February 2011 | No. 47 CONNECTION ALUMNI NEWS LE BOUVERET EXPANDS! WHO’S WHO AT CÉSAR RITZ COLLEGES? JOBS, JOBS & MORE JOBS! WWW.RITZ.EDU EDITORIAL CONTENTS your friends and happy family news. In terms of other changes, in order to fur- ther develop our alumni and career ser vices, we enlarged the department. The Dir ector of Uni ver sity Centre César Ritz, Daniel Gutzwiller, has been appointed as the Director of Industry Relations responsible for all industry contacts as well as all César Ritz Colleges career and alumni activities; and Katharina Eyer has been appointed as the Career Services and Alumni Manager to work in close collaboration with our Career Services Manager, Trude Konrad, and myself. I’m sure that our dynamic team will continue developing alumni and career activities. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the alumni who contributed to the new César Ritz website and film (visit www.ritz.edu). While you’re online, please What have we been up to in 2010? visit and register with the alumni database ‘NetCommunity’ by clicking on ‘Alumni’. Connection alumni news Well for a start, one of the first changes is in And for jobs, don’t miss the Job Board your hands! How do you like the new look that will provide you with job opportunities Editorial 2 of the Connection Alumni Magazine? and the possibility to post job openings to attract qualified employees among our Campus News 3–7 César Ritz Colleges Switzerland developed a César Ritz graduates. You’ll also have Switzerland 3–6 new communication concept to strength- online access to the Alumni Directory that Global Partners 7 en our position as an international leader will provide you with contact details of Alumni Gatherings 8–9 in hospitality education and inspire stu- thousands of our graduates around the dents looking to make and advance their world. People ‘n’ Stuff 8–15 career in the global hospitality industry. Success stories 10 –11 In the range of new promotional mate- I hope that you’ll enjoy reading this edition Javier Munoz-Calero rial, you’ll discover the César Ritz pass- of Connection. Antoine Rajeh port stamp representing the combination Katja Marshall of our core values – excellence, service, Stay in touch! Photo gallery 12–13 leader ship, care and innovation – and Updates 14–18 your career journey. And so, Connection Michèle Patry Family News 18–23 also has a new look with the same sort of Alumni Network Manager Weddings 18–20 content you want: news about the school, [email protected] Babies 21–23 pictures and stories of worldwide alumni www.alumninews.ch reunions, success stories, updates from CREDITS We would like to thank everybody who has contributed to this magazine, including our partner colleges, staff, and graduates. We’re looking forward to your future participation. The next “Connection” is scheduled for February 2012. The editors take every care in presenting Editorial management, production Dear Alumni, please let us know your the correct details at the time of printing and graphic design: career moves and changes of address but take no responsibility for contribu­­- Paul English/Heather Dittmar that can be updated online under t ions from third parties. English Communications Pty Ltd www.alumninews.ch – User Login – 4387 Inglewood Update Your Profile. Don’t forget to “Connection” is prepared for you by: Queensland, Australia check our website regularly. This edi- César Ritz Colleges Switzerland [email protected] tion and further news about César 1897 Le Bouveret Printing by: Imprimerie Saint-Paul Ritz Colleges are published on our Switzerland 1705 Fribourg, Switzerland website: www.alumninews.ch Tel: + 41 24 482 82 82 Fax: + 41 24 482 88 99 The People ‘n’ Stuff and Family News Cover photo: Inger Rimestad, Iva Vukelic, [email protected] sections were collected by Michèle and Leda Bace during the Annual Alumni www.ritz.edu Patry, Alumni Network Manager, and Reunion in Switzerland in May 2010 Marga Cretton, Ambassador for Inter- national Relations. 2 | Connection alumni news | February 2011 | No. 47 CAMPUS NEWS | SWITZERLAND MARTIN KISSELEFF TAKES RETIREMENT AFTER 27 YEARS WITH CÉSAR RITZ COLLEGES GROUP Mr Martin Kisseleff, President of the Board of U.C. César Ritz Colleges AG is proud to announce the change of ownership of the César Ritz Colleges Group, to Invision Private Equity AG, a leading Swiss Private Equity firm. Mr Schwestermann and Mr Kisseleff on the new construction site in Le Bouveret Invision’s new ownership guarantees expand facilities for the students. 2010 has and sound system the sustainability and further growth been the year to start major improvements • A ultra-modern training kitchen of the Colleges in the Canton of Valais to the facilities in the Le Bouveret Campus, • A high-tech demonstration kitchen and around the world. Mr Kisseleff’s especially for the Food and Beverage • A pastry and baking kitchen health does not allow him to continue department, accommodation and student • A production training à la carte kitchen at the required rhythm for the future. services. Construction of the additional • A production training facility for self Invision is the right partner for many facilities commenced in November 2010 service reasons with more than 12 years and should be completed by October 2011. • A fitness room with professional-level of experience in running success- Mr Kisseleff and Mr Schwestermann will equipment and a view of the lake ful operations in different economic remain owners of all the real estate in • A student café and lounge environments. Le Bouveret and have signed a long term rental agreement with Invision. Naming Competition Mr Kisseleff and Mr Schwestermann will And what about a name for this new remain on the Board of Directors thus Here then, is an overview of what the new building? At the moment we use the ensuring a smooth transition for the new building will include: name Bellevue 2 because the new facilities management and ownership. • One hundred deluxe single rooms of a are connected to the Bellevue, however, similar standard to the T&X rooms at we would like to propose a competition Extension at Professional Centre Brig with a 120cm wide bed, WC and among students, alumni and staff to find César Ritz shower, TV, fridge, wireless internet and a more original and attractive name. Invision also takes over the student accom- lots of working and storage space modation buildings Themis and Xenius • A student cafeteria for 200 students So if you have some bright ideas, please (T&X) in Brig. César Ritz Colleges will make • An application restaurant (with Chef’s send your suggestions by 25 March 2011 to significant investments to enhance the qua- table) seating 80–100 people Christian Konrad ([email protected]). lity of education and further develop and • A student club with professional disco A nice prize will be offered to the winner! Connection alumni news | February 2011 | No. 47 | 3 CAMPUS NEWS | SWITZERLAND WHO’S WHO AND WHO’S NEW? FACULTY AND STAFF UPDATES Loyal service to students Diana Vicari has been teaching English, public speaking, French and humanities over the past 20 years (to around 8,000 students). Mrs Vicari has not only been a teacher of languages but also a life coach. George Cocker joined the Brig faculty as a lecturer in law 15 years ago. Known to present interesting challenges in terms of subject matter, Mr Cocker continues to maintain the highest expectations from his students. Thank you both for all your hard work and dedication. I would also like to take this opportu- nity to congratulate Susan Fournier for her outstanding achievement of Diana Vicari George Cocker being elected Vice President of I-CHRIE. Mrs Fournier also obtained her Master Mr Ronan Fitzgerald has been appointed as Managing Director of César Ritz of Science in International Hospitality Colleges Switzerland. He took over management of the group’s activities Management with distinction. in mid-January 2011. Mr Fitzgerald brings great experience in hotel mana- gement education. For the past three years, he has managed Hotel Insti- On a personal note, I am happy to announce tute Montreux. With over 15 years of management experience in various that Marcel Kisseleff is now working on fields, Mr Fitzgerald is someone who is highly skilled in managing people special projects within the marketing de- in an international environment. partment together with his fiancée, Jenai Oliveira, a BIB graduate and currently a work-study student in the MSc programme. 2010 has been a big year for César Ritz of accommodation, Food and Beverage Jenai undertakes projects in sales and pro- Colleges and there have been quite and bars, student services, student activi- motes César Ritz in Brazil, her country of a number of staff changes. After 22 ties and facilities management. origin. Tanja Kisseleff Florenthal started years of dedication and loyalty, Hervé as BIB Programme Director in October and Fournier decided to leave César Ritz While remaining the Director of University her husband, Uri Florenthal, works as Colleges in December 2009 to begin Centre César Ritz, Daniel Gutzwiller was Area Manager for Spanish speaking coun- a new orientation to his professional also appointed as the Director of Indus- tries and specialized projects. I am proud to career. He is now working as Project try Relations responsible for all industry see my children and their partners taking Manager and Mana ging Director contacts, as well as all César Ritz career such an interest in César Ritz Colleges. for Business Valais – Antenne Valais and alumni activities. Mr Gutzwiller’s Romand for the State of Valais. Mr department includes the internship co- César Ritz is a strong brand with an excellent Fournier was a leading member of the ordinators for the Swiss intraining place- worldwide reputation for producing profes- management team and I would like to ment and assessment.