Gastronomy, Hospitality & Luxury Management: GEM and IFH Launch a Unique MSc Program to Shape the Leaders of a Reinvented Luxury Industry.

Luxury and Hospitality at a Turning Point

Sustainability, personalization, and digital transformation—these forces are reshaping the worlds of luxury, gastronomy, and hospitality. Traditional academic programs are often slow to keep pace. In response, Grenoble École de Management (GEM) and the Institut Français de l’Hôtellerie (IFH) are joining forces to launch the MSc in Gastronomy, Hospitality and Luxury Management. This two-year international program aims to train a new generation of professionals who are creative, responsible, and operationally capable—blending French savoir-faire with a deep understanding of 21st-century challenges.

At the crossroads of GEM’s and IFH’s respective strengths, this MSc builds on the successful foundation of GEM’s MSc in Fashion, Design & Luxury Management, where experiential learning and educational travel have always been key pillars. In this new program, the learning experience becomes a pedagogical tool in its own right, aligned with GEM’s strategic vision and with current transformations in the luxury sector—where travel and experience are now central to both educational transformation and business growth.

This program strengthens GEM’s value proposition in luxury by incorporating the hospitality sector, which lies at the heart of the travel experience. It targets a generation of professionals seeking purpose, excellence, and a human-centered approach." — Dr. Nicoletta Giusti, Professor at GEM, Director of the MSc in Fashion, Design & Luxury Management

Gradual Launch Starting in September 2025

From the 2025 academic year, a "Gastronomy & Hospitality" track will be offered within the MSc Fashion, Design & Luxury Management, featuring specialized courses taught by IFH. The full MSc program will officially launch in 2026–2027, combining foundational management courses delivered by GEM on its Paris campus with immersion and specialization modules led by IFH. Field projects, case studies, role-playing simulations, and masterclasses with top industry professionals will enrich this demanding curriculum, anchored in the realities of the sector.

Vibrant, generous, and bold—French gastronomy and hospitality are professions driven by passion, where customer experience is paramount. This groundbreaking program combines GEM’s academic excellence with IFH’s expertise in French-style luxury. Our goal: to pass on a living, demanding, and committed legacy to the next generation of high-end hospitality leaders, in step with the industry’s evolution." — Kamel Mebarki, Deputy Director, IFH

Full Rollout in 2026–2027

tarting in 2026–2027, the MSc in Gastronomy, Hospitality and Luxury Management will offer a comprehensive pathway that combines international management courses at GEM with applied, sector-specific instruction at IFH. IFH’s curriculum will include innovative teaching methods (e.g., gamification, flipped classrooms) and forward-looking modules tailored to current industry needs, such as:

• Signature Guest Experience
• Advanced Revenue Management
• AI and Technology in Hospitality

Additionally, an in-house incubator at IFH will launch in 2026 to support students with entrepreneurial projects in gastronomy, luxury, and hospitality. It will offer tailored coaching, workspace and resources (equipment, raw materials), and connections to potential investors.

An Immersive Pedagogical Model Aligned with EAGLE 2030

Reflecting GEM’s EAGLE 2030 strategic plan, this MSc embodies the school’s immersive teaching philosophy, based on the 60/20/20 learning model:

• 60% in-person learning at GEM and IFH’s Paris campuses
• 20% virtual learning, through AI-powered simulations and interactive platforms
• 20% field-based learning, with exclusive visits, real-world projects, and immersive experiences in world-renowned gastronomic and hospitality establishments

At the intersection of strategy, experience design, technology, sustainability, and leadership, this MSc exemplifies GEM’s hybrid educational approach—combining academic rigor with operational excellence.

This new MSc aims to deliver a hybrid and innovative program in the heart of Paris, responding to the needs of a luxury industry in full transformation, where the boundaries with gastronomy and hospitality are increasingly blurred. Backed by one of Europe’s leading business schools, it offers academic and cross-disciplinary excellence that few players in the luxury or hospitality sectors can match—whether in strategy, innovation, or international management." — Philippe Monin, Academic Director, GEM

A Distinctive Positioning in the Market

This MSc directly addresses the sector’s digital, ecological, and social transitions. It meets the expectations of a new generation of learners through innovative content on AI, sustainability, and strategic experience management. Experiential and hands-on, the program encourages students to create and manage real-world projects and events from start to finish—including field immersions, professional placements like the “Savoir-Être” internship in a château, and masterclasses led by industry experts.

Accessible while maintaining high standards of academic and operational excellence, the program leverages modern infrastructure, expert faculty, and personalized guidance.

Driven by values of rigor, excellence, inclusivity, and kindness, this program reflects a luxury in transition—offering a unique balance between respect for tradition and openness to innovation. It is resolutely forward-looking, aligned with the aspirations of new generations and the demands of the global marketplace.

 By partnering with GEM, IFH strengthens its ambition to become a new benchmark school dedicated to the management of high-end hospitality and gastronomy. This program embodies French operational excellence and redefines luxury hospitality leadership in the age of AI and sustainability."
— Vladimir Atlani, Director of the IFH