SHMS - Swiss Hotel Management School

Live and learn hospitality in iconic Swiss palace hotels

Build the practical, business and digital skills to lead in hospitality, luxury, events and the global experience economy.

#4 worldwide in 2026 | 100+ nationalities | 90% receive multiple offers before graduation | 17,500+ SHMS alumni | 100+ recruiters at the International Recruitment Forum

If you want to build an international career in hospitality, luxury, events or the wider experience economy, SHMS Swiss Hotel Management School offers an immersive way to prepare for your future. 

Studying at the highest-ranked conventional hotel management school in the world, you will combine the traditions of Swiss hospitality with contemporary business education, digital transformation and hands-on learning. You will develop the professional expertise, leadership capabilities and cultural awareness needed to create memorable experiences, manage international teams and contribute to the future of a rapidly changing industry. Graduates of SHMS are the Swiss Army Knives of hospitality, able to find a creative solution to any challenge. At SHMS, you become a leader for the global hospitality industry.

Founded in 1982, SHMS is ranked fourth worldwide for Hospitality and Leisure Management in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Learn hospitality by living it

At SHMS, hospitality is not only something you study in a classroom. You will live and learn in former Swiss palace hotels where your surroundings become part of your education.

The Caux campus occupies the historic Caux Palace, overlooking Montreux and Lake Geneva. Its facilities include professional kitchens, a demonstration kitchen, a fine-dining restaurant, classrooms and a theatre.

The Leysin campus occupies two former Belle Époque palace hotels connected by a private Skytrain. Its facilities include restaurants, a professional spa, a Concept Lab, a Design Lab and modern learning and recreational spaces.

Depending on your programme, you may help operate restaurants and hospitality facilities, develop events and guest experiences, or work on hotel, design, spa and luxury concepts. Practical classes and projects based on real business challenges allow you to apply your knowledge in realistic environments.

Build professional experience before graduating

Internships allow you to apply your knowledge in a professional environment, explore different career paths and start building an international network.

Depending on your programme, you may complete placements in Switzerland or internationally in hospitality, luxury, events or another service-focused industry.

Dedicated career coaches will help you identify your objectives, search for opportunities, prepare your CV and strengthen your interview and networking skills.

You will also have access to the International Recruitment Forum, held twice a year by Swiss Education Group. The forum connects students with recruiters from more than 100 companies across hospitality, luxury, events, retail, banking, aviation and other industries.

• 90% receive more than one job offer before graduation
• 89% hold management positions or create their own company
• 71% work in hospitality, tourism or culinary sectors
• 29% work in areas such as consulting, education, finance and healthcare

Choose a programme that matches your ambitions

SHMS offers undergraduate, postgraduate, graduate and online programmes:

• Swiss Professional Degree in Hospitality Management: Build a practical foundation in hospitality operations, service, business and leadership. Students pursue a specialization in Hotel Management or Events Management and complete two internships representing one year of professional experience. The final programme title and recognition status remain subject to the applicable approval process.

• Bachelor of Arts in International Hospitality Management: Combine practical hospitality education with business, leadership and digital capabilities. Choose a specialization in Hotel Management, Events Management or Design Management.

• Master of Business Administration - MBA Global: Develop expertise in global strategy, finance, leadership, innovation and international business for senior management roles in hospitality and related sectors.

• Master of Arts in International Hospitality Business Management: Strengthen your hospitality-business expertise through advanced study in operations, finance, marketing, strategy and leadership.

• Master of Arts in International Hospitality Business Management: Luxury Brand Management: Specialize in luxury-brand strategy, consumer behaviour, premium positioning, experience design and high-end service excellence across hospitality, fashion and lifestyle.

• Master of Science in International Hospitality Management: Develop advanced analytical, academic and management capabilities for leadership, consultancy, research or further study in the international hospitality industry.

• Online Master of Arts in Executive Hospitality Management: Advance your strategic leadership and hospitality expertise through flexible online study designed for working professionals.

• Postgraduate Diploma in International Hotel, Resort and Spa Management: Follow a career-conversion pathway focused on Hotel Operations, Resort Management, Food and Beverage, Events, and Spa and Wellness Management. Practical learning and an international internship help you prepare to enter the hospitality industry.

• Postgraduate Diploma to Master of Advanced Studies in Business: Follow a modular pathway combining leadership, strategy, business and applied industry learning. Choose one of three specializations:

1. Real Estate and Luxury Property Management
2. Wellness and Longevity Business Management,
3. Digital Transformation for Mega Events.
   
   Students can progress through postgraduate certificate and diploma stages before completing an industry project for the Master of Advanced Studies.

Selected degree pathways are delivered in academic partnership with the University of Derby in the United Kingdom.

Join an international community

At SHMS, you will study alongside students representing more than 100 nationalities. This multicultural environment will help you build international friendships, collaborate across cultures and strengthen the communication skills required for a global career.
After graduating, you will join more than 17,500 SHMS alumni and gain access to the wider Swiss Education Group network of approximately 45,000 professionals.

Whether you aspire to manage a luxury hotel, create exceptional guest experiences, produce international events, lead a multicultural team, transform a hospitality business or start your own company, SHMS provides an immersive environment in which to build your future.

Live hospitality. Learn by doing. Lead with confidence.