥檙e about creating experiences that last a lifetime. Behind the scenes, skilled hospitality professionals create these moments, leveraging a unique blend of expertise and empathy to make every guest feel special. These professionals often begin their journey at schools like , one of the original Swiss hotel management schools, nestled in the picturesque city of Lucerne, Switzerland.
Since its founding in , SHL has been a pioneer in innovative hospitality training. Known as the cradle of modern tourism, Lucerne provides the perfect backdrop for SHL鈥檚 mission: to offer hands-on hospitality management programmes, as well as training and consulting services focused on delivering the best customer experience for companies across various industries.
The institution’s reputation for excellence was one of the reasons Nancy S酶rensen, a student from Sweden, chose SHL. Having met several alumni before enrolling, she was inspired by their authenticity and poise.
“What stood out most to me was seeing them at work 鈥� they were genuine in their interactions with customers and carried themselves with a confidence that I found inspiring,” she says. “Knowing how challenging the service industry can be, I admired how they cared for their customers as people, not just another task to complete during the workday. That authenticity was something I wanted to learn for myself.”
A practical approach to learning
SHL stands out from other hospitality schools for how hands-on it is. Unlike institutions that prioritise theoretical knowledge before practical experience, SHL integrates the two from the outset, enabling students to simultaneously develop academic knowledge and practical know-how.
鈥淥ur institution is known in Switzerland and the world for developing hands-on skills among students,鈥� says Christa Augsburger, director of SHL. 鈥淭hey are not only academically trained but are ready to work even before they graduate as they have already accumulated a lot of job experience while studying. This is something other institutions do not have.鈥�
SHL offers two flagship programmes: the , accredited by the Swiss federal government and recognised globally, and the Swiss Advanced Federal Diploma ““.
Take the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, for example. It is designed to provide a balanced blend of theory and practice over four years. The first year focuses on gastronomy and food and beverage operations. Students spend their first semester on campus, followed by a paid internship in Switzerland or abroad. During this time, they in SHL鈥檚 training restaurant, , which serves freshly prepared three-course meals to around 250 guests daily.
In the second year, the focus shifts to room division operations, maintaining the same structure of campus learning followed by internship placements. The final two years delve into the managerial and strategic aspects of running a business.
SHL enriches this learning with to industry-leading establishments, such as the St. Gallen Agricultural Center, Zweifel 1898 winery, and Richemont, a renowned bakery and pastry industry institution. Pair these trips with more collaborative assignments, field excursions, and group projects, such as a two-day team-building workshop in the Swiss mountains, and SHL students are sure to hone crucial soft skills such as teamwork. These experiences help students recognise their strengths and those of their peers, creating a strong camaraderie and collaboration.
SHL promotes community building and teamwork through collaborative assignments, field excursions, and group tasks. Source: SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern
To S酶rensen, what truly makes SHL special is its people. 鈥淭he faculty is highly professional and knowledgeable, with unique personalities that shine through in a genuine way,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y class is also wonderfully diverse, filled with amazing, funny, and caring individuals from different backgrounds.鈥�
The best part? SHL’s strong network of alumni and industry partners ensures an abundance of internship opportunities, often exceeding the number of enrolled students. This practical focus is a significant reason why SHL graduates are highly sought after in the job market, often securing mid-management roles immediately after graduation.
For S酶rensen, studying at SHL has been transformative.
“What I like most about SHL would be their dynamic approach to learning, wherein theory and practice go hand in hand,” she says. “Aside from studies, we also get plenty of practice working in real-life scenarios. On top of all that, SHL lets you set your own pace for your studies by extending your internships beyond the minimum duration, allowing you to gain more practical experience.”
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