125 years of excellence and a profitable future
125 years of Swiss excellence: in the presence of high-level representatives of the Confederation and the Canton of Vaud, the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) celebrated its 125th anniversary on 15 October 2018.
Even then, Swiss excellence was writ large. Out of a desire to professionalize hotel management, Jacques Tschumi, then a member of the Swiss Hotel Association, gathered 27 students at the Hôtel d'Angleterre in Lausanne on 15 October 1893. His ambitious project quickly proved to be a necessity.
Today, it extends to all five continents and inspires industries and professions far beyond the hotel industry. In the midst of a period marked by important developments and innovation projects, EHL is celebrating its 125th birthday: 125 years to the day since the school was founded by Jacques Tschumi, who once laid the foundation for the modern hotel industry with this step.
The ceremony, which focused on EHL's unique heritage and innovative spirit, was attended by Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann, Vaudois State Councillor Philippe Leuba, Lausanne City Councillors Natacha Litzistorf and Oscar Tosato, and numerous representatives of renowned companies and friends of EHL.
The official speeches were followed by the production "A dream for tomorrow". Anne Richard and Viviane Bonelli conceived the work especially for the occasion - with music by Hervé Klopfenstein and images by Romain Rossel.
Innovation centre in the making
"EHL has always been one step ahead of its time. From this small, first class, the school has developed into an institution with international appeal, offering a comprehensive range of educational solutions with two locations in Switzerland and soon a third in Asia. It relies on a worldwide alumni network that contributes to innovative research projects and partnerships. But EHL also stands for a state of mind, an attitude to life that is passed on from one generation to the next. It is an honor to continue the work of Jacques Tschumi at such an exciting time for us," said Michel Rochat, CEO of the EHL Group, at yesterday's anniversary celebration.
The campus in Passugg in Graubünden is growing, the first hospitality innovation centre in Europe is under construction and the future campus in Lausanne is already setting an example for many other schools. The anniversary is therefore not a celebration of the past. Rather, it marks the beginning of a whole series of successful developments for the EHL Group.
About the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)
Since its foundation in 1893, EHL has been the symbol of Swiss hospitality. Today, it continues to pioneer pioneering education for the hotel and hospitality sector. The result is a unique global community of 25,000 hospitality leaders who all share EHL's traditional values.
