Download Connection Alumni News 42 - César Ritz Colleges

PEOPLE ‘N‘ STUFF – PROFILE
The road to the world’s southernmost city via
“César Ritz” Colleges – Pablo Bazze
i was about 17 years old when i decided to pursue an education in hospitality, with a view to becoming a hotel
general manager. i started by studying business administration and then went on to see what the world’s top
hospitality schools had to offer, so that i could specialize in the business. After a meeting with the Cultural
representative of the Swiss embassy in Argentina, i decided that “César ritz” Colleges was the school for me.
When I started my postgraduate and
Master’s studies at University Centre
“César Ritz” (UCCR) in Brig at the
age of 23, a whole new world opened
up to me. Many of the best memories
of my life come from that time.
Once I had obtained my postgraduate
diploma, I continued my
career path in the Opryland hotel,
Nashville, USA, working in the VIP
Services Department. It was a great
experience and I learned the true
meaning of attention to detail and
southern hospitality!
Next, I had the chance to run a
small hotel in my own country,
Argentina, with all the stress
and excitement that entails, and
to go into teaching, one of my
10 December 2007 No. 42
passions. Then, at a career fair in
Washington, not only did I sign
a contract to do management
training at La Casa del Zorro,
California, I was also inspired, by
Mr Gutzwiller, Director of UCCR,
to complete my Masters of Science
degree from Manchester Metropolitan
University via UCCR. This is
the academic achievement of which
I am most proud.
After leaving La Casa del Zorro it
was time to go into the fitness industry
and to work for the biggest
gym company in the world: Fitness
First. I was General Manager of
their 2,500-strong club in Palma,
Majorca, for about two years. It was
a most beautiful place to work and
an amazing place to live.
By then, the hospitality industry in
Argentina was booming. There have
never been so many hotels under
construction; this year, 280 more
are under way! It was time to move
back and seize the opportunity. And
things couldn’t have been better. I
was offered the position of General
Manager of a brand new five-star
property – Los Cauquenes Resort and
Spa – down in the world’s southernmost
city, Ushuaia, Argentina.
That was two years ago, and I am
still there. Nowadays, however, I
also manage to fly to Buenos Aires
once a month to do some consultancy
work for a small resort by the sea
and to teach masters-level hospitality
management at the university.
And what’s more, in July I became
daddy to a little boy, Benjamin!
God has been extremely generous
in my life, and, without a doubt, the
key to the door of the “César Ritz”
family was one of the best gifts that
he ever gave me!
pABlo BAZZe
pablo.bazze@ritz.edu
PEOPLE ‘N‘ STUFF – SUCCESS STORIES
“It’s all in the shake” – Peter Van Thiel
peter van thiel, who is originally
from the Netherlands, was one of
our first students. he graduated
from hotel School Alpina in Brig
in 1983 and is now a Corporate
mixologist and director of a Catering
division.
After leaving the hotel School Alpina,
I spent five years working on
cruise ships. I then moved to the
world of American “sit-down fast
food”, before heading to Atlantic
City, New Jersey, where I worked
in the Food and Beverage Departments
of several casinos.
I then signed with a company called
Libre Management and created
Nothing to doubt about – Magdalina Chung’s journey to success
“César ritz” – the name says it
all. prestige, quality, professionalism…
the list goes on. Six years
have passed since i left le Bouveret,
but the memories remain
close to my heart. As a transfer
student from the international
College of management Sydney
(then iCthm), i will always cherish
having become part of the
“César ritz” family. the skills i
learned while in le Bouveret fully
equipped me for a successful career
in the hospitality industry.
I graduated from a Florida university
in 2004 with a Bachelor
of Science degree in hospitality
management and started my career
back home in sunny Malaysia as a
Front Office Agent with Pyramid
Tower at the Sunway Lagoon Resort
hotel. Within a year, I had secured
a challenging managerial position
as Guest Relations Manager with
the hilton Kuala Lumpur. Then I
moved to the Boulevard hotel Kuala
Lumpur as a Duty Manager. Later
a brand new concept for them. I
started by designing cocktails and
finding the right wines to complement
our dishes, and was then promoted
to Corporate Mixologist.
I still work for the company and
am now Director of Operations
in the Catering Division. We are
the sole catering provider at the
National Constitution Center, the
Independence Visitor Center, and
the new Please Touch Museum at
Memorial hall in Philadelphia. Life
is hectic as we cater for up to 2,000
people a day, including presidents
past and present!
here’s my message to everyone
on, after returning to my home city
of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, I was offered
the post of Front Office Manager
at Le Mercure Waterfront Kota
Kinabalu, which was about to open.
After only a few months I was promoted
to Rooms Division Manager.
One should never be afraid of rejection
and, in spite of some people
doubting my capabilities, I never
Magdalina, second from left, with members of her family
at “César Ritz” Colleges: don’t be
afraid, be yourself, work hard, ask
questions, read, cultivate an enquiring
mind, and surround yourself
with people from whom you
can learn. Take it from me: it’s all
in the “shake”!
nlch62@yahoo.com
doubted myself nor the education
I received at “César Ritz”. I will
never forget Mr Martin Kisseleff’s
welcome speech when I started at
Le Bouveret: “Success is a journey,
not a destination,” he said, and he’s
right! “César Ritz” has equipped me
with all the skills I need to be successful
in the hospitality industry.
magdalina.chung@gmail.com
« prestige, quality,
professionalism... the list
goes on.»
Connection alumni news 11