1. www.tns-ri.co.uk
International Hospitality Management Schools:
2010 Worldwide Industry Ranking Survey
Project Summary
February 2011
Background and Survey Details
Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Travel & Tourism (U.K.), the world’s largest provider of custom
research and analysis, has completed a broad industry survey amongst a large sample of senior
managers from top international hospitality companies around the world. These companies
were selected because they own and/or manage 5-star rated properties. This survey was
conducted in August and September, 2010.
TNS executed a similar survey in 2007. The 2010 survey updates the results obtained three
years before. Laureate Hospitality Education, a division of Laureate Education Inc,
commissioned TNS to conduct both surveys utilizing objective techniques. Both surveys are
statistically reliable at a 95% confidence level.
The primary purpose of the 2010 survey is to establish the relative ‘ranking’ of the various
international hospitality management schools providing university-level programmes from which
employers are likely to recruit staff for international 5-star hotel companies.
A total of 181 questionnaires from 55 different countries was received. All respondents hire
students from international hotel schools, with over two-thirds of respondents (68%) have
recruited graduates from at least two and up to five different hospitality management schools for
their organisations. The respondents came from a broad range of 5-star hotel companies listed
below.
Key Findings
Respondents were asked to respond to the following: ‘Thinking about the hiring of graduates for
an international career in the hospitality industry, from the following list of hospitality
management schools, please select the ones you would consider to be in your Top 10. ”
A list of 74 hospitality management schools located around the world was presented to
respondents. The list was generated from a worldwide scan of schools providing international
education focused on hospitality management. Provision of instruction in English was a
requirement for inclusion in the list of international hospitality management schools. In addition
to this list, respondents were invited to add by open field any other schools in their ranking
which might not have appeared in the pre-selected list. The list was automatically randomized
by country and by school for each respondent to ensure that there was no influence on their
selection as a result of their position in the list.

2. The following table presents the survey ranking results.
Top 10 International Hospitality Management Schools in the World for an International
Career.
Based on frequency of school selection by hospitality industry hiring managers from 5-star
hotels.
Sample Size = 181 respondents
Institution Country
1 Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne Switzerland
2* Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Bluche Switzerland
2* Glion Institute of Higher Education, Glion & Bulle Switzerland
2* Cornell University USA
5 Hotelschool The Hague Netherlands
6 Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Spain
Marbella
7 Hotel School Vatel France
8 Oxford Brookes University United Kingdom
9 César Ritz Colleges, Le Bouveret, Brig Switzerland
10 Ecole Hôtelière de Genève Switzerland
* Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Glion Institute of Higher Education
and Cornell University are tied for second position.
Conclusions
Key conclusions to be highlighted from the survey results include:
 The Top 4 schools as rated by industry hiring managers are Ecole Hôtelière de
Lausanne, Les Roches International School of Hotel Management, Glion Institute of
Higher Education and Cornell University. This result matches the findings of the TNS
survey conducted in 2007 in the sense that Les Roches International School of Hotel
Management, Glion Institute of Higher Education remain among the top hospitality
schools in the world for an international career.
 Of note is that three of the top four schools are Swiss hospitality management institutes.
Switzerland remains the foremost worldwide leader in international hospitality
management education.
 Six of the Top 10 schools have direct links with Switzerland.
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3. Profile of the sample
The profile of the respondents in terms of their position in the various hospitality organisations:
 36% work in Human Recourses team or division
 17% work as General Manager of a hotel
 34% work in Food & Beverage, Sales & Marketing, Rooms Division or Finance &
Accounting
 13% have other position titles
The geographical distribution of the respondents was as follows:
 28% Europe
 38% China and Asia Pacific
 12% North and South America
 15% Africa / Middle East
 6% Australasia
The sample from the research included respondents from the following 37 hospitality
organisations.
Accor (corporate) Aman Resorts
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Conrad Hotels & Resorts
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Holiday Inn Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts Kempinski
Langham Hotels International Le Meridien
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Marco Polo Hotels
Marriott Millennium Hotels and Resorts
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts The Peninsula Hotels
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Radisson
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts Raffles Hotels & Resorts
The Rezidor Hotel Group The Ritz Carlton
The Rocco Forte Collection Rotana
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Six Senses Resorts & Spas Sofitel Luxury Hotels
Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts Starwood Hotels and Resorts
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces
Westin Hotels & Resorts
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4. Methodology
In the summer of 2010, an online survey was delivered to an extensive worldwide employer
database. The potential respondent database is comprised of more than 50,000 hospitality
professionals working in more than 70 countries. The potential respondents received an email
from TNS inviting them to participate in this survey, which was then accessed by a link to a
questionnaire which was hosted on a secure site by TNS. To maintain objectivity, the name of
Laureate/LHE was not revealed to respondents. Over 10’000 recipients opened the email, while
over 1’000 clicked on the link of the survey itself.
Taylor Nelson Sofres PLC (TNS) is a leading market research and information group and is the
world’s largest provider of custom research and analysis. TNS operates globally across 70
countries, allowing us to provide internationally consistent, up-to-the-minute and high quality
information and analysis. TNS Travel & Tourism is employed by a portfolio of global clients in the
leisure, tourism, hospitality and travel industries to undertake a range of research and
consultancy projects, designed to provide insight and knowledge.
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