Location

Studying in the Alps

International Hotel and Tourism Management Institute is located in the commune of Sörenberg in the canton of Lucerne, where its campus occupies two historic hotels — Mariental and Panorama. They were completely modernized in 2016 while preserving the authentic Swiss spirit. The campus is surrounded by the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Entlebuch, whose alpine meadows cover 90% of the territory. All this is supported by renewable sources, while the town center has been transformed into a pedestrian zone, making Sörenberg a model of ecological thinking.

Seasonal advantages

Sörenberg offers International Hotel and Tourism Management Institute students ideal conditions year-round. When summer arrives, temperatures rise to +25°C — perfect for meadow walks and outdoor sports. With the first snow, the entire region transforms: snow-covered slopes up to 2.5 meters deep become a 35-kilometer ski trail. This contrast teaches future hospitality professionals to adapt to seasonal changes, turning natural features into business advantages.

Events and culture

The cultural life at this institute thrives thanks to numerous unique events. For instance, in 2019 Sörenberg became the filming location for “Mountain Echo” — an event that not only highlighted the region’s beauty but also inspired students to create their own projects. The winter ice sculpture festival “Alpine Crystallization” brings together masters from around the world, turning the town into an open-air art gallery. By participating in organizing such events, students gain invaluable experience working alongside industry professionals.

HTMI architecture

The Mariental and Panorama campuses in Sörenberg remarkably blend the charm of traditional chalets with futuristic glass atriums. Here, lecture halls neighbor 5-star restaurants where practical classes take place — their interiors were designed after the finest establishments in Dubai and Zurich. The institute takes particular pride in 12 classrooms with VR hotel management simulators, a modern library with access to 250+ electronic journals, and an indoor pool with panoramic views of Mount Rothorn (2,350 m).

Transport accessibility

Sörenberg is conveniently located for those who value time: 40 minutes by car to Lucerne, 1.5 hours to Zurich Airport. The Sörenberg Schulhaus station is 300 meters from campus, with trains departing hourly to Lucerne. For bus travel enthusiasts, routes No. 72 and SkiBus operate — the latter delivers students directly to the slopes of St. Moritz in winter.

Natural beauty

5 km from the HTMi campus begins the ascent on the Brienzer Rothorn cable car with a dizzying 47° incline, leading to an ice labyrinth in winter. 12 km away lies Lake Sarnen, which attracts divers. Gourmets should visit the Entlebuch Cheese Museum (7 km), where they teach creating the legendary Zubr variety while preserving its centuries-old local preparation traditions, and for the boldest — cross the seven suspension bridges of Zumpfi gorge (9 km), hovering at 180 meters height.