To meet the growing demand for skilled and competitive professionals in Armenia’s hotel and restaurant sectors, the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality (SAAH) is proud to announce the launch of a new vocational education and training program in hospitality. Developed in partnership with EHL – founded in 1893 as École hôtelière de Lausanne – this program is based on the world-renowned Swiss educational model and is officially licensed by VET by EHL.
This initiative aligns with SAAH’s mission to contribute meaningfully to Armenia’s national strategy for tourism development. By investing in talent and education, SAAH aims to elevate service standards and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive destination in the global hospitality landscape.
A key element of this vision is the Academy’s location at the Grand Hotel Gyumri by Apricot Hotels – one of Armenia’s leading hospitality destinations. This strategic partnership brings to life the Academy’s “Learning by Doing” philosophy, offering students the rare opportunity to train in a fully operational, high-standard hotel environment from day one. The synergy between academic instruction and hands-on experience ensures that students are immersed in the realities of the industry throughout their learning journey.
“The launch of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality is more than an educational milestone – it’s a statement of belief in Armenia’s potential. We are building bridges between Swiss excellence and Armenian talent, between global standards and local aspirations. Our mission is to empower young people with the mindset, skills, and discipline to not only serve but to lead – in Armenia and beyond. Gyumri, with its soul, creativity, and resilience, is the perfect birthplace for this vision. From here, we will nurture a new generation of hospitality professionals who will carry the warmth of Armenian culture and the precision of Swiss education into the world.” – indicated Vahe Gabrache, Founder of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality.
As Vasken Yacoubian, AGBU Armenia President mentioned “AGBU is proud to be the institutional founding partner of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality in Gyumri – a project that fully reflects our mission to invest in Armenia’s human capital. Building on AGBU’s legacy of co-founding transformative institutions like AUA and forming strategic partnerships such as TUMO, this initiative will address a key need in the hospitality sector and help raise service standards nationwide.”
Indeed, the VET by EHL program is designed to serve the hospitality sector by equipping learners with practical, industry-relevant skills. Through the collaboration with Grand Hotel Gyumri, students can immediately apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. This immersive approach enhances technical competencies and fosters a deep understanding of guest expectations, operational excellence, and service culture.
Thanks to these partnerships, SAAH is shaping a new generation of hospitality professionals – ready to deliver excellence in Armenia and beyond.
According to Chef Patrick Ogheard – Dean of the EHL School of Practical Arts: “At its core, hospitality is about service – creating meaningful experiences, caring for others, and building bridges between cultures. It is also a powerful engine for development. By investing in people and professionalization, Armenia is fostering sustainable employment and inclusive regional growth. The Swiss Armenian Academy of Hospitality stands as a strategic pillar in this vision – bridging education with economic impact.”
Bringing Swiss Hospitality Standards to Armenia’s Talent
Through its partnership with VET by EHL – the vocational arm of the world’s No. 1 hospitality management school – SAAH offers a flexible, accessible, and engaging learning experience tailored to a wide audience. Open to talents aged 18 and above, the program welcomes both young adults and career changers who aspire to enter or advance within the hospitality industry. Whether starting fresh or building on existing experience, learners are guided through a structured, high-quality training journey.
“Today we witnessed an event that marks a true turning point – not only for Gyumri but for the entire hospitality industry in Armenia. With the founding of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality, we are shaping a new culture – one built on quality, professionalism, and pride. Every student who walks through our doors carries the potential to redefine what Armenian hospitality means to the world. With Swiss excellence, Armenian warmth, and a global outlook, we are ready to set a new standard for the perfection in Armenia’s hospitality sector”, mentioned Khachik Hakobyan, General Manager of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality
SAAH currently offers professional pathways in Culinary Arts, Food & Beverage Service, Hotel Administration.
Each pathway is structured across three progressive certification levels- Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced – culminating in a Professional Diploma achievable within 12 to 18 months. The program follows a work-based learning model, combining three months of classroom instruction with three months of hands-on internship per level. For experienced professionals, fast-track options are available, allowing them to accelerate their progression based on prior knowledge and skills.
Hospitality Education with Purpose and Inclusion
True to its mission of making world-class hospitality education accessible, SAAH is committed to supporting talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. To this end, the Academy offers partial and full scholarships to eligible students, including:
- Young adults demobilized from mandatory military service in 2025
- Individuals forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)
In addition, SAAH has established nominal scholarships to honor and support students who demonstrate exceptional motivation, resilience, or potential.
Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality (SAAH)
The SAAH is established and founded in 2025 by Mr. Vahe Gabrache and Armenian General Benevolent Union, with the mission to provide world-class, practice-based hospitality education rooted in Swiss excellence and tailored to Armenia’s growing service and tourism sectors – equipping students with the skills, mindset, and discipline to thrive locally and globally. Our Vision is to elevate Armenia as a regional hub for hospitality and service excellence by developing the next generation of industry-ready global professionals through international standards and local relevance. www.saah-edu.com
École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)
EHL – originally founded as Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne – is the global leader in hospitality and business education with 4,000+ students from more than 120 nationalities across 3 campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. Our holistic approach to education, a hallmark of the Swiss system, seamlessly integrates academic rigor with hands-on experience and a deep commitment to human connection. At EHL, we educate hearts, hands, and minds. Within our two institutions we shape confident, versatile, and resilient leaders for careers in hospitality and wider experience-driven sectors:
– EHL Hospitality Business School, accredited by AACSB, NECHE and consistently ranked at the top of its field, offering undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs that deliver practical leadership, strategy, and operational insights.
– EHL School of Practical Arts, providing vocational and professional programs in hospitality, boasting expertise from 6 “Meilleurs Ouvriers de France” and an awarded and Michelin-starred academic restaurant.
For more than 130 years, we have been committed to leading innovation in the hospitality and services industry with a focus on emotional intelligence and business acumen. At EHL, education is more than knowledge – it’s a transformative experience shared by a community of 30,000 passionate Alumni, who redefine excellence wherever they go. www.educationconsulting.ehl.edu
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the world’s largest Armenian non-profit organization, is a proud co-founder of the Swiss-Armenian Academy of Hospitality. AGBU is devoted to uplifting Armenian lives through educational, cultural, humanitarian and socio-economic development programs. Through this partnership, SAAH represents a bold step in building a skilled, confident, and globally competitive workforce in Armenia’s growing hospitality and tourism sectors. Together with AGBU, we are not just training professionals – we are shaping the next generation of service leaders for Armenia and beyond. www.agbu.org / www.agbu.am
orer.eu
