LES ROCHES MARBELLA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

When you graduate from Les Roches Marbella you automatically become a member of the Alumni Association. This is a great way to keep in touch with friends, but it also provides news and employment opportunities. In the hospitality industry, it is quite common for people to change jobs every few years, at least in the early stages of their career, and the Alumni Association is a very useful networking resource. There are currently over 1,800 Les Roches Marbella Alumni members around the world.

The Les Roches Marbella Alumni webpage allows Alumni to check on the latest job offers in the Career Center Section, browse the Online Directory to find old classmates, receive information on the next of many Alumni Reunions organized or even start a discussion on the forum boards.

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Iván Barranco, Les Roches Marbella Alumni, is the new Sales & Marketing Director at Hotel Real in Santander

Iván Barranco Alumni de Les Roches Marbella y Nuevo Director Comercial y Marketing del Hotel Real de Santander

IVAN BARRANCO

Spain, Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Management (Dec 2007)

Sales & Marketing Director at Hotel Real de Santander, Spain

Les Roches Marbella Alumni, Iván Barranco, has become a member of the management team at Hotel Real de Santander as new Sales &y Marketing Director as published by Hosteltur.com. This 5 star GL hotel is managed by Husa.

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

ELTON DALMEDO

United Kingdom, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (2002)
General Manager, Hotel Mirador de Adra****, Almeria, Spain.

“One of the determining factors why I chose Les Roches Marbella was because of its industry recognition and advice from friends already studying there.

At Les Roches Marbella you will definitely develop valuable professional skills in a multicultural environment and learn from daily real life situations on campus.

Les Roches Marbella provided me a solid foundation in the F&B area and especially in developing my managerial skills. I believe “stars are not born, they are made” and Les Roches Marbella has helped me become just that by giving me the selfconfidence I needed to face controversy, to lead efficiently a team, to manage stressful situations and most importantly the industry “know how”.

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Restaurante Marbella Forum: Culinary Union of two young chefs, Carlos Blanco & Álvaro Santiago.

Alvaro Santiago Alumni de Les Roches Marbella Chef en el Restaurante Foruem de Marbella

ALVARO SANTIAGO CARO

Spain - SHA Diploma in Hotel Management (Dec. 2001)

Former Alumni Chef at Restaurante Marbella Forum

Alvaro Santiago began his academic training at Les Roches Marbella, being employed later at prestigious star Michelin Restaurants at the Canaries and Estremadura. It was employed two years under the guidance of Juan Mari Arzak's at his Restaurant in San Sebastian. He had undertaken gastronomic collaborations with the “Institut del Cava Catalán “ in several events held in different European cities.

He continued working until both chefs coincided at the restaurant Tikitano, working for Ewald Fichthaler.

Of this union, the perfect mix of culinary knowledge and experiences arise and are reflected in the menu at “Restaurante Marbella Forum” offering a truly gastronomic experience to even the most demanding palates.

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Italian resto-lounge opens in Colaba, Mumbai

KAJAL FABIANI

Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management (December 2007)

Former Les Roches Marbella Alumni opens her own Italian resto-lounge in Colaba, Mumbai as reported on DNA Read the World

“I wanted to do something really different; have fine dining in a fun atmosphere - you know, where there’s loungey music, the waiters are fun, the cocktails are flowing…like what you see in Cipriani’s or Signor Sassi’s,” says Kajal of her spanking Italian resto-lounge that opens in Colaba this week. “It has a very St Tropez feel about it - everything is fresh and white, very villa-esque, very Roman-esque looking.”

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Seville's, the legendary Spanish tapas bar located in Wafi, welcomes a dynamic new Spanish management team.

JAIME CASTAÑEDA CALAVIA

Postgraduate Diploma in Hospitality Management (June 2009)

Former Les Roches Marbella Alumni becomes Seville's new Restaurant Manager in Wafi, Dubai as part of the new Spanish team as reported on AMEinfo.com

"Seville's has established itself as one of the most popular venues in Dubai and typifies all the attributes of Spain - passion, charm and vibrant energy!" said Jaime Castaneda, the new restaurant manager.

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

ANA PETKOVIC

Serbia, BBA (2006)
Confrenece & Catering Coordinator, Hotel Villa Padierna Ritz Carlton, Marbella, Spain

“I will never forget the days spent at Les Roches Marbella. The best thing is that you never feel alone; everything seems easier because you share it with friends from many different cultures.

At Les Roches Marbella I learnt invaluable skills. I improved my English communication skills and I have learned Spanish which I did not speak at all. I learned how to be organized, responsible and flexible and, most important, how to work in a team.

Les Roches Marbella helped me to discover my talents and identify my weaknesses which, indeed, will help me succeed in my professional career in the industry.”

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

New Hotel Grand Mauritian Resort & Spa, Marutius Isalnd

DIEGO STEMBERT

Spain, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (1998)

Rooms Division Manager, Hotel Grand Mauritian Resort & Spa,Marutius Isalnd.

"It is very important to be a well-trained professional in today’s Hospitality Industry. My Les Roches Marbella experience has enabled me to become a truly qualified hospitality professional instead of just being a hospitality employee.

The combination of academic studies and real life experience acquired at Les Roches Marbella and during the in-training periods I underwent in first class hotels helped me to gain invaluable self-confidence. After graduating, I have had the opportunity to work at several renowned hotels and positions.

Since I joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts ® the average time that I have spent in one town has been 24 – 30 months but had the great opportunity to have worked as Rooms Division Manager at The Hotel Alfonso XII, Seville, Spain, Front Office Manager at The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain, Rooms Division Manager at Hotel Maria Cristina - The Luxury Collection, San Sebastian, Spain, amongst others.”

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Ostap Lukiyanov Les Roches Marbella Golf Management Alumni

OSTAP LUKYANOV

Russia, Graduate in Golf Management (2008)
General Manager, Golden Swing Ltd., Turkey

"The Postgraduate Program in Golf Management that I studied at Les Roches Marbella has provided me with an outstanding education and base for my future career development within the Golfing Industry. It is really incredible how much knowledge our teachers passed on to us in such a short time – the program is hard work and really intensive but fundamental if you want to get ahead in this very competitive industry.

After completing my internship at “David Leadbetter Golf Academy” in La Cala Resort, Spain, I decided to start up my own business in the Golf Industry. It’s been about a year for “Golden Swing Ltd.” since we opened our first centre in Turkey. Now we already have two “Golden Swing Golf Academies” and 3 golf shops in Turkey and Finland. As well as the “Golden Swing Academy” we are also the official distributors for some of the most important golf brands for clothing and golfing accessories in the region. In the near future the company is planning to expand to new markets, such as Spain and Russia.

Marketing, Finance, Turf Grass Management, Pro-shop operations, Event Management, Golf Course Design, Human Resource Management etc. – all of this knowledge is needed from day to day. And I am happy that I chose Les Roches Marbella for my Postgraduate Golf Management studies".

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

AMINE EL MOUMNI

Morocco, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (2002)
Deputy General Manager, Barceló Mediterranea Saidia

“My choice: Les Roches Marbella for my hospitality studies because it is one of the best in the world and as well recommended from friends and I am confident that I have made the right move.

From the beginning Les Roches Marbella teaches you a professional and social way of life, attitude, leadership and all the tools to become a successful Manager.

LRM has opened the doors to develop my career as I desired.

It has given me the possibility to experience the industry around the world, and to finally bring back my knowledge to my home country, Morocco.

From internships in renowned hotels in London and the Canary Islands, I started my professional career as a financial analyst at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. I then got promoted to Financial Analyst Manager. I decided to continue my financial career in Sofitel China but life lead me back to Miami to become an F&B Manager for a prestigious restaurant. Thanks to my international exposure, I was able to become a financial controller for Kenzi Hotels Marrakech.

By studying in Marbella, my social and language skills where essential qualities for me to become Deputy General Manager for the first Barceló Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco. I progressed to becoming General Manager for the Hotel des Arts in Morocco, but Barceló called me back to open the Barceló Mediterrane an Saidia in the north of Morocco, a 5 star resort of 614 rooms.

I thank the whole academic team for giving me the right tools to position myself today in the hospitality business. Thank you Les Roches Marbella!”

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

SAAB NAIMI

Morocco, Graduate in Golf Mangement (2008)
Golf Operations Manager at “Mazagan Beach Resort “, El Jadida, Morocco (managed by Troon Golf)

"One of the greatest endeavors I ever taken was undoubtedly to enroll in the Postgraduate Golf Management program at Les Roches Marbella. Les Roches Marbella offered me the opportunity to successfully learn within an enlightening multi-cultural environment, fulfill the demanding international golf academic requirements, and gain an outstanding managerial and operational golf skill set. This tremendous experience allowed me to successfully apply for one of the most challenging positions within the Mazagan Beach Resort, El Jadida, Morocco.

Not only Les Roches Marbella has lived up to all of my expectations but also has endowed me with the greatest golf standards as required by the Golf industry. Empowered with such a high-quality golf education, I feel very confident for my career’s future mostly thanks to the trustful training I have accomplished at Finca Cirtesin (Home of the Volvo World Match Play Championship). Because success is not a matter of chance, you need to make the right decision"

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ

Cordoba, Spain, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (1998)
Duty Manager, Hoteles Elba, Estepona, Spain.

"When choosing a career, you also choose a way of life. That is what I did at Les Roches Marbella. The school truly gave a different dimension to my life in many and positive ways.

The friends and teachers that I met there today are still my friends and teachers. I visit the school regularly and I miss those fantastic years I spent there.

After leaving the School, I have been working in several positions and hotels, but during the last 7 years I have been working for a 5 star hotel firstly as an Assistant Manager and during the last 5 years as a Duty Manager."

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

ANDRÉS GUERRERO

Regional Sales Manager, Hoteles Elba, UK.

Spain, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (2002)

"Thanks to Les Roches Marbella I discovered Hotel Management, an exciting and cosmopolitan profession. After having worked during my internships in the majority of the departments that make up a hotel in places such as Ireland, Holland, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and Marbella I acquired the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to confront any professional challenge. Today, I am working in London as Regional Sales Manager responsible for the commercialization of 13 Elba Hotels on the British market."

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

Patric Cornelissen Les Roches Marbella Alumni - Director of Operations, Endicott College, Beverly, USA

PATRICK CORNELISSEN

Belgium, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (2002)
Director of Operations, Endicott College, Beverly, USA

“After graduating from Les Roches Marbella in 2002, I started working at the Four Seasons Canary Wharf in London in housekeeping as this area really forms the backbone of any hotel: housekeeping for rooms division and stewarding for F&B. I always felt that understanding these departments was essential for any manager, as they are hard to manage in terms of employee motivation, language barriers, physical labor, and some of the most unfashionable working hours of the entire hotel with the exception of the night audit.

When Endicott College called me to start working for them as a teaching assistant and allowing me to receive a bachelor’s degree, I had a hard choice to make: either stay with Four Seasons or move back to college. I have no regrets selecting education as an alternative.

As of today, I am still working for the same college, but over the past years, my responsibilities have changed drastically. I completed my Bachelor’s degree, as well as my Master in Business Administration degree, both summa cum laude, and have been teaching a variety of courses over the past years, yet the one constant factor has been managing our 50-seat a la carte restaurant and changing and improving it along the way.

For the past two years, I shifted my focus more towards the event side, as I have been working as the Director of Operations for our event and conference center. Unlike in Europe, most private colleges in the USA maximize their revenues by renting out their classrooms, aula’s sport facilities..., just like a conference center would do. Trying to achieve this within a college setting obviously comes with its own challenges and yes, even frustrations at times.

I always tell my students that it all boils down to three key parts: knowledge, teamwork and attention to detail; things that I learned to develop and appreciate even more when I was at Les Roches Marbella from teachers spending numerous hours of patiently passing on their knowledge!! Hopefully we as alumni can (and will) do the same for the Les Roches generations behind us… “

ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES

CESAR MORALES

Food and Beverage Manager, Hotel Guadalmina, Marbella, Spain.
Spain, SHA Hotel Management Diploma (2005)

"Les Roches Marbella gave me a well-balanced theoretical and practical hotel management education, as well as the required leadership and real professional experience.

My passion for golf and for the hospitality industry has allowed me, just six months after graduation, to become F&B Manager at Santa María Golf and Country Club, Marbella, Spain. Now I am working as F&B Manager at Hotel Guadalmina, Marbella, Spain"

EMPLOYMENT & RECRUITMENT COLLABORATORS

Les Roches Marbella has established Employment & Recruitment collaboration agreements with the following organizations:

Les Roches Marbella is a proud member of HOSCO, the recruitment platform where top hospitality companies, schools and students from all over the world meet and interact

Hospitality Industry