Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management


Les Roches Global Hospitality Education - Marbella, Spain is a private hospitality management university located in the Mediterranean coastal city of Marbella, Spain. Since its founding in 1995, the University offers accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in international hospitality management.

History

1954

The institution was originally formed in 1954 as an international boarding school called École des Roches, located in Switzerland's Canton of Valais region.

1979

École des Roches evolved to become the Les Roches Hotel & Tourism School and was recognized as the first hotel management school in Switzerland to offer its courses in English.

1995-1996

In 1995, the Les Roches Hotel and Tourism School founded their first international campus located in Marbella, Spain and under the name Swiss School of Hotel Management and Tourism in Spain. In 1996 the university inaugurated its current campus and soon thereafter became known as the Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management.

2003

In 2003, the school became a member institution of Laureate International Universities, a private international network of degree-granting post-secondary institutions located around the world. During its time under the leadership Laureate International Universities, Les Roches Global Hospitality Education formed part of the organization's 75 accredited universities in 29 countries.

2004

Les Roches Global Hospitality Education became the first school in Spain to receive institutional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges in the United States. NEASC is one of six regional accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Also in 2004, the campus continued its expansion with the addition of a new academic wing, an a la carte restaurant and adjoining kitchen operation, as well as doubling its on campus residence capacity and recreational areas.

2016

In 2016, the Les Roches network of campuses worldwide was acquired by Sommet Education.

2019

The campus unveiled several updates to its facilities in September 2019, including a renovated practical training kitchen for the newly-designed buffet-style campus restaurant, Le Marché, a new "Smart Room" demo hotel lab for practical training, and new decoration in its a la carte dining facility, El Olivo

Academic structure

The university teaches undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs that specialize in international hospitality management. Undergraduate courses focus on developing advanced business management skills in hotel, restaurant, and service industry operations. The school places emphasis on combining core academic knowledge with hands-on experiential learning as the basis for its educational model. This is achieved by combining traditional classroom learning with purpose-built learning facilities that are designed to simulate a real world hotel environment. During the first two years of the undergraduate course students alternate weekly between craft-based learning classes in the school's simulated facilities and core business-related lecture subjects taught in the classroom. The postgraduate academic structure is identical in nature to the undergraduate program's, however the curriculum involves an accelerated immersion into key areas that takes into consideration the students' previous educational and professional background. Additionally, as part of the undergraduate programs, students complete between two and three internships in international hotels and hospitality related organizations. The postgraduate degree requires one internship semester to complete the program.

Academic programs

Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma
The traditional Swiss hotel management diploma is devised to provide degree holders a fast-track access to entry-level employment after completing an alternation of three semesters of academic study at the school, and three semesters professional supervised internships. Coursework focuses on administration, management, marketing, culinary arts, and guest relations. Students who complete the six semester program can choose to exit and receive the Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma or continue studying towards a bachelor's degree within the institution.
Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hotel Management
Initially this internationally accredited program follows the same curriculum as the Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma, but includes two additional academic semesters and a total of two internships semesters in place of three. During the final year of the BBA degree program, students have the option to study a specialization in Strategic Human Resources Management, Entrepreneurship with Small & Medium Enterprise Management, Events Management or Resort Management.
Master's in International Hotel Management
Designed for ambitious hospitality professionals, recent graduates and career-changers, this Master’s combines the traditional Swiss ethos of luxury hotel management with the latest strategies in operations, digital marketing, talent and leadership. You’ll develop the skills to become a successful hotel manager.

Master's in Marketing Management for Luxury Tourism

This Postgraduate program in Marketing Management for Luxury Tourism is designed for graduates and professionals wishing to fast track their career in marketing management for the hospitality industry. The program aims to provide the expert knowledge and perspective required by professionals and directors in the global and dynamic environment of tourism by understanding the impact of new technologies and new trends.
Executive Master's in International Hotel Management
This is a purpose-designed program to be studied alongside the student's professional role outside school. It offers six one-week courses on campus, blended with faculty-supported distance learning. Students also have the option to take a six-month internship at the conclusion of their studies.
Postgraduate Diploma in International Hotel Management
The university's postgraduate course is designed for students of diverse professional backgrounds. This is a professional one-year program that provides an intensive academic semester covering hotel operations, administration and general business courses. It is designed for people who already have a university degree or diploma and would like to redirect their careers into the international hospitality industry. Integrated into the program is operational management and craft-based training in culinary arts, food & beverage as well as rooms division. The program culminates with a second semester that includes a management training internship in international hospitality establishments.

Internships

Internships in hotels and other hospitality/tourism organizations are core to the university's educational system. They believe that, together with academic semesters, alternating periods of practical training in the field prepares students to comprehend real-world circumstances and gain professional experience well in advance of earning a degree.
In addition there are 400 more students carrying out professional internships in hotels in Spain and abroad throughout the academic year.

International Transfer Program

As a branch campus of Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, the school offers international transfer opportunities to branch campuses located in Spain, Switzerland, China, and the United States. In 2014 the institution broadened their program offer by providing students the option of an international transfer program and the opportunity to earn two degrees. The dual degree program, called "Experience The World" offers a BBA in International Hotel Management from the university's campus in Marbella, Spain and a BA in Hospitality Management from its affiliate campus, Kendall College in Chicago, USA. Upon completing the full undergraduate BBA degree program, students have the option to study an additional nine months at Kendall College, in the USA and receive two accredited degrees.

Campus

The campus and joint student residence are located in a residential area in the heart of Marbella’s Golden Mile district, between Marbella city center and the tourist destination of Puerto Banús.

Campus facilities

The facilities of the Les Roches Global Hospitality Education campus in Marbella, Spain include:
Les Roches Global Hospitality Education is accredited internationally by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the United States which is one of the six regional accreditation associations for quality assurance recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Alumni Association

All graduates of the university are eligible to become members of the Alumni Association. The association consists of over 3,000 graduates worldwide, provides news and employment opportunities to members as well as useful networking resources. In addition, annual Alumni reunions are organized both on the school's campus as well as abroad.