EuroCHRIE is the European Federation of International CHRIE for hospitality and tourism educators and provides a platform for networking, research, exchange of ideas for hotel management schools and especially members of faculty.

During this year’s congress Martin Kisseleff, President of «César Ritz» Colleges Switzerland, was honoured to receive the EuroCHRIE President’s Award for his life-time contribution to hospitality education.

Martin Kisseleff first made contact with CHRIE in 1987 at the annual conference in Atlanta.  At that time CHRIE was a truly American organisation with 700 US participants versus only 20 non-American members. Today I-CHRIE has over 1400 members worldwide and 155 European.

In 1989, Martin Kisseleff was appointed Director of the Special Interest Group for international members of CHRIE and was instrumental in the creation of EuroCHRIE in 1991, when it was founded in Vevey with the support of Nestlé’s Pro Gastronomia Foundation.

Martin Kisseleff was equally honoured for his contribution to the Swiss Hotel Schools Association (ASEH) where he served as President for 6 years from 2000 - 2006 and, prior to that, as a member of the Board of Directors for 6 years.

The Awards Ceremony took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the presence of 327 European and International hospitality educators.

Martin Kisseleff took the opportunity to thank the «César Ritz» Colleges’ long-term supporters from Washington State University, University of Massachusetts and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for their support, as well as the management and faculty of «César Ritz» Colleges Switzerland.

Dr Wolfgang-D. Petri, Founder and former President of «César Ritz» Colleges Switzerland, also received the EuroCHRIE President’s Award in 2002, and it is the first time in a decade that EuroCHRIE has given its highest award to leaders of the same institution.

This award is a great honour for all at «César Ritz» Colleges Switzerland and its affiliates.

The EuroCHRIE Federation also awarded a lifetime honorary membership to Mr Othmar Sorgenfrei, Executive Director of the Nestlé Pro-Grastronomia Foundation from 1998 – 2006, and Mr Gilles Honegger, Human Resources Director for the ACCOR Group, for their dedication and service to International CHRIE.