International Management Institute Switzerland
IMI International Management Institute Switzerland was founded in 1991 on the shores of Lake Lucerne and has deliberately stayed small ever since, capping enrolment at around 220 students per semester to preserve a genuinely personalised approach to hospitality education.
The only school with its own historic training hotel
IMI is the only management school in Switzerland with its own historic four star training hotel, Hotel Seeburg, where students translate classroom theory into live business performance rather than simulated exercises. The Kastanienbaum campus itself sits on the banks of Lake Lucerne, overlooked by the peaks of Pilatus and Rigi, giving students a genuinely alpine Swiss hospitality setting for their studies.
UK validated degrees, genuinely small classes
All degree programmes are validated by Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, an institution with over two hundred years of academic heritage, giving graduates an internationally recognised qualification alongside Swiss hospitality training. With students representing more than 40 nationalities and a deliberately low staff to student ratio, IMI offers a family style learning environment that larger hospitality schools cannot easily replicate.
Studying at IMI Luzern offers several distinct strengths:
- The only Swiss management school with its own historic training hotel
- Degrees validated by Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
- A deliberately capped, personalised class size
- A genuinely alpine campus on the shores of Lake Lucerne
- Students representing more than 40 nationalities
A launchpad into hospitality, business and culinary careers
Graduates move into hotel, hospitality, business and culinary leadership roles worldwide, carrying with them genuine live hotel operating experience and a UK validated qualification. For candidates seeking a hospitality education with real personal attention, IMI Luzern offers a distinctive path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is headhunting?
Headhunting is the direct, proactive approach of specific professionals for a specific role, rather than waiting for applications. It is common for senior, scarce or confidential positions. CourtesyMasters has practised headhunting and direct sourcing for hospitality since 1999, always discreetly and with respect for everyone involved.
What is a boutique executive search firm?
A boutique executive search firm is a small, specialised practice that takes on a limited number of assignments with senior attention, in contrast to large, volume-driven firms. CourtesyMasters has worked this way since 1999: a dedicated team, deep hospitality roots and personal involvement from first briefing to final placement. Read more about us.
What is the difference between executive search and recruitment?
Recruitment typically fills open vacancies through advertising and applications. Executive search works the other way around: a consultant proactively identifies and approaches accomplished professionals, including those not actively looking, and guides both sides through a confidential, structured process. CourtesyMasters combines both disciplines, always with a hospitality focus.
What is executive search?
Executive search is a specialised form of recruitment for senior and hard-to-fill positions. Instead of waiting for applications, a search partner proactively identifies, approaches and assesses proven professionals, often confidentially. CourtesyMasters has applied this craft exclusively to hospitality since 1999, through a structured six-step methodology. Discover more about executive search services.
How can I report recruitment fraud or impersonation involving CourtesyMasters?
If you receive a suspicious message or offer that claims to come from CourtesyMasters, please contact us directly before responding. We will confirm whether the communication is genuine and take action to protect you.
Where is CourtesyMasters headquartered?
CourtesyMasters is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and works internationally from hubs in Madrid, Florence, Rome, London, Monaco and Cannes. See our locations for the full overview.
When was CourtesyMasters founded?
CourtesyMasters was founded in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in 1999. From Rotterdam to the world: over more than twenty-five years we have grown into an international hospitality search partner built on trust and discretion, working today from our headquarters in The Hague. Read more in our story.