“A place to experience excellence, every day”. This is Glion Institute of Higher Education, the institution of higher education specialized in Hospitality and Luxury Management that every year welcomes students from all over the world to Montreux, the delicate and cultural city in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Geneva, where the institute’s main office is located, and on the other two campuses in Bulle and London. Founded in 1962 by Walter Hunziker and Frédéric Tissot to offer excellent training in a continuously growing sector, thanks to the very high academic standards it is now established among the best specialized educational institutions in the world.

The educational offer of Glion Institute of Higher Education includes three-year degree courses, masters, short programs, in which theoretical training is combined with concrete experiences to educate young talents in the Hospitality and Luxury Management sector. “We bring our students into companies through tailor-made projects and field trips – explains Nicoletta Giusti, Director of the Master in Luxury Management and Guest Experience – to allow them to gain experience in the field. In this way, students develop a complete vision of the world of work and immediately interact with the top management.” Cartier, Dior, Hublot, Sotheby’s, Moncler, Richemont, Panerai are just some of the institute’s excellent partners, which welcome students for internship experiences. And according to the most recent statistics of the institute, more than 98% of Glion Institute of Higher Education students find employment after completing their studies. “Our students are highly valued by companies – explains Jacquie Lutz, Career & Internship Office Manager – as at our institute they develop strong competencies, professionalism, as well as the soft skills that are necessary to communicate effectively and stand out in this sector.”

Lorenzo Savio, one of the young Glion alumni, today Regional Enrolment Manager for Sommet Education, describes the teaching staff which is composed of names that boast great experience in the sector: “Giovanni Manfredini, Head of International Event Management Specialization, was one of my professors, with over 30 years of multisectoral career; among others, Chantal Wittmann, Senior Lecturer and Manager of the school’s gastronomic restaurant, who received the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France award in 2011; and Barbara Czyzewska, Academic Dean & Head of Luxury Specialization, who has a solid academic background in the field of Hospitality and Tourism, with particular experience in luxury marketing and in the history of hospitality; but also Paolo Basso, Visiting Lecturer, elected World’s Best Sommelier in 2013.” With each professor, students create a personal relationship of great value, which leads them to grow both academically and personally.

Glion Institute of Higher Education is the perfect place for young people who want to pursue a career in the luxury sector with a particular focus of excellence on experience. The Bachelor’s Degree consists of three specializations (during the first three years the exams are the same for all students, and in the last six months candidates have the opportunity to specialize in Luxury Brand Strategy, International Hotel Development and Finance or International Event Management). Victoria Madeleine-Elise Fissore is a student who is currently completing the last semester of the Bachelor’s Degree (BBA) in Luxury Brand Strategy. “My dream is to become Brand Manager for a company in the world of luxury – says the student – in particular in the fashion, art and beauty sectors.” According to Victoria Madeleine-Elise, one of the competitive advantages of the institute, in addition to the excellent education, is its internationality: “My classmates come from all over the world. This has allowed me to get to know many different cultures and ways of thinking, and to enrich my vision of the sector in a continuous learning atmosphere.” In fact, the Glion campus hosts more than 90 different nationalities that form the classes of the BBAs and Masters of Science. The latter offer specializations in four main areas: International Hospitality Business, Luxury Management and Guest Experience, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance and Hotel Development.

Benedetta Lanati is one of the students who are completing their studies in the Master of Science in Luxury Management and Guest Experience at Glion; after important international experiences between Milan, London and Barcelona, almost at the end of her experience at Glion, she shares her dream: “My goal is to develop my career path within the events and PR in the luxury sector. It has always been a passion and the institute has led me to deepen my knowledge of this world, making my path even clearer.”

And the connection with the institute continues even after the end of studies, for life. In fact, the student community is very strong, and it always remains connected through an influential global network of over 16,000 professionals and entrepreneurs in the sector. “When you receive an excellent education – explains Sandra Meier, former student and now Marketing & Alumni Manager – you want to give back to the school the great value it has given you, and support people as they have supported you over the years.” This creates a spirit of sharing and mutual support also within companies for students who come from Glion and this represents a great strength.

The city of Montreux, clearly visible from the institute, is immersed in the beauty of breathtaking landscapes and offers young people a culturally sparkling atmosphere, from the deep bond with music (just think of the Jazz festival, the most important in Switzerland and one of the most important in the world, and to the one with Freddie Mercury, who spent long periods in the Swiss town at Queen’s recording studios) to the love for sports, such as skydiving, skiing, rowing. The strategic location of the city also allows students to easily reach Bulle, as well as all the main Swiss and European destinations including Milan, the fashion capital, which is only three hours away from the city by direct train.

The attention to every detail and the utmost care in every aspect of the welcome are immediately perceived at Glion Institute of Higher Education. The hospitality of the staff and the sophistication of the campus contribute to creating a unique experience, in which you can fully breathe the values of the institute and live the students’ lifestyle. As stated by Gabriele Magnaghi, a student at the end of the Master in Luxury Management and Guest Experience, the institute involves each student in a strong sense of belonging: “Here at Glion we breathe an atmosphere of excellence, kindness, beauty, which is not limited to the academic environment but goes beyond. And among us students a spirit of cooperation is created that unites us in a friendship that lasts forever.”