This week we met Mette, a committed and lively Danish student with a passion for hospitality. Mette is now president of César Ritz College’s student ambassador forum and one day wants to open her own hotel. In this interview, Mette talks about her program for international business operations in hotel and tourism management, life at Le Bouveret and her future plans.

Hi Mette! What is it like to live in Le Bouveret as a student?

I really love the atmosphere here because it’s such a small and cozy town and everyone knows each other. Even if you go to the local park or to a grocery store, you will always see familiar faces. And I think it’s a really good place to study as well because you don’t have too many distractions. Well… Maybe apart from the spectacular view of the lake and the mountains that I can admire right from my window. It’s super nice.

What does your day look like?

Usually I’m pretty busy… It feels like there’s always something to do! I have one to three classes per day and in between I either study or plan for work at the Student Ambassador Forum (SAF). Being chairman of SAF takes up most of my time. However, I enjoy the responsibility because I like to help and be part of a community. And then of course my friends and I try to travel around Switzerland and enjoy it as much as possible while we are here. So you can safely say that my life here is absolutely fantastic!

What kind of work does the Student Ambassador Forum do?

So SAF is a link between the students and the teachers at the faculty. As chairman, I lead the entire team, namely the so-called ambassadors who are each responsible for different work areas at the school. For example, there are event ambassadors who plan all events on campus. The Social Media Ambassadors of course manage our social media accounts and inform students of what is important, and so on. Then we have academic ambassadors who make sure the students are doing well and who are always ready to help if there is a problem with a teacher.

It’s nice to know that you have a safe place where you can express your honest feelings!

Exactly. That is what makes our work at SAF meaningful.

Is Switzerland a popular choice for students from Denmark?

Actually not at all. When it comes to foreign travel, for example, it’s usually either a sun holiday in Greece or Spain or skiing in Norway or Austria.

Why do you think that is so?

I don’t think they know how beautiful Switzerland is! As simple as that. My friends and family back home are constantly commenting on how amazing my social media posts are!

How did the idea of ​​studying in Switzerland come about?

At some point I learned that the Swiss education in hospitality is well known internationally. I then contacted the Swiss Education Group (SEG) and paid a visit when it was open house (just before the lock-down).

What made you finally decide to enroll?

As you may know, higher education in Denmark is free. So you can imagine that deciding to study in Switzerland was a very big step for me. But I had a very strong feeling that this is exactly the way I want to go, so I was very sure about it. It’s an investment in my life and I honestly think it’s worth it.

And what is included in your study package?

In addition to the education itself, the tuition fee also includes daily meals, good individual accommodation near the school, the uniform and a lot of different student activities. It’s so convenient because I don’t have to worry about it ever, everything is covered by the school.

How do you think studying hospitality differs from other programs?

Well, since I just mentioned food, I think we have a pretty unique situation when it comes to that. We have three types of restaurants on campus: a typical buffet restaurant, a fine dining restaurant and a super fine dining restaurant. They are designed for culinary students to learn how to cook in a restaurant environment, and for hospitality students to understand how to provide the highest level of service. Everyone can see how the students cook, and the students can also sign up to serve the restaurant’s customers, ie. students, lecturers and university staff. I don’t think you will find this in other types of programs.

When you study hospitality, what do you actually learn during the lessons?

The first half of the year is more about front-office, service, wine and drinks, fine dining and the like. Right now we have a lot of mathematics in macro and micro economics, financial accounting and so on. However, my absolute favorite course was room layout because that’s the major I expect to go in. However, I’m also super excited about the strategy-related courses that are coming up next.

Now that you have recently done your first internship in Zurich, how do you think the Swiss hospitality culture differs from the Danish one?

Culturally, the countries are quite similar. But when it comes to hospitality, I feel that Switzerland is on the next level.

Are there any restrictions on where you can do your internship?

Not really. The companies do not necessarily have to be partners of SEG, so the options are many. If a company is a partner of SEG, it is of course helpful, but if you have your eyes on somewhere else, you are welcome to apply there. However, the school must approve it to ensure that students receive a high-quality learning experience.

What do the internship arrangements usually look like? For example, if you do an internship at a hotel, do you get to stay in one of their rooms?

It really depends. For example, when I had my first internship, I had really good conditions: I received a high salary, lots of tips and also had accommodation in the hotel. In addition, they had a staff restaurant with good food and lower prices. In my case, the conditions were probably better than for a typical internship elsewhere.

I know, for example, that Switzerland is one of the countries where you can actually get a paid internship. For example, if I go to the Caribbean, I’m sure I could practice for a whole year without getting any money at all. But then maybe they would cover part of the expenses such as food and accommodation. Whereas in other places you might get a salary, but then you have to find your own home.

What are your plans after graduation?

After my bachelor’s studies, I immediately want to get out into the real world. I am thinking of getting a job as a receptionist at a well-known hotel chain, and then work my way up to the front desk and eventually to a position as a hotel manager. I am also thinking of doing a master’s program.

However, my long-term goal is to start my own hotel. I can imagine having a small family-owned place with a personal atmosphere and good relations with the guests. However, I think there is a lot I can learn by first working at a large hotel chain. So my main plan is to gather as much experience as possible and learn from the best before opening my own hotel.

Many SEG students are particularly interested in the luxury industry. Is it something you are also drawn to?

Absolutely. I feel that the luxury segment is one of the reasons I am here at the César Ritz.

For example, if I had studied hospitality in Denmark, I could of course work as a receptionist for a hotel chain. But if I study here, I have the opportunity to work for the best luxury brands. For that reason alone, I would like to take advantage of the unique opportunities available and gain professional experience in this industry.

What would you say to the students who are currently deciding to start at SEG?

I would say that if you are passionate about hospitality, César Ritz Colleges is the perfect place. Also, because you study abroad, I think you gain so much more experience and mature so quickly compared to studying in an environment you already know so well. For me, it is such a life experience to experience another country as beautiful as Switzerland.