Faculty, SHMS Staff

Dr. Erich Steinbock has over fifty years of experience in the hospitality industry. Among the many positions he held throughout his successful career, he was General Manager at several of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company's properties and served as the Vice President of Food & Beverage. He obtained his MBA at the City University of Seattle and his PhD at Iowa State University.

Christine Barnes graduated from the City University in London with B.Sc. honors in Business Management. After obtaining her PGCert in Education, she went on to teach. While holding the position of senior lecturer at the University of Derby, she achieved her MA in Tourism Management. Christine began lecturing at SHMS in 2008 while also working as an associate lecturer with The Open University. 

Ms. Mona Bassouini began her hospitality career in Food and Beverage and has held leadership roles across restaurants, hotel operations, and retail outlets in Switzerland, Scotland, and South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management and Entrepreneurship from Edinburgh Napier University. One of her most rewarding experiences was serving as General Manager of a three-star hotel in Switzerland, overseeing a team of more than 28 employees. At SHMS, Ms. Bassouini is passionate about guiding first-year students in fine dining service while fostering confidence, teamwork, cultural awareness, and professionalism.

Ms. Miriam Conrad is an alumna of EHL Hospitality Business School and holds a Master’s degree in Interior Design for Hotels, Bars & Restaurants from ELISAVA School of Design & Engineering in Barcelona. She has worked across hospitality consulting, concept & interior design, retail and visual merchandising, and experiential travel design, translating brand visions into cohesive spaces and creating commercially engaging experiences. Alongside her academic role, she is developing her own lifestyle and wellness brand, bringing an entrepreneurial perspective to her practice-based industry insights into the classroom, guiding students to connect creativity with business.

After graduating from business school, Bruno Dard began his career in the watch industry and spent 20 years developing luxury watch brands. After eight years of strategic brand building for companies such as Frédérique Constant and Alpina Geneva, he became an executive board member at Hermès, elevating the watch division by establishing clearer product offer and a more selective distribution network.

With over 20 years of experience in hospitality management, international education, and executive leadership, Stephan Earnhart has held key positions such as Managing Director, General Manager, and Director of Operations for renowned brands like Ritz-Carlton, Hilton Worldwide, and Small Luxury Hotels. His expertise has been sought after by industry giants including Walt Disney World, Peninsula Hotels, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Stephan has a master's in education from the University of Derby and an MBA from Rushmore University, and was previously Dean and Academic Director at SHMS.

Ms. Ayshe Erinc began her journey in Sales and Reservations at the Crans-Montana Ski Resort and has vast experience in various hotel and HR functions. She lectured and worked in Sales and Recruitment at Vatel before joining HIM in 2021. She was awarded a BBA from Temple University specializing in Marketing and International Business and a MBA in Hotel Management.

A dedicated learning & development professional for more than 20 years, Ms. Nina Fleurie initially focused on HRM & People Development for Hilton Hotels and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, among others, before transitioning to a full-time hospitality educator. She has an MBA from IMHI/Essec Business School and Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell. She also holds a Postgraduate Certification in Coaching & Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University, U.K.

Ms. Olga Frei brings extensive experience in events, project management, and operations across international sectors. She holds Master’s degrees in International Business and Management and International Economics, and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Operations Management at SHMS. As an alumna, Ms. Frei is proud to join the faculty, combining her academic background with practical industry expertise. She teaches events driven by a genuine passion for creating meaningful experiences and developing future industry leaders.

Ms. Véronique Gaspard graduated from the Université de Toulouse-Le-Mirai, obtained an MBA from the University of Essex and a PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Derby. She has launched luxury brands, recruited and trained sales teams, and opened and operated points of sales. She held executive positions with luxury cosmetic companies including Estée Lauder Group and Beiersdorf La Prairie.

With a degree in Literature and French teaching from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Spanish teaching from the University of Salamanca, and a Postgraduate Certificate (PGC) in Higher Education from the University of Derby, Ms. Claudia Gin has 18+ years of teaching experience in language education. She was a full-time pedagogical coordinator at Ecole Païdos in Lausanne. Ms. Gin specializes in scientific and applied pedagogical methods that foster creativity and meet the needs of different educational realities.

Mr.Corentin Guédon brings over a decade of Fine Dining and operational management expertise, having held leadership positions in prestigious five-star hotels across Europe and aboard luxury cruise ships. Holder of a Swiss Federal Certificate in Restaurant Management, he joined SHMS as a lecturer in 2023, where he now shares his industry experience with students through Beverage classes and F&B Operations.

Mr. Philippe Gueltzer holds a Master’s in Higher Education with a focus on Curriculum Design, a BS in Hospitality Management from Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, and is a certified WSET Educator. He has over 25 years of international experience in hospitality including executive management positions and F&B operations with luxury hotels and businesses such as Sofitel, Raffles, BW, SLH, and Group Flo Asia.

Mr. Christiaan Heisey is a chef and lecturer at SHMS with a background in Economics and Culinary Management. He spent years working in luxury catering for London’s most high-profile events, including Wimbledon Tennis, the BAFTAs, and the Chelsea Flower Show. Since joining the faculty in 2025, he has focused on teaching students the realities of large-scale event production and gastronomy. His approach combines creative culinary execution with the sharp financial logic required to lead in the hospitality industry.

Mr. Bryan Jubert holds a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Lausanne and brings over 10 years of experience in language education as a lecturer in both French and English. His academic background in literature has shaped a deep appreciation for language, which he brings into his dynamic and engaging teaching. Mr. Jubert is passionate about student success and is committed to creating a supportive and stimulating learning environment that empowers each student to reach their full potential.

Ms. Parveen Kader graduated from the University of Mahatma Gandhi with a bachelor's degree in Science. She holds a PGD in Higher Education from the University of Derby, and a Master in Computer Applications from the University of Bharathiar. She has a deep understanding of Content Management Systems and extensive hands-on experience in providing IT Infrastructure and Application Support.

Combining his hospitality background with finance and business expertise, Laszlo Kele has held several directorship and chief executive positions for Swiss International Hotels & Resorts, Golf Hotel Rene Capt, 9Stars Riviera, and more. As an alumnus of a hospitality school himself, he shares valuable knowledge and experience with students. Mr. Kele is currently Senior Advisor to Accenture in Zurich.

Dr. Timothy Lee is a Professor and the Vice Dean at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), and a Research Fellow at César Ritz Colleges and SHMS. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Tourism Research, which is listed in the SSCI Q1 and A in the ABDC (Australian Business Deans Council). He has published more than 350 research articles in academic journals, books, and conference proceedings (including 140 in SSCI-indexed journals, and 130 in A* or A-ranked journals in the ABDC). His research interests include medical/wellness/health tourism, food tourism, cultural heritage tourism, and tourism development that incorporates local values. His personal website is www.proftimothylee.com

Mr. Nektarios Lykopantis graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a BA in Hospitality Management. He holds a Master in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from Cesar Ritz Colleges and a Master in Education from the University of Derby. He has worked as General Manager in luxury boutique hotels, and as Director of Food & Beverage for a Hotel Management Consulting company.

Ms. Kathryn Medico is a journalist, author and lecturer from the United States. A former manager at Ritz-Carlton, she shares her experience in the hospitality industry with students. As well as having written a book on the issues of juvenile justice, 'A Perversion of Justice', she is an international conference speaker on the rights of children and a University of Derby and University of Florida graduate.

Dr. Vanessa Mendes is a hospitality educator with 20+ years of international experience in luxury hospitality, events, and higher education across Portugal, Dubai, and Greece. She holds a PhD in Psychology and Education Sciences from the University of Coimbra, with research focused on well-being in hospitality education. Her academic background also includes Master’s degrees in Business (Strategy & Leadership) and Hospitality Management, a BA in Business Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Operations Management from SHMS. Additionally, she has professional certificates in Food & Beverage Management (Cornell University) and Lifestyle & Wellness Coaching (Harvard Medical School).

Ms. Maria Mendes Costa holds a Master’s degree in Marketing Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Languages and Business Relations. Originally from Portugal, she has professional experience spanning Marketing Management, Branding, Graphic Design, and Communications. She is currently a Marketing Lecturer at SHMS, where she teaches across different programmes, including Marketing and Branding Management, Digital Sales and Marketing, Business Studies, and Innovation in Design and Technology.

An accomplished hospitality professional from Switzerland with extensive experience from Guest Relations to Property Management, Mr. Michael Meshulam has managed hospitality properties in Asia and Europe. He specializes in implementing modern processes and streamlining communications across departments. Mr. Meshulam teaches strategic management, data-driven decision making, and digital sales & marketing at SHMS.

Dr. David Milson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Classics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a Master of Science in Town Planning and Urban Design from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and a Master of Studies in Byzantine Studies and D.Phil. in Archaeology from Oxford University. Dr. Milson also founded 3DWM Design, a company providing photo-realistic imagery for the architecture, development, and marketing sectors.

Dr. Bendegul “Benny” Okumus is Professor at the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, University of South Carolina. Previously, she served as Assistant and Associate Professor at UCF’s Rosen College. She holds degrees in nutrition, food science and technology (BSc, MSc, PhD) and an MSc in hospitality and tourism management. With over 25 years of teaching and research across six universities in three countries, she has taught courses ranging from nutrition and wellness to international cuisine, sustainability, and hospitality leadership. Her professional experience includes roles in theme parks, hotels, restaurants, event management, and public health. Her research centers on food and culinary tourism, healthy eating, food safety, wellness, and food waste. She has published 75+ journal articles, one book, and eight book chapters, accumulating 5,900 citations and an h-index of 31.

Professor Fevzi Okumus is a teacher and researcher of strategic management, leadership, hospitality, services marketing, and lodging. He is a William McFall “Mac” Pearce Endowed Professor and Director of Global Strategy and Strategic Engagement at the University of South Carolina. Until 2025, he was Pegasus Professor and CFHLA Preeminent Chair at UCF’s Rosen College, where he also founded the Hospitality Services Department. He has published over 340 works, including 230+ journal articles, seven books, and 90 conference presentations, with more than 34,100 citations and an h-index of 82. Recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher (2021–2024), he serves as Editor-in-Chief of IJCHM and JHTI, and Founding Editor of JHTH. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has received numerous awards, including UCF’s Pegasus Professor Award in 2025.

Mr. Robin Reid graduated from the University of Loughborough with a bachelor's degree and diploma in Industrial Studies in Business Administration. He has extensive working experience in both Sales and Finance, establishing distribution channels across the globe as an Export Sales Manager for a leading Publicly Limited Company before returning to the UK and becoming a CFO for 15 years.

Nicolas Reine graduated from the Institute for Political Studies of Aix-en-Provence, majoring in International Relations, and holds an MBA from ESSEC Hospitality Management School. He has over 20 years of professional experience in market research and in the hospitality industry, having worked in various operational, management, and consulting positions. 

Ms. Dácil Rodriguez holds a Master in Architecture from the ETSAM (Polytechnic University of Madrid). After obtaining her PGCert in Higher Education from the University of Derby, she has been teaching and exchanging knowledge for the past 8 years. She has been involved in large-scale projects for research, planning, and design practices in developing regions.

With over 30 years teaching in both the private and public sector, Dr. Lindsey Thomas has been the Director of Language Studies at Swiss Education Group and was Head of Student Services for 19 years. Dr. Thomas holds a doctorate in higher education from the University of Derby as well as a humanities degree from the University of Hertfordshire.