Michel Grand

Swiss hospitality transformation specialist, I fuse human insight with cutting-edge thinking to turn good operations into unforgettable, high-performing brands. My mission: help hotels, restaurants and lifestyle ventures leap from “just open” to “industry benchmark” through three pillars:

1. Transmission & Creative Concepts
I design signature guest journeys—story-rich menus, sensory touchpoints, and brand narratives—that elevate experiences and hard-wire loyalty.

2. Transition & Business Turnarounds
Armed with Lean methodology, sharp P&L stewardship and data-driven commercial intelligence, I rescue underperforming properties, slashing waste while boosting margin and morale.

3. Transformation & Growth for PMEs
From hands-on interim leadership to board-level strategy, I mentor small and midsize enterprises toward sustainable, scalable success.

Added value - Talent agent for culinary stars: connecting visionary chefs, sommeliers and hoteliers with the right stages, investors and media spotlights.

= Problem-solver-in-chief: translating complex operational knots into elegant, profitable systems.

Core strengths = ???? Lean Excellence ???? P&L Optimization ???? Market Foresight ???? People-centric leadership

I believe service brilliance is still the ultimate competitive edge—AI just sharpens the blade. If you’re ready to innovate, streamline and inspire, let’s engineer the next era of hospitality together.

As Operations Manager at Ingeus Lausanne, I guided a 25-person team with a people-first, data-sharp approach—coaching talent, boosting engagement and keeping performance on point so every client receives consistently high-quality support. I worked hand-in-hand with the Labour Office and Disability Insurance, translating their requirements into streamlined, compliant workflows while shaping programs that genuinely fit job-seekers’ needs. The result: a service culture that is proactive, measurable, and quietly powerful, rooted in humility and geared toward making work work for everyone.

Independant Career Coach who blends empathy with evidence-based methods to fast-track job seekers into meaningful roles. I deliver high-impact workshops and 1-to-1 coaching that rebuild confidence, sharpen personal branding and master modern interview tech—from AI-powered video mock-ups to pitch-perfect storytelling. Sessions are calibrated to each client’s experience, sector trends and real-time labour-market data, so advice is always actionable.

Wins that drive me: clients who walks in discouraged and walks out fielding offers; practical toolkits that make authenticity persuasive; constant listening that turns obstacles into tailored strategies; and relentless innovation that keeps my methods ahead of the curve.

I believe everyone can reinvent themselves—my mission is to stand beside them with the skills, mindset and momentum to prove it.

Senior Lecturer at César Ritz Colleges (Swiss Education Group), I ignite global classrooms with practice-rich learning that shapes tomorrow’s hospitality leaders. I design and teach forward-looking courses—Business Ethics, F&B & Events, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Career Management, Digital Marketing—anchored in real-world cases and hands-on projects. My live industry network powers the experience: I regularly stream C-suite guest speakers and curate on-site immersions that translate theory into actionable insight.

Results speak: course evaluations top 90 %, student career readiness scores rise semester-on-semester, and employer partners recruit directly from my classes. Colleagues cite my adaptability, creativity and sincere commitment to each learner’s growth.

Beyond the lecture hall, I coach internships and career pathways, matching students with boutique resorts, Michelin-star kitchens and blue-chip travel groups worldwide.

My mission is simple yet ambitious—fuel confidence, sharpen entrepreneurial mindset and connect talent with opportunity—so every graduate leaves not just qualified but future-proofed and inspired to excel.

In 2020 I set off on a 2,643-km pilgrimage, walking 100 days from Lake Constance to Cabo Finisterre—the “End of the Earth.” Crossing snow-capped Swiss passes, vineyard-lined French valleys and Spain’s ancient caminos, I tested my limits daily and discovered strength in simplicity, silence and shared humanity. Each sunrise trek deepened self-awareness; each village welcome affirmed our collective resilience.

The journey didn’t end at the Atlantic. It sparked a lifelong practice of mindful walking—shorter trails that keep curiosity alive and perspective sharp. Lessons learned guide my leadership today: pace yourself, listen deeply, adapt to the unexpected and celebrate small milestones. Above all, purpose grows with every deliberate step. I carry that mindset into every project, inspiring teams to move forward with clarity, courage and compassion.

Senior Lecturer at IMI International Management Institute Lucerne, I championed service excellence and strategic insight across hospitality, real-estate and luxury programmes. Drawing on 30 years of global industry success, I designed immersive, case-driven courses that placed students in the hot seat of opening landmark hotels, repositioning iconic estates and crafting sustainable luxury brands. Every class fused theory with live client briefs, demanding flawless service design, ethical leadership and agile problem-solving. My bespoke materials—tailored to diverse cultural cohorts—ignited critical thinking and innovation, while interactive workshops on branding, ESG and high-touch guest experience sharpened commercial acumen.

Mentoring sat at the core: I coached emerging leaders to translate vision into actionable projects, catalysing award-winning student ventures and coveted internships. Colleagues praised my inclusive, high-energy style that turns classrooms into collaborative labs of possibility. I remain driven to pass on the mindset that has defined my career: anticipate expectations, elevate experiences, and lead positive change.

Entrepreneurial founder of distriBOtion.CH (2013-2020, Vaud), I turned a bold beverage-tech vision into a national benchmark. I sourced wine-by-the-glass dispensers, reverse beer taps and cocktail machines, opening a Lavaux showroom that doubled as an experience hub for Michelin-star chefs and Lake Geneva artists. Our solutions equipped Swiss icons—Baur-au-Lac Zürich, Cresta Palace St Moritz, PostFinance Arena Bern—and partnered with elite winemakers and leading hotel schools. By anticipating market needs and staging flawless events, I built a reputation-rich business until Covid-19 halted operations.

The resilience behind that success was forged in 2020 during a 2 643-km pilgrimage from Lake Constance to Cabo Finisterre. One hundred days of mindful walking sharpened my empathy, adaptability and purpose—qualities I now pour into every venture. I thrive where innovation, hospitality and human connection meet, ready to craft the next standout story.

www.distriBOtion.CH | www.WineEmotion.CH | www.DrinkNtec.CH | www.ReverseTap.CH

moBOo.CH – Pioneer of Crowdfunding in Switzerland...

Founder & CEO of moBOo.CH, Switzerland’s first independent crowdfunding platform (2012-2018). By uniting ambitious creators with purpose-driven backers, I sparked 200 + regional successes—from a female-led Everest ascent and African relief mission to a polar expedition and an aquatic festival—while operating on a lean, non-profit model. I built the platform end-to-end, coached project owners on business planning and storytelling, and mobilised online communities with emotion-rich rewards: albums, VIP passes, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ideas were validated, capital raised without equity risk and local pride amplified.

The experience sharpened my skills in digital product management, grassroots marketing, strategic mentoring and social-impact finance, proving that collective generosity can outpace traditional funding. I now bring the same entrepreneurial zeal, tech fluency and community-first mindset to ventures that want to turn inspiration into sustainable reality.

Commercial Director at PROVINS, I transformed wine-by-the-glass technology into a CHF 1 million enterprise across Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Germany. With full P&L control, I scaled Enomatic systems and the “Around Wine” range by orchestrating budgets, supply chains and campaigns that boosted revenue and client loyalty. I prospected HORECA, hotel groups, retail and cash-&-carry channels, converting leads into strategic partnerships, while tailored promotions and a quarterly newsletter kept the pipeline vibrant.

Rigorous forecasting and stock vigilance ensured flawless delivery; collaborative sourcing expanded the assortment with local and global partners. Fluent English opened export deals, and tight deadlines never compromised quality. The payoff: market-leading growth, enduring customer relationships and a reputation for disciplined, entrepreneurial execution.

General Manager, Oslo unit (airline catering), with full P&L control of CHF 30 m and 120 multicultural staff. I crafted resource plans, balanced capex/opex, and negotiated collective agreements to keep costs lean without sacrificing quality. My team produced and dispatched thousands of meals, inflight bars and duty-free packages daily, hitting stringent airline SLAs even through industry-wide restructurings.

Robust HSE governance and continuous-improvement sprints cut waste and lifted on-time performance, while cross-functional squads I introduced boosted engagement and innovation. Result: resilient operations, protected margins and client-satisfaction scores that held firm under severe cost pressure. Stakeholders cite my enthusiasm, integrity and calm command in high-pressure settings—strengths I now bring to organisations seeking operational excellence and inspired teams.

Deputy General Manager, Gate Gourmet London Gatwick—second-in-command of a CHF 20 m, 200-strong unit that feeds one of Europe’s busiest airports. With full P&L and service accountability, I shaped lean resource plans, safeguarded HSE and collective-agreement compliance, and rolled out the Global Service Excellence programme that lifted client-satisfaction scores and on-time departures.

My teams produced and dispatched thousands of meals, drinks and duty-free packs daily, meeting airline SLAs despite industry turbulence. Stepping up whenever the GM was off-site, I drove strategic decisions, galvanised cross-functional squads and used data-driven tools to hit every financial and operational KPI.

Colleagues cite my energy, integrity and knack for turning pressure into high-performing collaboration; regulators commend our spotless audits. Fluent in English and French with working knowledge of several European and Asian languages, I bring adaptable leadership, commercial rigour and a relentless drive to elevate service and margins—ready to replicate this success in your operation.