The Sun Shines for CTH’s Visit to the 2017 IMI Graduation in Lucerne

26th October 2017
Swiss Article IMG (6)Swiss Article IMG (8)Swiss Article IMG (7)Swiss Article IMG (4) In October, Simon Cleaver, Director of Membership at CTH, was invited to attend and present CTH Diplomas at the 2017 IMI Graduation Ceremony held at Luzern’s stunning Palace-Casino. The ceremony, which celebrates the achievements of their BA (Hons), Postgraduate Diploma and MBA students, brought together over 200 graduates, guests and VIPs. Marking the official point at which a ‘student’ becomes an ‘alumni’, the ceremony is always an emotional event and is a chance for the IMI family to reunite before the next crop of graduates enter the wider world of work. From the industry, they were delighted to welcome Professor Martin Barth, President and CEO of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne, and Ms. Katrin Melle, Regional Vice-President of Human Resources at Hyatt International. Both guest speakers delivered inspirational speeches drawing from their vast experience in the industry and recognising that, in many ways, graduation is only the first step on the much longer journey ahead. Responses from the student body came from Mr. Urs Keiser, an IMI alumni from 2003 and now Managing Partner of Conim AG, and BA (Hons) graduate Sofia Branca who delivered a lovely speech reflecting on her time at the school and the many people who had helped shape and influence her time at the school. Following the formal graduation ceremony, the school entered into party mode the next day as they celebrated their 'International Day'. An early start at Luzern Bahnhofquai saw their guests take a boat tour of Lake Luzern before arriving at the spectacular IMI Kastanienbaum campus. Here they were greeted with a drinks reception and international food stalls from China, Malaysia, Ukraine, Africa and Korea amongst many others, all prepared by current IMI students. The excellent food was complemented by some highly-entertaining cultural performances from students. A three-piece Vietnamese band had the guests sobbing with their romantic love song before an ‘India-and-friends’ collective raised the roof with a barnstorming dance act. The two days were an excellence celebration of IMI’s 2017 graduates and reflected the best qualities of the school: the internationalism and diversity centred around a strong family-ethos which means that all graduates remain a part of IMI, however far in the world they travel.

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