International Recruitment Forum 2016
“Swiss Made” hoteliers in high demand worldwide
Montreux/Switzerland, 14 March 2016 – The International Recruitment Forum organised by Swiss Education Group has opened its doors in Montreux, Switzerland today for two days of networking, conferences and interviews. Held every six months and attended by more than 100 prestigious businesses from the hotel and tourism industries, this event is dedicated to students at the seven Swiss Education Group campuses who are looking for an internship or a job. In addition to being a real springboard to a career, the IRF forms an excellent opportunity for students to carve out their own place in the world of work. It allows them to meet and interact with professionals and to gain knowledge of the stakes and emerging trends within the industry.
On this occasion, Swiss Education Group also unveiled its new partnership with Switzerland Tourism, with the aim of jointly promoting the image of Switzerland abroad.Despite the uncertain economic context, international tourism has experienced continuous growth over the last two decades. This sector is a key driver of socio-economic progress through the creation of jobs and represents 1 out of every 11 jobs worldwide*. “We need to remain flexible and adapt to the changing face of tourism,” explains Florent Rondez, CEO of Swiss Education Group. “High-quality hospitality training and a constant connection with professionals in the sector are the key factors that allow us to stay ahead of the curve.” This is the reason that Swiss Education Group nurtures close ties with high-profile industry partners to ensure direct relevance to the global hospitality industry.
The “Swiss Made” Hotelier: a sought-after profile throughout the worldThe interest shown by international companies in the hotel and tourism industries in employing professionals who have been educated and trained in Switzerland is reflected in concrete figures: in 2015, some 4,700 interviews were carried out at the IRF by more than 360 recruiters**. What is more, over 70% of students who had an interview were offered a job – in all four corners of the globe. “Our experience with students from the schools that are part of Swiss Education Group is very conclusive: as candidates, they possess many talents, are multilingual and, above all, they are ready to face the job market,” explains Pep Lozano, General Manager of the Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, a leading institution in luxury lodging, which conducted over 700 interviews during the IRF last year.
Official partnership with Switzerland Tourism
Switzerland Tourism and Swiss Education Group have signed a partnership agreement for the next three years (2016-2019). Their collaboration focuses on joint activities, while also benefiting the experiences and networks of each organisation. For its part, Swiss Education Group will capitalise in particular on the large number of professionals who have studied in Switzerland and who are now employed in key roles throughout the world as they are excellent ambassadors for best practices in Switzerland. “The ‘Swissness’ and worldwide orientation of the Swiss Education Group are important assets in our national and international marketing. We very much look forward to consolidating this partnership for a long lasting mutual success,” adds Jürg Schmid, Director of Switzerland Tourism.
*Source: UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2015 Edition
**IRF March and October 2015 editions
About Swiss Education Group
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Since its first hotel school, established in 1992, Swiss Education Group has become Switzerland’s leading hospitality education provider. The Group’s five schools are situated in seven stunning campuses in both the French and German-speaking regions of Switzerland. More than 7,000 students are expected to enrol in 2016.
The Group’s core educational values are based on the excellence of the Swiss hospitality tradition, focusing on the practical aspects of hotel management. Swiss Education Group offers a wide range of outstanding academic courses, with qualifications ranging from Diploma to Master’s level. Partnerships with British and US universities ensure that students’ qualifications are internationally transferable. All courses are taught in English