César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, is an educational institution located in Le Bouveret and Brig, Switzerland. named in honour of César Ritz. The college specializes in entrepreneurship and business management education. It offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in collaboration with Washington State University (USA) and the University of Derby (UK). The institution shares its campuses with its sister school, Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, César Ritz Colleges Switzerland was ranked third globally among hospitality and leisure management schools.

History

In 1982, Dr. Wolfgang D. Petri established the first college, Schulhotel Alpina, in Brig as part of the Hotelconsult Management Company. A year later, a second institute, Schulhotel Zillwald, was opened in Lax, Valais. In 1985, the school introduced Switzerland’s first Bachelor of Arts program in Hotel Management in partnership with Washington State University (USA). César Ritz, the school's namesake, was a renowned hôtelier, best known for his work at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris and the Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London. In 1986, Monique Ritz, Ritz’s daughter-in-law, along with The César Ritz Foundation, granted the institution the right to rename itself in his honour. Consequently, the Institut Hôtelier César Ritz was established in Le Bouveret, and in 1997, the Brig campus was renamed University Centre César Ritz. The Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, originally founded in Lucerne in 1998, became part of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland in 2011, relocating to the former Hotel Union building in Lucerne. In 2005, the school underwent ownership changes when Martin Kisseleff and Bernhard Schwestermann acquired the institution, with the former owner, Dr. W. D. Petri, being named Honorary President. In 2011, the César Ritz Colleges Group was acquired by Invision Private Equity AG. Later, in 2018, the Swiss Education Group, to which César Ritz Colleges Switzerland belongs, was acquired by the Hong Kong-based investment management company Summer Capital.

Milestones

Education

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland offers a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Tourism Management and a one-year Master of Science degree in Leadership. The curriculum integrates principles of American entrepreneurship with Swiss hospitality practices. Experiential learning is a significant aspect of the programs, with students engaging in practical activities alongside traditional lectures. César Ritz Colleges Switzerland has partnerships with various industry entities, including Ritz Paris, Evian Resort, Comité Champagne and Switzerland Tourism.

Campuses

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland operates across two campuses, shared with the Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland in Le Bouveret and Brig, Switzerland.

Le Bouveret campus

Located in a former hotel from the early 1900s on the shores of Lake Geneva near the French border, this campus is home to the Apicius Culinary Training Center and the Mosimann Collection, a collection of culinary memorabilia provided by Swiss Chef Anton Mosimann OBE.

Brig campus

Situated in Brig-Glis, the largest German-speaking town in the canton of Valais, the Brig campus is split between two buildings in the town center.