SOME IMPORTANT DATES

1954

Ecole des Roches’, an international institute for young people, was founded by Messrs Marcel and Jean-Pierre Clivaz. During its first years, this establishment came to be well recognized throughout France and Italy. Five years later, students from Europe and the United States of America were attending the School. A few years later, an initial enrolment of 150 had risen to 220 students, from 60 different countries on five continents. Two other brothers, Roger and Francis, joined the family team.

1979

As a result of the prevailing worldwide economic conditions and a growing demand abroad, Les Roches International School became “Les Roches” Hotel and Tourism School with instruction in English.

1985

Les Roches was virtually destroyed by a fire in April. Despite considerable destruction to the property and its contents, the School only lost one day of classes as arrangements were immediately made to house students and teaching facilities in three hotels in Montana, which were rented for a three-year period. Construction of entirely new buildings began in May 1986. In June 1987, the School moved into its new buildings.

1986

On June 21, 1986, a management contract was signed between Gesthotel SA, a limited company owning the School property, and the Swiss Hotel Association - which is recognized by the Swiss Federal Department of Economics. On January 1, 1987 until December 2010, the School was approved by the Swiss Hotel Association, under the name of: SWISS HOTEL ASSOCIATION HOTEL MANAGEMENT SCHOOL LES ROCHES. The name was changed in 2007 to LES ROCHES INTERNATIONAL HOTEL MANAGEMENT SCHOOL

2000

In November, the School was acquired by the Sylvan International Universities, a branch of Sylvan Learning Systems, USA. Les Roches became the Hospitality Center of Excellence for Sylvan International Universities which had campuses in the United States, Mexico, Chile and Spain and other global locations. Sylvan became Laureate Education Inc. on 17th of May 2004.

2003

Les Roches and Glion Institute of Higher Education became part of a system working together using shared services which provide a superior university experience for full-time and working-adult students worldwide through its leading international network of accredited campus-based and online universities, with a presence in 15 countries and serving more than 300,000 students worldwide. Laureate's university network includes 25 accredited institutions in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

2006

Les Roches has expanded its facilities with four extra buildings to accommodate additional students in fully equipped apartments.

2007

Les Roches opened a new and modern library complex, auditorium and specially designed front office and rooms division laboratory.
Les Roches changed its name from Les Roches Swiss Hotel Association School of Hotel Management to “Les Roches International School of Hotel Management” to better reflect its global student body and educational approach.

 

2008

Les Roches Gruyère-University of Applied Sciences (LRG-UAS), a sister school of Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, received recognition from the Swiss Confederation and became the first private Swiss university to offer a hospitality management program. The Les Roches campus hosts the LRG-UAS Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a specialization in Food, Beverage and Operations Management.

 

2009-2010

The campus undertook important renovations constructing a new wing of classrooms, a new library, a new lobby and terrace, a soccer field, and the new residential buildings Peters Farm 3 and 4. The school also acquired a new sport bar & a la carte restaurant, opening  2011. 

 

2010

• Bill Clinton (42nd President of the United States) became Honorary Chancellor of Laureate International Universities.
• Two new specializations are added to the BBA offer, Culinary Business Management and Hotel Design and Project Management.
• Achieved NEASC accreditation for its own MBA program: the Les Roches MBA in Hospitality Management with specialization in Finance or Marketing.
• Les Roches again ranked among the top hospitality management schools worldwide.
  In a global survey of 5-star hotel hiring managers, Les Roches was ranked number 2 among all international hospitality management schools for an international career. Statistically, three institutes occupy this ranking position. (TNS Global Survey, September 2010).

 

2011

A new Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration for Culinary Arts Professionals  will be offered starting in August 2011.

Today…

Today Les Roches is building a sophisticated, international platform for hospitality education in the world, with campuses in Switzerland (Bluche / Crans-Montana), China (Shanghai), Spain (Marbella) and Jordan (Amman).

Les Roches offers a Hotel Management Diploma, a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hotel Management, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management with a concentration in food, beverage and operations management and a Master in Business Administration with a specialization in hospitality, marketing or finance.