Enrolling small numbers of students each year the school quickly found favour with the Johannesburg hotel industry for the competence and “can-do” attitude of its students. Returning each year to his native Switzerland, Vontobel was able to maintain the currency of the educational offering adding elements and refinements each year. Through maintaining his contacts with Swiss Hoteliers and immigration authorities he was also able to establish work placement opportunities for second year students. Graduates of the School have been singularly successful in securing career opportunities both locally and overseas and form a growing reference group for new students. In January 2005 leadership of the School passed to Mr. Nicholas S Martin whose experience in the international hospitality industry and commitment to providing world class hospitality education ensures that the School will continue to meet the needs of each generation of new students and the industry it serves. Director of SHS is also the SA representative of two famous Swiss hotel schools

• Les Roches, International School of Hotel Management, near Crans-Montana
• Glion, Institute of Higher Education, near Montreux

Both schools are world ranked and offer programmes from two year certificates, to diplomas, bachelor degrees, post graduate studies and masters. Glion has also developed a number of tourism and sports management programmes.