Faculty

Ms. Claire Jollain holds master’s degrees in both education and marketing, with extensive managerial and entrepreneurial experience. For over 10 years, she has organized prestigious events with high-profile clients in Europe, from fashion shows and celebrity weddings to seminars and film festivals. A Gen Z expert, Ms. Jollain was the Assistant Dean of HIM for 3 years before ascending to her current position as Dean.

Mr. Michael Heinrich joined HIM as a lecturer in 2007 and became Program Head for Languages in 2011. He was promoted to his current position of Program Manager in 2014. As well as his extensive managerial experience in the Swiss hotel industry, he holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and is a member of the Amicale Internationale des Chefs de Réception.

Antoine Casanova-Mazet has degrees in both science and communications. This dual background, coupled with his passion for innovation, has led to his interest in digital transformation. He was recently certified by MIT Professional Education for their program “Digital Transformation: From AI and IoT to Cloud, Blockchain and Cybersecurity.” 

Dr. Rebecca Wallace has a B.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD from the Natural Environmental Research Council unit at the University of Sheffield. After working on a task force that implements new technology, she began project-managing global systems for an international bank. She was the Northwood University Program Manager at Hotel Institute Montreux since 2012.

After graduating from business school, Mr. Bruno Dard began his career in the watch industry and spent 20 years developing luxury watch brands. After eight years of strategic brand building for companies such as Frédérique Constant and Alpina Geneva, he became an executive board member at Hermès, elevating the watch division by establishing clearer product offer and a more selective distribution network.

After gaining a BA in European Business Administration, Ms. Alexia Green worked in marketing, advertising, and communication roles in the UK, France, and Germany. With a career spanning pharmaceutical, technology, and art sectors, Alexia is Head of Communications for a contemporary art gallery in Geneva. Passionate about the power of art, Alexia brings commercial experience to complement the study of art history within the wider HIM BBA degree program.

Ms. Thi Lan Anh Ho holds a Master’s degree in Accounting from Australia and a diploma in accounting from Switzerland. She is pursuing a Master’s in Finance at the University of Neuchâtel. With over six years of private sector experience, she brings a strong emphasis on practical application to her teaching. Her expertise in Accounting Standards, particularly GAAP and IFRS, allows her to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world accounting practices, preparing students to understand the language of business.

After pursuing a BA in European Business Studies, Ms. Linda Hurlimann kicked off her career traveling throughout Europe organizing MICE events. She holds a master's degree  in intercultural communication and currently divides her time between teaching cultural diversity and business ethics,  and completing a PGD in Applied and Professional Ethics from Leeds University.

Dr. Ruby Khurdi is an award-winning innovative educationist, TEDx speaker, emotional intelligence expert, and acclaimed international keynote speaker. She joined HIM in 2018 and her teaching style focuses on gamification, team-building, and perceptual learning. She holds PGCert in Higher Education from Derby University, UK and Doctorate in Business Administration from American University in Switzerland.

After working for over 25 years as a Desk Manager and Bonds, Equities, and Derivatives Broker, Mr. Denis Klotz joined Hotel Institute Montreux in 2020. He has an MBA in Finance from the University of Hartford and completed programs in Finance from IMD Lausanne and in FinTech from Harvard Business School. He is an expert for the “Bilateral Assistance and Capacity Building for Central Banks" program funded by Swiss SECO.

Dr. David McPartland has more than 15 years of experience as a lecturer and facilitator. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Hotel and Catering Management, a Masters in Corporate Strategy  and People Management, and a Doctor of Education. He has a diverse business background spanning across multiple industries from travel and tourism, advertising, to the education sector.

Ms. Meryl Sammarcelli holds a BA in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Clermont-Ferrand. She is currently finishing a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Research. She started at HIM in 2023 as a French lecturer and now also fulfills the role of academic assistant, blending teaching with academic administration. Ms. Meryl Sammarcelli is focused on innovative teaching strategies and language acquisition. 

After working for over 28 years as an executive in wealth management with three large international banks, Peter (Pierre-M.) Sigrist joined the Hotel Institute Montreux in 2024. He holds a Master of Law (M. Law) from the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland and a Master of International Business Law (LL.M.) from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. He worked in Geneva, Zurich, Dubai, and Canada. He mainly specialized in wealth management, cross-border transactions, international trade, and business law contracts.

Having received his BA in Linguistics and teaching qualification in the UK, Mr. Ben Smith moved to Switzerland and joined Swiss Education Group as a lecturer and course developer in the English Foundation Program. After over five years developing and teaching on the program, he completed his MA in Higher Education, before moving onto his current position, where he teaches Applied Business Research and Business Communications to first year students on HIM’s BBA program.

Nora holds a BSc. in International Hospitality Management from EHL and a Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Esade. Her teaching journey began as a Teaching Assistant at EHL, where she discovered her passion for teaching. After gaining experience in Venture Building, Nora founded Switzerland’s first facial gym, successfully expanding it to four cities. She then returned to Esade to share her insights through guest lectures in the Masters and MBA programs. As the Co-founder of The Girl Code, her latest venture, Nora is creating transformative events across Switzerland, empowering women to expand their social circles, explore new experiences, and connect in meaningful ways.

Mr. Gedeon Tumong is a Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) candidate, and is completing a Master in Public Finance from the University of Lausanne. He holds a MBA from Schiller International University, certificates in Market Intelligence and Financial Regulations from New York Stock Exchange, and the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington DC. He has worked for international organizations such as the UN and Texaco Oil and founded a car dealership.

With a master's degree in history from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, a book and several articles published in academic journals on historical and philosophical topics, Catalina holds as well as a FSEA Certificate in Adults Education and an EUROLTA Certificate for Language Teachers from the ICC (International Language Association). She has over 20 years of experience in the higher education field, as a teacher in different countries and in managerial positions. Fluent in Spanish, French, German, English, and Italian, she has been teaching Spanish for almost 30 years and French for more than 8 years at HIM.

Ms Bjorklund holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of Derby. She served as Academic Director of Hotel Institute Montreux (HIM) from 2013 to 2023, having successfully authored key developments for the overall development and positioning of this brand globally.  Ms Bjorklund has extensive experience in the hospitality industry, managing hotels and resorts in Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Ms. Marie Tirvengadum holds a Bachelor in Language Studies from the University of Essex and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business from the University of North London. Throughout her studies she worked in the restaurant sector and eventually managed a restaurant chain. She also worked in banking in the UK and after moving to Switzerland she joined Kestrel SA - a wealth management company. She joined the Career Services Department at IHTTI, School of Hotel Management and has ten years of experience in career coaching.

Ms. Alyaa Fathi has been working for over seven years in the hospitality & event management sectors in the Gulf region & Europe. She holds an MBA from the American University in Switzerland and is certified in Train the Trainer, Event Management & Wedding Planning. Her professional experience has covered fields such as international enrolment and student recruitment in higher education, and Catering & Sales for five-star properties such as the Four Seasons in Milan, Marriot Hotel in Doha, and launched soft & grand opening Fairmont Hotel in UAE.