Sitting with the CEO

Interview with Markus VenzinEHL Group's CEO

Could you introduce yourself and your motivations for joining EHL as a CEO.

MV: I ' m originally from Chur, in the Grisons , but grew up in Weinfelden I spent my undergraduate student years at the University of Constance and then obtained my Master and Doctoral Degree at the University of St. Gallen . Then romance took the reins . Upon meeting my future Sicilian wife , I decided to move to Italy where I had the honor of being a Professor and Dean of Innovation at Bocconi University. Our couple grew into a family of four and we now share our life with two lovely daughters . I ’m a lucky man , surrounded by inspiring women who are choosing to support me in my career change

What attracted me to EHL , and what I admire in this wonderful institution , is its capacity to adapt and embrace change to respond to the industry ’s needs Look at how EHL went beyond offering a Bachelor program and seized the opportunity to provide consulting services , to actively support startups , and even start our very own Innovation Hub .

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And then there ’s the human aspect. EHL shows entrepreneurship while keeping its human - centric approach at its heart, something I value deeply. The skills and the way in which EHL teaches , qualify it as a school of life , influencing our students both on the professional and the personal level And of course , the cherry on the cake is that the Group is comprised of passionate people , students as well as faculty and the staff Walking around our campuses , brought to life by students from over 120 nationalities who speak a variety of languages and have so many stories to tell at such a young age , I felt that EHL was really something special .

What are your impressions of EHL so far ?

MV: At EHL , I saw that people live what we teach It ’s hospitality at its best On top of that, of course , it ' s the students that stand out. For example our students dress professionally, a visual cue that is matched by how they interact. Our students are open to the world and have the capacity to maintain great conversations and to masterfully express themselves It makes EHL unique in every way

Also , the new campus in Lausanne is a real jewel of architecture that offers an exceptional living environment to study. It now counts with 80,000 m 2 of grounds (expanded from 25,000 m 2 previously), nearly 850 beds to accommodate students on site and 12 F& B outlets including a new high - end brasserie , a vegan restaurant and even a Montreux Jazz Café that has made its home in the historic building called “ La Ferme ” that many of you know well

What opportunities do you see for EHL’s future in the next 3-5 years ?

MV: For the next 5 years , a focal point will be how our hospitality competencies can and should be developed and what types of skills will gain importance - such as storytelling , cultural agility, being able to execute a flawless service to all types of clients , etc . We ’re also committed to providing an experiential education , both face - to - face and via digital platforms . While we adapt to the changes in education , we ’re also looking at how to support the changes within the hospitality industry, to provide a space for research , innovation , connections and knowledge sharing

We ’ ll always be hospitality- focused , but we also want to train individuals who aspire to careers in other industries After all , half of our graduates end up working in jobs outside of the hotel sector Our business focus is an open door for students , especially those who are unsure of what career to pursue , but it also allows us to captivate a broader audience who might then find their way into the hospitality industry. In the end , it should be about what you can learn here and how this is immensely valuable when applied to different professions and industries .

How do you see EHL supporting its 25,000+ alumni around the globe ?

MV: To start : it was incredible to learn that no less than 1800 alumni signed up to attend the ' Back to the Roots ' gathering in November in Lausanne What a crowd ! We definitely want to continue to support the development of chapters and events that make our alumni such an incredibly tight - knit and valuable community.

I see EHL Group as an ecosystem where each activity can support and learn from the others . From working alongside our Alumni to define the future of hospitality and support the innovation of the industry, to developing talent and courses for continued professional development, to providing the framework for a mutually beneficial network of passionate people EHL is at the service of its students , alumni and industry partners and can facilitate exchanges amongst them .

This virtuous circle is the case for example with fundraising . On the one hand , financial contributions via the EHL Foundation for Scholarships and Honorary Loans from generous alumni donors help us make EHL more accessible to students who would normally not have the financial means to attend our programs . On the other hand , to drive innovation within hospitality, we have the ambition to create a fund where alumni , together with EHL , can jointly invest in promising startups . This will probably be more commercial in nature and alumni can expect an economic return .

To you , how could EHL impact the hospitality industry ?

MV: Currently, staffing is a big industry issue , so our most obvious goal and contribution is to identify, train , and inject a quality workforce into the hotel industry

At the same time , we need to keep up with the times . It ’s important to bear in mind that work habits as we know have changed To keep staff happy, we must learn to adapt, for example by implementing flexible work schedules , offering upskilling and reskilling options , and making the best use of technology to enhance and improve the experience This brings with it a need to learn how to digitalize certain activities , something that EHL is incorporating into its teachings . For example , some of our lectures now make use of virtual reality technology ( such as for housekeeping training ). This mindset has great potential to positively impact the industry

What do you want to share with the alumni regarding EHLs strategic changes ?

MV: Despite the turbulence caused by the pandemic , EHL has experienced growth in recent years and shown resilience in an industry undergoing major transformation and in a world subject to multiple crisis Hence , this pivotal period is accompanied by some deep reflection on our mission , vision and key objectives to make sure that what we offer at EHL answers the industry ’s needs and aspirations A new Executive Leadership Team has been recently appointed and is designing the Group strategy 2030, exploring new ways and leading its execution .

As I briefly mentioned before , the labor - shortage is a thorny issue that we are well aware of and for which we have a role to play In addition to the Bachelor ' s degree , EHL Group offers academic programs ranging from apprenticeships to master ' s degrees , as well as professional and executive education . We aim to enrich and enlarge this portfolio notably via the accelerated development of our Graduate School and short courses . We are convinced that this will foster lifelong learning and will support the industry to upskill and reskill its manpower, and thus retain talents

And last but not least, I truly believe in the benefits of human - centric leadership style . Many societal signals and trends force us to rethink how we treat ourselves and what we expect from those around us Our new strategy will be inspired by this human centricity and will emphasize something that EHL has been mastering for almost 130 years : human interactions