Reggae Night “The Farewell”

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Aida Romeli

For some students it’s very sad and for some it’s electrifying, but definitely a time of change and challenge for everybody.

My lovely readers, this is the farewell for me as Glion’s student. Yes, I have been around for quite a while and I guess some of you already heard too much about me…rsrsrsrs.

Well, unquestionably, it is my second “Moment of Truth”; the one who will give proof to the one year stay in Glion Institute of Higher Education.

Reggae Night was a beautiful and romantic farewell for me and for all those who had completed their assignment at Glion. Jamaican reggae singers, candles, fireworks, nice music, blue sky and happy people. We had it all!

During the last face-to-face chat with some colleagues, the pending question mark was always the internship placement. After all, the most demanding questions are the real purpose of our journey. So many questions about whether or not you find the right internship: Where? Which department? For how long? And the succeeding question: Was it part of your plans?

Personally, I think these are one of the greatest concerns, after your choice for the right hotel school…whether you will conquer your ambitions or, for those who already have, if you’ll be able to manage the task ahead.

Therefore, I was not an exception. But a little bit of persistence, confidence, and luck had to be applied as well.

Where I am right now, it was part of my plans, even though they have changed a bit during my studies, but definitely my second choice; I will be back to you with more details….

Big thanks for those who worked and made this a real opportunity and a very special “Thank you” to Guilhem Chabrat for making it possible.

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Glion Cultural Fair

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Aida Romeli

With one more semester at the end, Glion still celebrating the panorama.

No way, the exams and final projects don’t hold anyone back The Glion Spirit is so immense and intense, this drives us to the halo of excitement and happiness.

As I told you, we never sleep! Too many proposals, too many emotions and for instance you have the feeling that you are alive, again and again…philosophically speaking.
The Glion Cultural fair celebrated the difference, the diversity and culture that constitute its essence and soul.

More than 15 countries were represented in this show, they had to demonstrate the very best from their countries. Among them were; Angola, China, France, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, Switzerland and a Global Village Town who represented worldwide flags.
Under the direction of “Monsieur” Jacques Rioux, the school was the major sponsor of the event, where each country was given a budget and an assistant to provide all the support and help needed.

Starting from finger foods, artifacts, traditional clothes, music, dance, brochures, fact sheets, quizzes, the imagination had to be wide-open.  Stands had to be educative and fun and various prizes were competed for. The best all – round stand, best creative stand, best team food, best traditional dress and the best atmosphere stand.

It was emotional to see how strong are the roots, how people were proud of their culture, and how they tried to share these feelings and values with others. Imagine you are in a completely different place, country, definitely homesick and suddenly you have the opportunity to go back home for one day and take all your colleagues with you, showing them the very best of your country!? Yes, it was what I felt. It is what Glion gives you : “A Home in Switzerland”.

But now, let me tell you who are the winners of the big day.

The Best All Round Stand – Russia
The Best Creative Stand – China and Philippines
The Best Team Food – Switzerland
The Best Traditional Dress – Angola and Ukraine
The Best Atmosphere Stand – India

One advice, for the next year, make sure you take part and  do your best to be a winner…even though everybody knew that. Being one of Glion, is already being a “winner”.

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Miss Glion

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Aida Romeli

I am lost somewhere in between; blame it on the amount of events and activities taking part in the school.

Glion, it is not only a place where you get to know everything about the Hospitality industry, it is also a place where you actually need to get busy and play a part in the real and restless  life of the industry.  Glion is in fact “a place to be”.

Just to name a few of the themed events we’ve seen: I love Mondays, Mixology Exhibition, Glion Champs, Casino Night, Hookahs and Martinis Night, Cocktail Party, and now the Cultural Fair! The number is countless. Careful, don’t be fooled by the themes of the events. These are strictly professional and academic undertakings and the group of students organizing each event are being evaluated and then graded.

Miss Glion was an ESE Project, headed by Wanda Gabai,  an amazing girl and entrepreneurial spirit, with one of the most inspiring ideas ever. She is a team player and born to triumph.

The event was a fashion show where your body or beauty was not the main characteristic judged, but indeed, your taste and perception of the fashion world. It was a social and sustainable event based on the practice of sharing and communion. The aim of the fashion show was to re-create the mythical atmosphere of the Rock Era, Disco Dance and contemporary styles, characterized by excess in fashion and vogue.

The  models, one of which male, performed on the catwalk wearing authentic Vintage clothing from the 70’s and 80’s. They had everything needed to make you a true “Cindy Lauper”, which made this event colorful, vibrant, and simply chic. The catwalk represented for both our models and our audience a moment of full expression, creativity and amusement.

The outcome of the event was a great success. The Club hosted around 250 students from the Hospitality and the Events, Sports and Entertainment programs. Moreover, the organization of the event was an opportunity for the coordinator to socialize with others, learn from different cultures and backgrounds, share moments of happiness, fun and most important a chance to make great friendships.

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Break Time part 2

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Aida Romeli

We all know how great the promise of the mid-term or summer break sounds to students, especially when you have been bumped up with projects, exams, and meetings all semester long.

The feeling is just relaxing. Now, you start thinking about your vacation, your itinerary, and these fabulous places you saw in the magazine that captivated your imagination.   When you think about sharing it with yours friends or classmates, perfect!

So, you virtually take a map, point out your favorites destinations, discuss it with your friends and finally the group takes a final decision. It sounds easy, right?
Sure, I did it this time with my friends, and the experience was amazing. Well, personally, certain passions are just a must and when you share the same passions with your friends… it is sure they will become a reality.

It was a one week break and it really was worth it for everybody. I have talked with classmates that visited 3, 4 and even 5 countries or cities in one week. I could understand that it is definitely possible. Definitely, this is a great thing about Switzerland’s geographic location.

Anyway, this time I won’t talk too much, since the adventure was astonishing and I expect the pictures will speak for it. Even though my photography work may need some improvement, the night’s shots were my curiosity and among the different destinations, I hope you will guess and enjoy.

And please remember, for the next time (I would say Easter in few days) you just need to free your imagination, take a map and press a button, and GO.

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Ski Trip

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Aida Romeli

Among the infinite activities and leisure trips organized by Glion Sports Events and Activities Department, the Ski trip was one of the exciting experiences scheduled last week…of course, after all, this is Switzerland.

Much to my surprise, after waiting for quite a long time, the snow finally came back to its original space. Yes, there was no snow in the mountains!!! Surely hard to believe, and even more, when you think about Switzerland and automatically its connection to the Alps.

For me, it was not so bad since most of the time I found myself delighted with the gleam of the sun. But the truth is that I couldn’t hold myself back anymore, I was tired of being restricted from new escapades.

This time, Antoine Schepens, the person in charge of “Adventures and Fun” within the school, took us to Les Crosets (Portes du Soleil), a ski resort station that crosses both Switzerland and France.

The trip didn’t exclude anybody. Whether with or without experience, everybody was invited. From the very beginners, to advanced level, the excursion included 2 hours of ski/snowboard lessons with professional instructors, followed by free time on slopes.

Me, I’ve chosen the snowboard, and I am proud of myself after several catastrophic and funny falls, in the fluffy snow.

As the fun couldn’t last forever, some of us ended up having a relaxing Thermal Bath, another pleasure arranged by Mr. Schepens, but this is another story, another exciting moment.

Bye for now, I hope you enjoy the video.

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Montreux: Second Destination, Second Home

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Aida Romeli

Montreux, the city of exuberance and serenity, the well-loved city of Freddy Mercury, is my second home at this time.

The gracious scenery is just breathtaking. From Glion campus, you have this spectacular view that’s enviable to anyone and undeniably inspirational for the students. It is a pure splendor.

Montreux and its surrounding region is considered as the pearl of Switzerland and being here after these few weeks I couldn’t agree more.

Geographically set on the shores of Lake Geneva, this city with more than 24,000 inhabitants belongs to the Canton of Vaud with a microclimate that looks just perfect for me. Yes, Swiss weather is something that still amazes me. Even in the winter time, it is certain you will get several weeks of sunny days!!

Montreux is definitely a city of celebrities, names such Lord Byron, Charles Chaplin (in Vevey), Sissi, Shania Twain and again, Freddy Mercury also gave their devotion to the town. With its extreme rhythm and music soul, it is the host of the great Jazz Festival with more than 45,000 visitors each year.

The Swiss Riviera is also proud for having the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO world heritage site that one of the must see. Another must see would be Chateau of Chillon, this passionate castle built in a rocky islet.

No matter the seasons, Montreux is a constant passion, with its great restaurants (as far as I know, 20 registered in Michelin), the winter sports, the museums and art galleries, markets and the vineyards.

Adding to all this, the way of life here relies on its tradition of opulence, wellbeing and peacefulness.

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The 2011 Academic year just began

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Aida Romeli

And here I am again, walking in this superb view, and looking at all these formal outfits that surround us, and in each intersection crossing new faces belonging to the future world of hospitality. You guessed it, I am in Glion again, the new academic year just started.

Glion will never stop surprising you. This time, the Welcome Day was full of activities and events. It began with the traditional Welcome from the Dean, the integration activities and parties organized by students, for students.

At one point, all students were invited to take part in the “Integration Day” and many of them had the opportunity to choose how they wanted to contribute, whether as Ambassadors, Events Managers and Hoteliers. All they were asking for was your availability, positive attitude, punctuality and of course a big shiny smile.

The most memorable event was the first semester reception for the new Glion students. I suppose they were not expecting such greetings, not only from the school staff, but also from their new classmates. For example, Regina Sologubova didn’t think twice when she was confronted with the idea of making the new student’s first impression more memorable. “This is not only a big asset for them but for me as well, as an apprentice of the hospitality world”, she said.  What a way to start training and preparing the student’s cordiality!! “My words”:-).

Besides welcoming students at the Student Front Desk, Regina’s responsibilities were to provide information about the school’s layout, activities, and any support regarding questions about the student life.

After that, they were guided to their new home by other students….

In another area, this gentleman, Joseph Boustany gave his support in service.

Joseph spent the day attending to students and visitors needs in the school’s restaurants. Walking from table to table, he had to make sure the guests were properly served, pleased and that nothing was missing.

After the day, he was exhausted, but, the smile on his face told us that the day was simply worth it. Thanks for that Joseph and Regina, we really appreciate your help.

Wishing you all a happy and successful semester!

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Happy New Year!!!

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Aida Romeli

After few weeks of absence I’m back again with more journeys of exciting stories and experiences.

I hope I didn’t disappoint you, since I was on holidays and some things didn’t happen as planned.

I left school for 5 weeks holiday in Thailand, this amazing country, the choice of some Glion fellows for their internship.

A country of escapes, Thailand is not only about sun, beaches and coconut trees or even the famous massages. Thailand combines culture, tradition and history. It is a place where the unexpected is to be found and the beauty is certainly a constant.

From the Northern Chiang Mai to the Andaman Sea, each city is a track, full of surprises. Each city and island has its own character, charm, mystery and involvement. No, way you would confuse Phuket with Bangkok or even Ko Tao with Ko Phi Phi, the small British colony as I used to call it. It is like you are jumping from one country to another while discovering the best the kingdom has to offer.

From the night markets to skyscraper’s lounges, Thai food to cooking classes, long tail boats to tuk tuk, the loud techno sound systems of reputed clubs with international DJ’s such Bob Sinclair and Roger Sanchez, everything and every day is always a great adventure.

All over the country, hospitality is a real art where a smile is a daily rule in order to respect and offer a warm welcome to those who come to visit and discover the nation.

Definitely a good choice for anyone who wants to experience the world in the hospitality field, as you will deal with an extremely different atmosphere, where the art of being hospitable is a genuine root.

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Lecturers at a Glance Part II

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Aida Romeli

Mr. Schofield, a very tactical and operational teacher.

My induction with him was in Operational Management. Yes, that means almost every day you will need to make real-time management decisions and you better be assertive. You will be dealing with a person who has ages of experience in top positions in hotel management and that means you may hear a big “Wrong” at your statements, even when you think your solutions are the suitable ones for a specific scenario.

Be aware and make sure you know the most recent happenings and trends in hospitality, because you could be the next to give a brief explanation about what is going on in hospitality world.

So, let me introduce him to you…

Name: Edmond Schofield

Country: UK

Why Glion: Teaching is a very rewarding profession with a huge responsibility and opportunity to influence (hopefully positively) the lives and future careers of our students.

The School: What I like most about the school is the total environment of learning and teaching, obviously the subject area having worked in hotels, and the ambience of having enthusiastic and diverse students and staff around. A great package really (and unlike in hotels I don’t have to work Christmas!!).

Hobbies: My hobbies are mainly sporting as I enjoy Golf and skiing and still try to play a bit of seniors football.

That is everything for now and I hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about some of the great lecturers you may find in the school. I feel we all are lucky to have them as our guides and inspiration for our careers. So, a big “Thank you” to all of them!

Since we all are leaving for the holidays, I will come back soon with some highlights about my next stage.

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Lecturers at a Glance

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Aida Romeli

While I’m thinking about the hard times, the pressures, the ups and downs, the successes, and the credits….there is no way I could complete the semester without saying a few words about the ones who are responsible for, and contributed the most to, me achieving my goals.

I would like to thank Glion’s fabulous group of lecturers for all the knowledge, aptitude and experience they have shared with me, preparing me for this industry.

I need to talk to you about the brilliant Mr. Eric Mabilon, the respected and fearsome tutor who pleased me with the first impressions about hospitality and the school.

Or Mr. Marc Herbin! It was love at first sight. Students love his class which is delivered to us full of exuberance, extravagance and taste.

And Mr. Edmond Schofield; his charm and power is passed-on through his class by real life sharing. Deadly convincing, he is the one with whom you will want to discuss hotel operations management.

Fortunately for us students, the list of lecturers is huge. Unfortunately, it is impossible to describe every person on this magnificent board of lecturers, who make Glion such a distinguished place to study. So, as today, I will start with:


Mr. Mark Herbin: Named as the one of the Glory Boy’s, my first contact with him was with Food and Beverage Introduction Course.

And yes, in his class, students get to see him with these elegant Sommelier suits, which definitely is a plus for student’s happiness.

Nationality: France
Why Glion: Because it is a world famous hospitality university, based in a wonderful location and backed by one of the most prominent University groups, Laureate Hospitality Education.
Additionally, great importance is still given to the operations that you need to master to make the best use of all other management orientated courses given in the cursus and that mark the high level of the school.
What does he likes most about the school: The high level of professionalism I share in my appointed office, the diversity of the students (and don’t tell anyone but also the view).

Hobbies: Cooking, my wine cellar, my kids, relaxing, fishing and gardening. I like to do something and share the result of that work with others!

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