In 1989, when Tobias Schoch graduated from César Ritz Colleges, he was eager to put his passion for hotel management into action. He chose the US for his career and accepted the transfer options with Virginia Tech to complete his Bachelor degree. Since this time, he has paved his career with Marriott and Ritz Carlton both in the US and worldwide.

Today, as Director of Event Management at The Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel (807 room convention hotel) he enjoys the challenges of a strategic business leader in the Event Management discipline. He is responsible for all property events with a seamless turnover from sales to operations and back to sales. As a member of the Executive Committee, he develops and implements property-wide strategies that deliver products and services to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of the customer and provide a return on investment to the owner and Marriott International.

Tobias’ studies at César Ritz Colleges not only opened his conceptual skill set in providing high class academics but also the necessary hands-on operations of a first class hotel business. "By possessing those skills and knowledge, I am able to apply them to my every day work life, which allows me to enhance the execution of conferences, corporate and internal meetings, as well as foster growth in my department."

Among his favorite memories, Tobias recalls the service class of Mr G, the most memorable Maître D' he ever met: "His animation and passion were incredible, contagious and have forever resonated within me. His appeal was basic, concrete and balanced." Very important to Tobias was also the interaction between the many nationalities at the school in the small town of Le Bouveret.

What else has fostered Tobias’ career?
"César Ritz Colleges gave me a great foundation of what this industry is all about and that no matter how and where you travel, there is always hospitality to be found. César Ritz Colleges showed me that hospitality has no bounds amongst location, race, sex, and/or language. Customer service is a general theme wherever you travel and as long as you possess the want, need and ability to make everyone feel welcomed, you will be able to thrive within this career."

What advice would he give to aspiring students?
"Take it all in and enjoy the uniqueness of the Swiss setting with the international flair of students. Get involved with people and learn from their heritage and customs. Focus on your studies but don’t forget the human element as this industry is still very much relationship driven and focuses on the most basic service skills."