Meliá Hotels International and Les Roches have joined forces to attract and train the talent that will lead the future of the hotel industry

Meliá Hotels International, the leading hotel group in Spain, with more than 400 hotels open or under development in more than 40 countries, and recognized as the most sustainable hotel company in Europe and a global leader in several international sustainability rankings, is reinforcing its commitment to training and professional development through a strategic collaboration agreement with Les Roches.

Recognized as the second best educational institution in the world for hotel management (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025), Les Roches will create a curriculum to adapt its Bachelor's Degree in International Hotel Management and Tourism Business and its postgraduate and master's programs to the DNA of Meliá, with the aim of identifying international talent and facilitating their recruitment in one of the most prestigious chains in the sector.

Students who join the "Meliá Future Talent" Program, after the admission and selection process, will be trained using Les Roches' methodology of academic excellence. During their studies, they will be temporarily separated from the general group to take specific Meliá courses and a specialization in the corresponding academic semester. During the program, all students in the program (bachelor's, postgraduate, and master's degrees) will complete their professional internships exclusively at Meliá hotels worldwide. Upon completion of the program, they will be eligible for a minimum three-year employment contract with Meliá Hotels International.

According to Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, this model confirms our joint commitment to talent and employability: "Our strategic alliance with Meliá Hotels International represents a milestone that opens a new scenario of collaboration between academic institutions and companies willing to make a strong proactive commitment to attracting the best talent. We are proud to offer a pioneering model that anticipates market needs, ensures a constant flow of highly qualified professionals, and opens new avenues for collaboration that consolidate hospitality as a profession of the future. Having a global leader like Meliá Hotels International demonstrates that companies are increasingly aware of the added value that training brings to their strategy. Having well-trained teams drives the innovation, efficiency, and productivity needed to lead the transformation of our industry."

In the words of Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, President and CEO of Meliá Hotels International: "This agreement will allow us to tap into a new generation of talent, trained with excellence and adapted to our strategic needs, with a global mindset that is essential in today's hotel industry. Thanks to the collaboration with Les Roches, we strengthen our ability to attract and retain professionals who will shape Meliá's future."

In line with its strategic growth plan, Meliá Hotels International will work with Les Roches to determine the profiles, nationalities, and priority countries for the program. Les Roches' admissions network, present in over 100 countries, will facilitate the recruitment of talent globally and their commitment to the hotel chain even before they begin their training at Les Roches. This visionary commitment will allow Meliá to invest in talent trained according to Les Roches' quality standards and retain them before they graduate from one of the most recognized programs in the market.

Shared values ​​and commitment

Meliá Hotels International and Les Roches emphasize that this alliance is based on shared values ​​of integrity, sustainability, respect, and commitment to the essence of hospitality. The agreement is supported by the ethical principles of both institutions and their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and responsible leadership in the global hospitality industry.

Training at the heart of business strategy

The program, developed jointly by Meliá Hotels International and Les Roches, will be officially accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council and the New England Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NECHE), which already endorse other Les Roches programs. This dual accreditation reflects Les Roches' commitment to academic excellence and its ability to meet the most demanding international educational standards.

Les Roches has a long history of collaboration with industry leaders. One example is the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Private Aviation Management, developed in conjunction with Jetex, which expands training opportunities in strategic segments of luxury hospitality. Furthermore, the institution has signed agreements with countries such as Saudi Arabia to transform the professional landscape and promote the development of local talent. Its alliance with Meliá, however, represents a pioneering change that responds to companies' concern for the best available talent.

This agreement lays the foundation for a model that can be replicated in other markets and aims to establish itself as an international benchmark in hospitality training, aligning academic excellence with the real needs of the global industry.

Source: Meliá Hotels International.