Luxury houses have spent several years describing hospitality as the source of their next generation of talent. The Luxury & Hospitality Career Index 2026, asks the people trained in hospitality how they see their own careers. 451 alumni of Glion Hospitality & Luxury Business Education and Les Roches rated their current employer, named the employers they most want to work for and described where their careers have taken them.
On prestige, employers score well. 76% of alumni surveyed agree that working for their employer has enhanced their professional profile, and 71% that it has a strong reputation in the industry. On progression and pay, the picture is weaker: 55% see clear pathways for career advancement, 51% find their salary competitive and 39% consider the bonus structure fair. Career development is also the factor alumni cite most often when choosing an employer, which makes it the gap that matters most.
The careers themselves are international and senior. 53% of alumni surveyed work outside their home country, 30% hold senior management or executive roles and 16% are owners or founders. 80% say their education prepared them well or extremely well for cross-cultural communication, and 74% for understanding the luxury and hospitality industry. Most found their current employer through their own network (37%), with 9% hired through a school channel.
When alumni name the employers they most want to work for, hotel groups dominate. Of 669 brand mentions, 65% went to international hotel groups, led by Four Seasons, Marriott International, Mandarin Oriental, Aman and Rosewood. Luxury houses account for 8%.
About the study. Commissioned by Sommet Education, conducted by DLG. 451 alumni of Glion Hospitality & Luxury Business Education and Les Roches answered the same online questionnaire between April and August 2026; responses were pooled without weighting. The sample is self-selected, and results describe alumni surveyed, not all graduates. One questionnaire asked for desirable employers "in hospitality / luxury", the other without a sector. Full methodology in the Index.