A Conversation Comparing Spa Hospitality Management Programs

Had an interesting conversation this evening with Emanuel Berger, managing director for the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection. Several of his properties – all in Switzerland – have outstanding spas. I asked Mr. Berger which hospitality school in the world he would rate number one. He said that he still feels Lausanne Hotel School is best – and confessed to being a bit prejudiced because he is on the school’s advisory board.

I did think it interesting to hear him compare Lausanne with Cornell (the school he considers number two). He feels that the emphasis at Cornell is on numbers – marketing, profitability, revenue management, etc. – and that the Swiss school stresses the art of service and management. He did also say that a spa management course is very much needed. At the moment there isn’t anything spa-related at the Lausanne Hotel School. I know that Cornell has had a spa course taught by Dr. Mary Tabacchi for quite some time. Both schools, in my opinion, could use more spa management training programs. We need that expertise in our industry.