If you’re serious about becoming a boutique hotel manager, a five-star education is essential for your new career. That’s because a Master’s degree in International Hospitality Business Management will set you up for success by giving you the tools you need, including leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
If you’re looking for a great place to check in for your degree, look no further - in this article, we’re sharing our five best hospitality grad schools, along with reasons for our choices.
What Determines Excellence In Boutique Hotels?
Guests who choose a
boutique hotel are looking for a memorable experience in terms of both luxury and service. They’re also after a more personal and human experience than they would get from a large, faceless hotel chain. While an element of quirky is often welcomed in a boutique hotel, guests are still expecting service to be more Four Seasons than Fawlty Towers…
So because of this, running a boutique hotel requires different skills - and a different mindset. This is where a fantastic, focused grad school comes in. The institutions in this article offer specialised training and hands-on experience including operations, people management, business fundamentals and guest experience to help you stand out from the crowd when starting your career.
Grad Schools Blending Business and Boutique Culture
1. Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS)
(Best for
learning experience)
As the highest-ranked hotel management school worldwide, this one takes a bit of beating. Switzerland’s reputation for hospitality is legendary - and so is this 12-month postgrad program. As well as receiving top-class training in business and culture, this
hospitality business management course provides inspiration from unique settings including Belle Epoque Caux Palace - the glamorous haunt of the likes of Rudyard Kipling, the Maharajah of Baroda and Prince Ibn Saud. With its blend of traditional hotel management and bang-up-to-date trends, this MA in International Hospitality Business Management is a masterclass for modern hospitality.
Key points: Where high-end luxury meets modern technology, the Swiss Hotel Management School earns its number three in the world QS Hospitality & Leisure Management (20250 ratings and offers an unparalleled learning experience.
2. Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL)
(Best for
overall global reputation)
If you fancy completing your training to a backdrop of medieval architecture and snowcapped mountains, you could consider booking your stay at EHL. For the past seven years, this school, which first opened its doors in 1893, has been ranked number one for hospitality training. With the perfect balance of intense management training and hands-on experience, EHL even boasts a Michelin-starred, student-operated restaurant - Le Berceau des Sens, to take training to the next level.
Key points: Not only is this school ranked number one, it also holds an astonishing 100/100 score in employer reputation. Longevity is just part of the legacy at this industry-leading institution.
3. Les Roches Global Hospitality Education
(Best for
innovation)
This globe-trotting hospitality school has campuses in multiple regions including Spain and Switzerland; allowing unrivalled access to students. 2025’s second-place winner of Hospitality & Leisure Management has a track record that speaks for itself with 94% of its graduates nabbing job offers before turndown time on graduation day. With a focus on high-end luxury, this school is all about the guest experience as it expertly blends old-school management with digital transformation and innovation.
Key points: As well as its ranking and impressive employer reputation (96.1/100), Les Roches’s commitment to the modern hotel operation makes this Swiss institution a first choice for many.
4. Glion Institute of Higher Education
(Best for
employer connection)
With a choice of campuses in Switzerland and the UK, the Glion Institute holds the number six place in the QS rankings (2025) and a majestic Employer Reputation score of 96.4/100 with number three ranking. If you choose to gain your Master’s at this highly regarded school, you can expect a dream team of innovative business management and proper boots-on-the-ground experience. Glion’s reputation for academic excellence and remarkable leadership training is second to none and is the perfect foundation for a career in boutique hotel management.
Key points: On top of its top-class rankings, Glion boasts peerless industry connections in the luxury boutique sector, providing a fast track to success for students.
5. HTMi Switzerland
(Best for an
intimate learning environment)
Boutique hotels are all about the
personal guest experience and HTMi’s intimate setting extends this philosophy to its students. With one-on-one instruction and guidance, HTMi offers postgraduate diplomas and MA/MBA degrees with a focus on boutique hotel management. Small but perfectly formed, this school prides itself on its mentorship as well as its excellent academic reputation and is a great choice for those looking to run smaller luxury hotels.
Key points: A truly immersive learning experience that focuses on the philosophies of fantastic service through personal training and mentorship.
Choosing Your Own Career Path
No boutique hotel is the same and, as such, training needs to encompass so much more than balancing the books and learning customer support techniques. Choosing your hospitality grad school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make and so it’s important to do your research.
Factors such as program duration and location are just the start. You’ll also need to figure out what kind of culture you’re looking for; whether that’s a pristine palace or a bodacious botel. When choosing a school, you will also want to consider the kind of connections that it has as this will determine your prospects on graduation. Finally, before making your shortlist, be sure to carefully read all admission requirements to make sure that you fit the bill.
