Glion’s Residential Week brought together a global cohort whose expertise, generosity and enthusiasm made peer learning especially valuable. As a communications consultant, I valued exploring how thoughtful leadership and attention to detail shape meaningful guest experiences.
Once I’d arrived in Switzerland and made my way to the Glion campus up in the hills above Montreux, we gathered as a group ready to embark on what would prove a busy and highly varied program of study and experiences.
Coming from Singapore, I was drawn to the opportunity to deepen my understanding of luxury management and guest experience. Glion’s setting made an immediate impression and the warmth of the people gave the week its personal significance.
Day One – Monday 19 October 2026
The welcome at Glion set the tone for a week of learning and connection. Meeting classmates from different countries and professional backgrounds made the program feel global from the start. The campus introduction and conversations throughout the day helped me begin building relationships that would become an important part of the experience.
We met members of the senior faculty team at Glion, including Dr. Tiia Mäkinen, Dean of Research, Partnerships & Innovation; Andrew Keohane, Senior Learning Support Manager; and Michael Macdonald, Dean of Digital Education and Academic Quality. Plus we had an introductory session with the school’s Career & Alumni Services team.
Day Two – Tuesday 20 October 2026
Editor’s note: the key learning experience for this day was the Group Strategy Challenge. Working in teams, participants took on the question of where the luxury and hospitality sector is heading in seasonal properties and what that shift means for an organization’s strategy. The format was deliberately collaborative. Beyond the strategic thinking itself, the aim was for participants to learn each other’s perspectives and ways of working, so that the relationships formed on campus carry through into the rest of the program online.
Day Two was our hospitality field trip, taking us out of Montreux and into the mountains to visit two prestigious hotel properties, the Villars Palace Hotel and the Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa. Both properties are members of Leading Hotels of the World and both are under the senior leadership of a Glion alumnus, Stephan Post.
At Villars Palace and Chalet RoyAlp, I explored how hospitality, wellness and the wider destination come together in a guest experience. The Group Strategy Challenge brought our different perspectives into a real business discussion. I valued seeing how specific expertise and collaborative thinking could strengthen the ideas we presented.
Day Three – Wednesday 21 October 2026
Editor’s note: The centerpiece of this day was the 5.5-hour session Reflecting on the Self. Where the strategy sessions looked outward at the world ahead, these coached sessions looked inward, asking each participant how their own leadership style, values and impact on others need to evolve to lead well in that changing world. The aim was self-awareness anchored in strategic context rather than considered in isolation. In addition, Glion Visiting Lecturer Erica Amoroso led a session on Delivering Excellence in Client Experience.
The two main sessions for today worked both individually and in harmony with each other. Reflecting on the Self encouraged me to consider my values, strengths and approach to leadership. Delivering Excellence in Client Experience connected that reflection with how people experience a brand.
The visit and celebration dinner at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace also gave us time to continue our conversations and enjoy the experience together.
Day Four – Thursday 22 October 2026
Editor’s note: for the retail field trip, entitled Crafting Luxury Experiences, participants visited Geneva to go behind the scenes of luxury in practice. The focus was on how luxury is created: service design, attention to detail, and the emotional connection with the guest or client, and how those principles translate to participants’ own organizations.
Our Geneva visits to Piaget (pictured) and Messika brought craftsmanship, heritage and client experience into focus.
As a communications consultant, I was interested in how a brand’s identity is expressed through its people, presentation and attention to detail. Sharing observations with classmates added further perspectives to what we experienced.
Day Five – Friday 23 October 2026
Editor’s note: spending the day at Bulle campus, participants were invited to join an exclusive Leadership in Luxury session hosted by hotel entrepreneur Frédéric Biousse. The session focused on the particular demands of leading in the luxury sector: upholding excellence, inspiring teams and balancing heritage with innovation in a fast-changing global environment. Delivered alongside the Recruitment Day, it closed the week by connecting the strategic, personal and experiential threads to the practical question of how participants lead.
The career and networking event at Bulle and the Leadership in Luxury session brought the week’s learning into a wider professional context. I left reflecting on the detail that makes people and organizations excellent. Above all, I valued the strength, enthusiasm and expertise that each person had contributed to our shared experience.
My personal reflections
My highlight of the Residential Week was engaging with my classmates. The quality of the cohort came through in the depth and diversity of expertise, the specificity of people’s contributions and their willingness to share. Our global outlook made peer learning especially valuable. Different professional and cultural perspectives gave our discussions energy and helped me consider ideas from several angles.
I also valued the relationships that developed around the learning. Conversations continued over meals, during journeys and after sessions. We shared knowledge, helped one another and celebrated each other’s progress. I enjoyed capturing those moments in photographs because I wanted us to remember the focus, joy and warmth of the week.
I am grateful to Glion’s academic leadership, program team and faculty for their care and guidance throughout the week. Anna Feldman, Michael Macdonald and Alex Slors helped make the experience welcoming and supportive. The faculty sessions and industry visits gave me opportunities to connect reflection with practice, from considering my own leadership style to examining how organizations deliver a distinctive client experience.
Empathy, trust and understanding are central to how I approach communications. Through Glion, I hope to strengthen my ability to translate those values into thoughtful leadership, attentive service and experiences in which people feel recognized and valued. I regard time as the greatest luxury, and this week reinforced how much it matters to spend it learning from others and building meaningful relationships.
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The Executive Master of Advanced Studies in Luxury Management and Guest Experience from Glion offers flexible, self-paced study that allows you to sharpen your luxury business knowledge without giving up your current role.
