The Swiss Hotel School in Randburg opened its doors in 1995. The curriculum and educational philosophy were modeled on that of the Hotel School Belvoirpark in Zurich where the founder, JüRG Vontobel had been Director for 10 years. Enrolling small numbers of students each year the school quickly found favour with the Johannesburg hotel industry for the competence and “can-do” attitude of its students. Returning each year to his native Switzerland, Vontobel was able to maintain the currency of the educational offering adding elements and refinements each year. Through maintaining his contacts with Swiss Hoteliers and immigration authorities he was also able to establish work placement opportunities for second-year students. Graduates of the School have been singularly successful in securing career opportunities both locally and overseas and form a growing reference group for new students. In January 2005 leadership of the School passed to Nicholas S. Martin whose experience in the international hospitality industry and commitment to providing world-class hospitality education ensures that the School continues to meet the needs of each generation of new students and the industry it serves. Different from local schools the SHS programme offers high levels of faculty attention through more classroom hours, small groups, good practice facilities and strong general education component through such subjects as Manage Yourself and foreign languages, By January 2006 the original 2-year diploma was aligned with the National Qualification Framework (NQF) and re-launched as a three-year programme. In September of the same year, the School was provisionally accredited by Umalusi, the appointed quality assurer of the Department of Education, Further Education and Training. In June 2007 the School moved to spacious new premises down the road in Ferndale which offer enhanced practical training facilities, spacious teaching and recreation areas and first-class secure parking.