EHL and NYU's Preston Robert Tisch Center joined forces organizing a panel discussion on Sustainable Hospitality

The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the world's first hotel school founded in 1893, organized a panel discussion on Friday, November 11 in conjunction with the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management of the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) that brought experts from both sides of the Atlantic together to discuss sustainable hospitality. This event followed the recent creation of EHL's New York-Lausanne Society in collaboration with the Swiss Consulate General in New York and Presence Switzerland. The aim of this association is to promote academic and economic collaboration and exchange in the fields of innovation and entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry between Switzerland and the US.

The forum, entitled "Sustainable Hospitality: Green Innovation in Practice", took place at the NYU Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for University Life. This topic represents an important challenge for the hospitality industry today, and has also been designated a key issue at EHL during its current academic year. The NYU-SCPS faculty panel was represented by Constantine Kontokosta, Clinical Assistant Professor at the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and Director of the NYU Schack Center for the Sustainable Built Environment, and Sharr Prohaska, Clinical Associate Professor in hospitality and tourism management at the NYU-SCPS Tisch Center. Speakers were Claude Béglé, Ph.D., CEO of Symbioswiss, as well as Professor Frédéric Delley, head of Innovation and Creativity at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (INTEHL). The panel was presided over by Hervé Houdré, regional director and general manager of InterContinental New York Barclay.

Ambassador François Barras, Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, as well as Professor Ray F. Iunius, Ph.D., EHL Deputy General Director, and Robert Boland, J.D., Academic Chair and Clinical Associate Professor of NYU-SCPS Tisch Center, made opening remarks.

The faculty panel was followed by a student and alumni panel discussion on the issue of green hospitality and innovation. Eric Ricaurte, an M.S. graduate in tourism management from NYU-SCPS, and Matthieu Chapuis, a current EHL student undertaking an internship in New York were among those taking part. Finally, the event was rounded off by an audience question and answers session and closing remarks, followed by a reception for guests and speakers. Approximately 300 professors, students and entrepreneurs attended the event. The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne was honoured to partner with New York University, the Swiss Consulate General in New York, and Presence Switzerland.

The EHL delegation seized the opportunity to meet with distinguished representatives of the Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management, the Stern School of Business and with the Swiss Society in New York for potential future collaborations.

"At EHL we have integrated Social Responsibility into all our activities, from education to operations and a Committee tracks green progress. It was interesting to hear US perspectives and challenges as we move forward to a greener 21st century throughout the world," said Anouck Weiss, Director of Communications for Ecole hotėlière de Lausanne (EHL).

Should you wish to become a partner of our 'New York-Lausanne Society', Stefan Fraenkel, Director of Product Development and Karen Undritz, International Partnership Coordinator, Business Development and Marketing Department ([email protected]) will be happy to answer your questions.