Inauguration of ESSEC-IMHI Hospitality Hall of Honor during Class of 2014 Graduation
Paris, July 16, 2014. – The ESSEC-IMHI Class of 2014 graduation marked a new beginning, not only for recent graduates, but for the program as well, which inaugurated the ESSEC-IMHI Hospitality Hall of Honor.
The Class of 2014, the 32nd class of the ESSEC MBA in Hospitality Management (IMHI), graduated on Wednesday, July 9th. Charles Lüthi (IMHI 1983), president of the Alumni Association, opened the ceremony at the prestigious Automobile Club de France, of which he is also the Director & General Secretary. Jean-Michel Blanquer, Dean of ESSEC Business School, addressed the students about ESSEC's core values of a pioneering spirit, service, and excellence that will serve them in their future careers.
Professor Nicolas Graf, Academic Director of the ESSEC MBA in Hospitality Management (IMHI), then announced the official launch of the ESSEC-IMHI Hall of Honor. Every year, one to three individuals will be inducted in recognition of their significant professional achievements and contributions to ESSEC-IMHI and the hospitality industry. The first professionals inducted this year were Robert Beck (IMHI co-founder), Dominique Xardel (IMHI co-founder), and Puneet Chhatwal (IMHI 1991), CEO Steigenberger Hotel Group and godfather of the Class of 2014. The two co-founders of IMHI were a normal choice for the inauguration of the Hall of Honor. The induction of Puneet Chhatwal, an alumnus who has worked closely with the school for many years and who has hired many IMHI alumni, will pave the way for the future induction of alumni who have significantly contributed to ESSEC-IMHI as well as to the industry.
Families, friends, faculty and staff attended this special evening to celebrate the students' achievements. The academic awards for top-ranked students were given to Maxence Valentin (2 year track) and Claire Gibaru (1 year track). The award for Hospitality Excellence was given to Gabriella de la Torre.
Professor Peter O'Connor, Dean of Academic Programs at ESSEC, closed the ceremony by reminding the students of how much they had learned, not only about the hospitality industry, but about themselves as well. As the graduates embark on careers around the world, he reminded them that relationships are at the heart of hospitality and to keep in touch.
About ESSEC Business School
Founded in 1907, ESSEC is one of the world's top management schools and holds the "triple crown" accreditation from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA. With 6,660 students; a faculty comprised of 163 full-time professors, 19 of which are emeritus professors, in France and Singapore, recognized for both the quality and influence of their research; a wide range of management training programs; partnerships with the world's best universities; and a network of 60,000 alumni, ESSEC continues to foster a tradition of academic excellence and a spirit of openness in the fields of economics, social sciences and innovation. In 2005, ESSEC opened a campus in Asia, ESSEC Asia-Pacific. ESSEC's operations in Asia Pacific, strategically located in Singapore, present the perfect foothold for ESSEC to be part of the vibrant growth in Asia and to bring its expertise to the expanding region. Additionally, in 2017 ESSEC opened a new campus in Rabat, Morocco, ESSEC Africa. ESSEC's international expansion allows students and professors to study and understand the economic forces at work in the different regions of the world. For any additional information, please visit www.essec.edu.
