The old and the new generation

Students, alumni, family & friends

What does the future hold for me?

This must be a question that students have as they approach that great moment when you pass from studying to starting your career in the big wide world. Our three "Céar Ritz" Colleges students at the front of the group dressed in their House of Switzerland service uniform, Cathy, Steffi and Jonathan should put this question to the more experienced and now succesful former students surrounding them.

...maybe a fast track hotel career

Jason from Hong Kong, a little taller than the rest in this photo, started his career at the Front Office in the Kempinsky Beijing when he left "César Ritz" Colleges in 2005 and became Asst Front Office Manager in a very short space of time. Headhunted by the Pangu Plaza Seven Star hotel, opposite the Bird's Nest stadium, he is now Front Office Manager. During our 2007 Career Trip to Beijing, we were treated to a tour of both the hotel and apartments in the hotel which is now known as the "dragon building" because of its innovative shape.

...maybe a total change of lifestyle

Coming to "César Ritz" Colleges from Morocco, Tom on the right next to his wife, started his career at the Novotel in Beijing on a management training programme in 2001. After a series of career enhancing moves and also picking up very strong spoken Mandarin, he is now Vice-President of a school in Beijing which teaches hotel management and English. Soon to be a father for the first time, Tom knows exactly what his future will be from October, a beautiful baby and a few sleepless nights for the proud father and mother.

Mr & Mrs Jackson Yang - not discussing their, "new SUV" or "new Mini" dilemma

...maybe use your skills in different areas

The senior alumni in the group is Jackson Yang, formerly General Manager of beautiful hotels in Saipan and Beijing, and now running a property company in Beijing with exclusive villas. Jackson was one of the second intake of students, I won't give the year but it was when we were all a lot younger, and studied in Lax. The only student from Taiwan in the class, he soon noticed that the small village in Valais was populated by more cows than people. How he must miss all that space and fresh air on a busy day in Beijing.

Nicholas - Looking forward to the China vs USA basketball match (obviously taken before the game)

... maybe become a vital part of "César Ritz" Colleges

Many students and alumni across China and Hong Kong know Nicholas as the Director of the "César Ritz" Office in China but he is also an alumni with a wide group of friends and contacts among the "César Ritz" family around the world. Maintaining this network has alway been important for Nicholas both for business and pleasure and if you are in Beijing during the Games you can contact him at luo.guofeng@163.com to catch up on old times or for a tour of the House of Switzerland with him. Nicholas can also give more information about the "César Ritz" Colleges presentation on August 18.

Whatever the future holds; the present is in Beijing and over the next couple of weeks we will be meeting more alumni and familiar faces which will be featured on this blog. So keep checking to see if you recognise anybody and if you are in Beijing, drop in to the House of Switzerland; you could be the next face on the HoS blog.