We recently bid farewell (for now!) to our latest batch of graduating students at Les Roches Switzerland. With family and friends traveling from afar to join us for this special moment, excitement and emotion was in the air on campus in Bluche. Those of you who were unable to make the event or who would like to relive the experience can watch our full graduation ceremonies here:
Words of Wisdom for Our Newest Les Roches Alumni
In keeping with Les Roches tradition, each graduation ceremony featured a guest speaker who has led an exemplary career in hospitality. This year, we had the privilege of welcoming Mrs. Rachel Begbie, former Regional Director of Human Resources EMEA at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, at our undergraduate ceremony, and Mr. Gregory Maliassas, Senior Vice President at AccorHotels, at our graduate ceremony.
Mrs. Begbie encouraged hospitality graduates to gain as much experience as possible: [quote]If you are asked to do something, my advice to you is never say no. The person asking you knows more than you. As a result of saying yes, you will experience new things and gain new skills to add to your repertoire.[/quote] She also stressed the importance of making the most of each day. [quote]Be purposeful. Every day, what did you achieve? How did you make a difference? These are questions to ask yourself. Ensure you can answer them with meaning each day.
Mr. Maliassas, himself a 1993 Les Roches alumnus, emphasized the value of hard work and building a hospitality career step by step: [quote]Titles shouldn’t matter to you at first. You should try to earn experiences and master each part of the business you are going to be in.[/quote]
Having worked in three continents and eight countries, Mr. Maliassas also highlighted the joys of working in an industry as international as hospitality. He chose the hotel manager ent industry “to discover new cultures, interact with people from different backgrounds, learn new languages, discover interesting traditions, and meet people who would be able to teach me things that you don’t really learn in schools and from books.” He added, [quote]If you share this passion for this industry, believe me, you are not even going to work one day in your life. It is going to be a journey full of enjoyment and pleasure.[/quote]
Congratulations, then, and best of luck to our latest group of Les Roches alumni! And remember — in the words of Mrs. Begbie, “You have just graduated from one of the best hospitality schools in the world. The pride you feel today needs to be applied to all you do in the future.”
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