Teaching Sustainability in the Hospitality Classroom

Where does sustainability fit within hospitality education?

I think sustainability is a question of mindset that should apply to all aspects of our life – as citizens, employees, employers, consumers and investors. For this reason, teachers have a big responsibility towards their students to help them choose the right values to follow in their lives. At Hotel Institute Montreux, sustainability is being implemented across courses from Food Production Theory all the way to Finance.

Teachers have a big responsibility towards their students to help them choose the right values to follow in their lives.

How is Sustainable Finance taught at Hotel Institute Montreux?

I integrate sustainable finance theories into my Accounting and Finance classes every chance I can focusing on sustainable investment decisions.

We are very lucky to live in Switzerland and have impressive sustainable business leaders as neighbors. Recently we hosted guest speakers who shared their ideas and experiences with our students from Swiss Sustainable Finance and World Wild Fund for Nature.

Typically there is the idea that investors who invest responsibly have lower returns compared to traditional investments. Do you agree with this idea?

No, I think it is quite the opposite. Several academic studies and reports point out that sustainability practices have a positive impact on investment performance. Companies that implement sustainable practices help companies better evaluate future risks, reach their supply chains more efficiently and conserve resources. This can lead to higher profits in the long-term bringing higher returns to the investors in hospitality and beyond.

How do you hope your hospitality students can contribute to a better world using the skills you have taught them?

Everyone can and should contribute to a better world, and the faster we spread the “seeds of sustainability”, the sooner we will harvest its fruits.

As teachers, we have a responsibility towards helping students prepare for their future. My hope by bringing sustainability into my classroom, my students will learn to act in a more sustainable way in their daily lives and become responsible investors as well. Everyone can and should contribute to a better world, and the faster we spread the “seeds of sustainability”, the sooner we will harvest its fruits.