Switzerland is known as the birth place of hospitality. I had the privilege of studying in one of the top 10 colleges for hospitality management, which is also one of the best campuses in the world.
Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS), also known as “Caux Palace”, is situated on a hilltop in Caux. It overlooks the beautiful city of Montreux in Switzerland. This stunning property that holds a national significance was initially a luxury hotel in the 1900s, and was eventually turned into a hotel management school. Swiss hoteliers have been setting standards over the last 100 years, and this has been an inspiration for SHMS and its students.
This one-of-a-kind location offers breathtaking views, great accommodation, and is equipped with the most recent innovation and technology to help students reach their highest potential. Caux is situated in the French-speaking territory of Switzerland and is a little over an hour away from Geneva aeroplane terminal. Montreux is the nearest city, about 15-20 minutes by train.
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My three-and-a-half year course included a six-month internship, each semester for the successful completion of the degree. The course offered a challenging, yet enjoyable experience, packed with daily, weekly and monthly deadlines including assignments, case studies, group presentations and individual report submissions.
We were made to go the extra mile by participating in major events in our college; my favourite was the ‘International Day’, where we showcased our ethnic wear, dance, and cuisines from around the world. We had guests from different consulates in Geneva to grace the event.
Unlike school, for the exams here, we had no papers to write, but only individual reports and assignments to submit. This encouraged us to do self-study and read from the college’s extensive selection of books. Our course was focused and based on a lot of critical analysis, helping us to think out-of-the-box.
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We had weekends off and mostly used it to prepare for the upcoming week. However, there was always time to explore the beautiful country. We had several excursions around Geneva and visiting the vineyards to see how French wines are made.
During spring break, I had an opportunity to travel to the nearby countries such as Paris, Rome and Germany. Adapting to a new environment and culture is quite a task, but every individual must experience a new country. Not only is it exciting, but also pushes you out of your comfort zone and helps in grasping the world in a distinctive way.
I completed my bachelor’s honors in hospitality management along with a diploma. It was a wonderful and inspiring journey, as I studied with students from 80 nationalities. I call it my second home.
Monika Alexander is a student of bachelor’s honors in hospitality management, with a diploma in hotel management, at Swiss Hotel Management School, Montreux, Switzerland.