About Us
HTMi, Hotel and Tourism Management Institute Switzerland Dubai, a pioneered Swiss hospitality school, is a center of excellence with a vision to become the leading Hospitality & Tourism Management Institute in the Middle East.
The institute offers Swiss qualifications to its graduates, with undergraduate programs in both International Hotel & Tourism Management and Culinary Arts. It prepares its students for thriving management careers in the global hospitality industry through world-class education, workshops and training programs.
Strategically located in a hotel, the campus enables students to experience real-life hotel environment by learning and staying in a hotel during their studies.
MISSION
"Come as a Student, Become a Manager"
To help achieve this mission, the focus of HTMi Switzerland Dubai is to provide high quality education, search for excellence in all operations within the institute and to provide an organization that meets the contemporary needs of the international and local hotel and tourism industry.
VISION
To be the Leading Hotel Management Institute in the Middle East.
CORE VALUES
"Come as a Student, Become a Manager"
A key part of the student-centered approach to the mission and the values of HTMi Switzerland Dubai is the instilling of professional behavior and attitude skills. This is highly valued by employers of students and future graduates, as essential to success in the hospitality industry.
Our core values are:
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Greeting & Hosting
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Courteous & Polite Manner
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Grooming & Deportment
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Cultural Integration
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Communication
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Respect & Integrity
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Learning
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Reflection & Self Improvement
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Excellence
Academic and Administrative staff
Connor Lamb
Institute Director
Connor Lamb is the Institute Director of HTMi Switzerland Dubai. He holds two Master’s Degrees, one in International Hospitality Management, and the other in Education, both from the University of Derby (UK). In his previous role with the Swiss Hotel Management School of Switzerland, Connor successfully served as the Assistant Dean of the Caux Campus, where he was responsible for the day to day managerial aspects of the academic programs, paired with lecturing and liaising with the campus operations teams. He has an extensive background in international hospitality operations with roles from Operations Manager in Dublin, Ireland to Front Office Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland with progressive positions held in Bermuda, Hawaii, and Canada. Connor aims to enhance real life learning with hospitality excellence.
Rubina Gill
Academic Manager
Rubina Gill is a seasoned education professional with over a decade of experience in the field. Her educational journey has taken her from India to Jeddah, and she has spent the past six years dedicated to enhancing the educational landscape in the United Arab Emirates. Her passion and expertise shine through as she currently oversees the day-to-day academic administration at HTMi, ensuring the institution's commitment to excellence in education and management.
Chef Geraldo Thomazini
Culinary Arts Program Manager
Geraldo Thomazini is a seasoned Executive Chef and Culinary Educator with over two decades of international experience across Brazil, China, and the UAE. A Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and an AHLA-certified instructor in HACCP, F&B Operations, and Management, Geraldo has held prominent roles including Senior Culinary Instructor and Head Chef at ICCA Dubai. He has spearheaded restaurant operations, menu design, and high-profile events, including the Brazil Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, where he worked alongside Brazil’s most influential chefs.
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An advocate of culinary innovation, Geraldo is passionate about AI in the food and beverage industry and sharing his expertise through professional engagements and his podcast, Mentes Temperadas. At HTMi Dubai, Geraldo is committed to nurturing future culinary leaders and bringing global culinary trends to the classroom.
Gazala Shaikh
​Gazala Shaikh has assumed the role of Sales & Enrollment Manager at HTMi Switzerland Dubai. With over 15 years of experience in Sales, Student Recruitment Conversion, Student Partnerships, and Business Development within the UAE's Higher Education sector, Gazala is a passionate and results-driven professional. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Science and a Master's in Education from Middlesex University, specializing in Pedagogy, Educational Leadership, Management, and Change. Her proven track record in Student recruitment, Admissions outreach, Student Engagement, and Student Retention underscores her commitment to realizing HTMi Switzerland Dubai's vision of becoming the premier Hospitality & Tourism Management Institute in the Middle East.
Tanaka Chapuka
Culinary Coordinator
Tanaka Chapuka is the Culinary Coordinator for HTMi Switzerland Dubai, she is originally from Zimbabwe and holds a Diploma in International Culinary Arts. She has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience over her more than 3 years working with aspiring culinary students, and is eager to continue learning, growing, and imparting knowledge and culinary skills with our future chefs.
Sredharran Sampath
Hospitality Instructor
Mr. Sredharran Sampath is a seasoned educator who has numerous educational qualifications, including a B.Sc (Mathematics), B.A. (Hindi), M.C.A, M.B.A, M.Sc (Psychology), M.Phil and is currently pursuing his Ph.D (Management). He teaches subjects such as Organizational Behavior, Marketing Management, Management Information Systems, Operations Management, UAE and Tourism Studies, Hospitality Finance, Consumer Behavior, Research Methods, Business Analysis, International Business, Supply Chain Management, Leadership, Business Values, and Ethics.
Dilafruz (Delia) Khayriddinovna
Hospitality Instructor
Dilafruz is a dedicated English Language educator with a TESOL A Level qualification and an MA in English Language and Literature from Konkuk University. She has taught at various academic institutions, including Konkuk and Westminster Universities. Delia is passionate about helping students develop the skills they need for academic and professional success.
Frauke Aoun
Hospitality Instructor
Frauke is a distinguished hospitality management professional with extensive experience spanning over two decades, marked by a series of notable achievements and leadership roles.
She has successfully managed pre-opening activities for various high-profile properties, including the Residence Inn Al Jaddaf in Dubai, where her leadership earned the property recognition as one of the top Residence Inn locations across EMEA in 2023. Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence resulted in a 101% Brand Standard Audit score and impressive staff satisfaction ratings.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Frauke is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt and a Marriott International Certified Trainer, underscoring her dedication to continuous improvement and professional development.
Rita Vicente
Hospitality Instructor
With over 20 years of experience in sales and business development across diverse industries and sectors, Rita has a great vision to transform opportunities into successful businesses in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. In addition to her market and local trends knowledge, she has extensive experience in business-to-business partnerships, contracts negotiation, procurement and client relationships. She has a global business vision, a strong understanding on growing revenues and return on strategic investments. Rita holds a Master Degree from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Switzerland and is fluent in five languages.
Eric Masalawala
Hospitality Instructor
Originally from Mumbai, Eric was blessed to be brought up in the vibrant city of Dubai. Over the course of 17 years in his career, he has accumulated extensive hospitality experience in the UAE, with global brands including Radisson, Hilton and Ramada plus a home-grown brand DAMAC Hospitality. Eric joined Premier Inn Middle East in 2023 as Operations Manager at Dubai Dragon Mart and quickly progressed to General Manager. His experience, combined with studies at the Swiss Hotel Management School, and Dubai Aviation University, have enabled Eric to thrive in the hospitality industry. He was shortlisted at Hotelier Middle East’s first edition of the GM Awards in the category of Young GM of the Year (Under 40). With an incredibly high volume of nominations, it has been a great achievement of Eric to win the “Highly Commended Young GM of the Year 2024”.
Chef Yazan Abu Ghazaleh
Culinary Instructor
Chef Yazan hails from Jordan, with his passion for food commencing at the age of 5 through finding joy in helping his parents in the kitchen. This early fascination evolved into a lifelong pursuit, leading him to the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts by Les Roches Switzerland, where he earned my culinary degree.
He began his career in luxury hospitality, gaining invaluable experience at prestigious establishments such as the Four Seasons in Amman, followed by significant roles at the Hilton and Marriott in Dubai. Chef Yazan’s culinary journey further advanced when he was working with the renowned Chef Marco Pierre White during the launch of his restaurant in Dubai.
With a wealth of experience, he transitioned to the role of in-flight chef for an award-winning airline, where he curated exceptional culinary experiences for VIP clients. Today, he leverages his expertise by managing his own F&B consultation services and serving as a private head chef for distinguished clients in Abu Dhabi.
