Cesar Ritz Colleges

César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is a college in Switzerland founded on the principles of César Ritz and over 40 years of experience. César Ritz Colleges Switzerland provides a multi-campus learning experience focused on entrepreneurship and business management in Le Bouveret and Brig, Switzerland. The school offers bachelor's and master's degree programs in partnership with Washington State University (USA) and the University of Derby (UK), and shares its campuses with sister school Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland.

As of 2024, the colleges have been ranked third in the world among all hospitality and leisure schools, according to the QS World University Rankings.

History
In 1982, Dr. Wolfgang D. Petri opened the first college – Schulhotel Alpina – in Brig as part of the Hotelconsult Management Company. The following year, the second institute – Schulhotel Zillwald – opened in Lax, Valais. In 1985, the school launched Switzerland’s first Bachelor of Arts program in Hotel Management in partnership with Washington State University (USA).

The school’s namesake, César Ritz, was a hôtelier at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris and the Ritz and Carlton Hotels in London. In 1986, his daughter-in-law, Monique Ritz, together with The César Ritz Foundation, issued the school the right to rename the institution in his honor. As a result, the Institut Hôtelier César Ritz opened in Le Bouveret, and the Brig campus was later renamed University Centre César Ritz in 1997.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the school forged academic partnerships with institutions in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Colombia, New Zealand, India, United Arab Emirates, Iceland, and Peru.

What is now called Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland started in Lucerne in 1998, became part of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland in 2011, moving its campus to the former Hotel Union building in Lucerne.

In 2005, Martin Kisseleff and Bernhard Schwestermann acquired the school and the former owner, Dr. W. D. Petri, became Honorary President. Later in 2011, César Ritz Colleges Group was acquired by Invision Private Equity AG and joined the hospitality education network Swiss Education Group.

Swiss Education Group was subsequently acquired by the Hong Kong-based investment management company Summer Capital in 2018.

Milestones

 * 1982: Creation of "Hotelconsult Management Company" and opening of the first college, the "Schulhotel Alpina" in Brig, State of Valais, by Dr Wolfgang D. Petri.
 * 1983: Opening of the second institute, the "Schulhotel Zillwald" in the health resort of Lax, in Valais.
 * 1985: Transfer agreements are signed with several state universities in the United States, Europe and Australia.
 * 1985: The first Bachelor program in hotel management in Switzerland is launched in co-operation with Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, WA, USA (2 years César Ritz + 2 years WSU).
 * 1986: The César Ritz Foundation in the Valais Region and Mrs Monique Ritz, daughter-in-law of the famous hotelier, allows the school to name its colleges after César Ritz.
 * 1986: Opening of the Institut Hôtelier "César Ritz" in Le Bouveret.
 * 1991: Launch of the first hotel management postgraduate diploma program in Switzerland.
 * 1992: First US Bachelor's degree in hotel management in Switzerland in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
 * 1992: Creation of the ICHA Foundation and opening of the International College of Hospitality Administration in Brig.
 * 1992: Opening of the International College of Hospitality Management César Ritz in Washington, Connecticut, USA.
 * 1996: The International College of Management in Sydney (ICMS), Australia (formerly ICTHM - International College of Tourism & Hotel Management), opened with the César Ritz program.
 * 1997: US Bachelor's degree delivered in partnership with Washington State University.
 * 1997: Swiss Government authorities approve use of the name "University" for ICHA. The Brig campus is renamed University Centre César Ritz.
 * 2000: The first Master of Science in International Hospitality Management is launched in Switzerland at University Centre César Ritz, in co-operation with Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
 * 2002: César Ritz Colleges Switzerland enrolls its 10,000th student.
 * 2003: Recognition by the Canton of Valais, Switzerland for the Bachelor of International Business Degree and the Master of Business Administration in Hotel and Tourism Management offered at University Centre César Ritz. Opening of the first and only Swiss hotel school in the US, International College of Hospitality Management César Ritz, located in Suffield, Connecticut.
 * 2005: The first Swiss hotel management school receives accreditation from EduQua, the accrediting body of the World Tourism Organization. Mr. Martin Kisseleff, President, and Mr. Bernhard Schwestermann, CPA, arrange a management buy-out. Dr. W. D. Petri, the former owner is offered the title of Honorary President.
 * 2006: The first "Double degree" agreement is signed with the University La Sabana, Bogota, Colombia. The Leadership Program is introduced at the undergraduate level.
 * 2007: Partner school agreements are established in New Zealand, India, United Arab Emirates, Iceland, and Peru.
 * 2008: Opening of the 225 single room "Themis & Xenius" student accommodation in Brig.
 * 2010: The annual European conference of the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organization is held at the University Centre César Ritz in Brig.
 * 2011: Invision Private Equity AG acquires César Ritz Colleges Group. César Ritz Colleges joins the network of Swiss Education Group.
 * 2012: DCT becomes part of César Ritz Colleges and moves to Lucerne. Opening of the Lucerne Campus in the former renovated Hotel Union building. César Ritz Colleges introduce iPads as an interactive learning tool provided to all students.
 * 2013: César Ritz Colleges announces the University of Derby (UK) as its academic partner for all master's degree programs.
 * 2021: César Ritz Colleges Switzerland (Le Bouveret campus) becomes Green Globe certified.
 * 2023: César Ritz Colleges Switzerland is federally accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council.

Education
At César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, students can pursue a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel & Tourism Management and a one-year Master of Science degree in Leadership.

The school’s curriculum blends the principles of American entrepreneurship with the ethos of Swiss hospitality. Experiential learning is a core component of each program, and students “learn by doing” by participating in hands-on activities alongside lectures.

Some of César Ritz Colleges Switzerland’s industry partners include Ritz Paris, Evian Resort, Comité Champagne and Switzerland Tourism.

Campuses
Students study across two campuses, shared with Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland in Le Bouveret and Brig, Switzerland.



Le Bouveret campus
The campus in Le Bouveret is housed in a former hotel from the 1900s located on the shores of Lake Geneva near the French border. It is also 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
The Brig campus is located in Brig-Glis – the largest German speaking town in canton Valais. It is split between two buildings located in the center of town.