Glion Institute of Higher Education: Crafting Global Leaders in Hospitality & Luxury Business
Introduction
Founded in 1962, the Glion Institute of Higher Education blends academic rigor with immersive, real-world training to develop global leaders in hospitality, luxury, and business management. With campuses in Switzerland and London, Glion is known for its strong industry integration, exceptional graduate outcomes, and career-focused curriculum—making it a top choice for those aiming to excel in the global experience economy.
1. Establishment & History
1.1 Origins
- Founded in 1962 as Institut International de Glion in the former Grand Hôtel Bellevue site, Montreux, by Swiss professors Walter Hunziker and Frédéric Tissot (Wikipedia).
- Original intake: 15 students from five countries, taught in French (Wikipedia).
1.2 Evolution of Name & Campuses
- Renamed Centre International de Glion (1977), later Glion Hotel School (Wikipedia).
- 1989: Bulle campus launched (Wikipedia).
- 2013: London campus opened within University of Roehampton grounds (Wikipedia).
1.3 Accreditation & Ownership
- Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in 2006 (Wikipedia).
- Joined Laureate Education in 2002; acquired by Eurazeo in 2016, joining Sommet Education group (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).
1.4 Key Milestones
- 1992: First English-language class introduced (Wikipedia).
- 1995: First Hospitality Bachelor’s (“Galaxy”) program launched (Wikipedia).
- 2000 onward: New BBA, Associate, Certificate programs; partnerships for Master’s; opening of Hotel des Alpes as practical arts venue (Wikipedia).
- 2015: Won “Best Hospitality Management School” at Worldwide Hospitality Awards (Wikipedia).
- 2018: Ranked No. 1 globally for Employer Reputation in QS Hospitality Management rankings (Wikipedia, glion.edu).
- 2020: Launched “Glion Connect” remote-learning platform (Wikipedia).
- 2021: Launched campus fine-dining venue Maison Décotterd (Wikipedia).
- 2022: Celebrated its 60th anniversary (Wikipedia).
2. Affiliations & Accreditation
- Accredited by NECHE (USA) (Wikipedia).
- Operates under Sommet Education, a respected hospitality education group (Wikipedia).
- While not a Swiss-accredited university, Glion remains a prestigious international institution recognized in hospitality and luxury sectors (Wikipedia, Reddit).
3. Courses Offered
Glion provides diverse programs across multiple levels:
3.1 Bachelor’s Degrees
- Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Business: A 4-year degree combining academic semesters, practical training, three professional placements, and career-focused specializations (glion.edu).
3.2 Postgraduate & Executive Programs
- Master’s Degrees, Executive Master’s, and Executive Online Courses—catering to recent graduates and working professionals alike (glion.edu).
3.3 Learning Model
- Strong focus on practical and academic integration across hospitality, luxury, finance, innovation, management, and entrepreneurship (glion.edu).
4. Facilities
- Swiss campuses offer stunning settings and 5-star hospitality-grade infrastructure (glion.edu).
- Practical Arts facilities include working restaurants, bars, reception areas—such as Hotel des Alpes and Maison Décotterd (Wikipedia, glion.edu).
- Swiss and London campuses provide mobility and shared experiential setups (glion.edu).
5. Address & Contact Details
(Note: For precise postal address, phone, or email, please refer to the official Glion website directly.)
6. Academic Excellence
- Combines high academic standards with real-world hospitality training (glion.edu).
- Small class sizes promote personalized learning (student-to-faculty ratios approx. 15:1) (glion.edu).
- Faculty bring rich industry and academic experience (~13 years industry, ~12 years academic) (Wikipedia).
- Recognized as #1 globally for employer reputation in 2018 QS rankings (glion.edu).
7. Career Development & Placement
- Employment outcomes are exceptional: 98% of job-seeking graduates secure offers by graduation (glion.edu).
- Average of 6 internship offers per student, with thousands of opportunities annually (glion.edu).
- Over 4,000 industry partners, 250+ company visits per year, and 5,600+ internship offers annually (glion.edu).
- Career Services offer robust support: CV workshops, mock interviews, on-campus recruitment events, early coaching (glion.edu).
8. Research Activities
- Faculty engage in industry-focused research, publications, panel participation, and conferences to inform teaching (glion.edu).
- Additionally, the Glion Colloquium—a renowned think-tank on higher education—takes place biennially in Glion, promoting dialogue on universities’ roles in global challenges (Wikipedia).
9. Scholarships & Fellowships
- Partner Scholarships for outstanding IB Diploma students (requires essay, recommendation letters) (glion.edu).
- Legacy Scholarships:
- Alumni: 10% tuition reduction; children of alumni: 5% (glion.edu).
- Family Scholarships: 10% tuition discount for siblings (glion.edu).
- Hospitality Scholarships: 10% discount for students sponsored by hospitality-related professionals (with documentation) (glion.edu).
- U.S. Veterans: Eligible for VA-approved financial aid (glion.edu).
- Financial Aid: Case-by-case support based on need, academics, attendance, discipline (glion.edu).
10. Notable Alumni
- Alumni network exceeds 17,500 professionals across industries and geographies (glion.edu).
- Success examples:
- Pascal Camia – COO at Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (glion.edu).
- Chidochashe Chola – now in L&D leadership at Marriott (EMEA) (glion.edu).
- 2021 Hospitality Awards—“Best Professional Success” winners: Rita Amorim (Accor) and Bonn Krongsak Paramacharoenroj (Onyx Hospitality Group) (hospitalityinspired.sommet-education.com, Hospitality Net).
11. Reputation, Rankings & Awards
- Ranked Top Hospitality School for Employer Reputation by QS in 2018 with a perfect score of 100 (glion.edu).
- Consistently featured among world’s best hospitality schools (glion.edu).
- Recognized for academic innovation and teaching excellence, including accolades at Worldwide Hospitality Awards (Wikipedia).
Conclusion
The Glion Institute of Higher Education stands as a premier institution for hospitality and luxury business education, delivering a powerful fusion of academic rigor and practical, industry-embedded learning. With decades of heritage, global presence, elite employer recognition, and robust career support, Glion equips its students to thrive as leaders across the global experience economy.
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