Mark Petrig, Academic Director

Prior to joining IHTTI in 2009, Mark Petrig held several Management positions within Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, leading two properties through acquisition and a subsequent multi-million dollar refurbishment. His final role in Wyndham VRAP was as General Manager of a 120 room Hotel in Sydney CBD, with additional responsibility for two associate resorts. Before moving into General Management Mark held several roles Internationally in Front Office Management, Revenue Management and also as a qualified Chef in Australia and Switzerland.

Mark Petrig holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Hospitality Management from Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne

Theresa von Wielligh, Executive Academic Assistant

After having graduated with a Bachelor's Primary Education and Bachelor of Education (honours) in Education Management and working extensively as an educator in multicultural South Africa, Theresa von Weilligh decided to pursue her ambition of entering into the hospitality industry by furthering her studies in Switzerland.

After graduating as a PG student in Events Management from SHMS Leysin, Theresa von Weilligh was granted the opportunity to combine both educational and hospitality qualification in her current position as Executive Academic Assistant of IHTTI in Neuchâtel.

As an avid supporter of life-long learning and facilitation of creative development, Theresa von Weilligh also obtained a qualification in Interior Decorating from City and Guilds of London.  Other interests include: reading, cooking, sewing and traveling.

Chris Maree, Program Leader

Both an avid traveller and Lecturer now since 2006. I decided to become an educator so that I could inspire others to learn, just as my teachers fostered my love of knowledge and constant personal development. My favourite quote is scientia potentia est which is Latin for "knowledge is power” (Sir Francis Bacon).

Chris Maree received a BA(Hons) in International Hospitality and Tourism Management from Bournemouth University after completing a Swiss Higher Diploma from Hotel Institute Montreux (HIM) in Switzerland. He has several years working experience in hotels and resorts in USA and UK and has held managerial positions in Guest Relations and Conference and Events. He joins us from the English county of Kent near where he has worked in international travel as a consultant in London for almost 2 years. Originally from South Africa, where he spent most of his youth involved with studying and practising classical music, he is now finishing his Masters degree in education part-time with the Open University (UK) and aims to complete a Doctorate degree in education in the next few years.

George Butan, Program Leader

I am Front office lecturer since 2003 at IHTTI and as well Program Leader of the first and second year.
My professional and private experiences in various fields enhanced my overall knowledge and view of society and the world. The fields I was involved in range from arts, business to security aspect. I had the chance to grasp knowledge and increase competences in corporate groups as in privately owned businesses.

It gave me the opportunity to develop my senses and work on my personal goals.
I could use one word to describe myself and it is: PASSION
Passion of what I do or intend to do!

Carolin Hase, Lecturer

Carolin started her career in hotel management in 1997, taking a Swiss Higher Diploma in Hotel Management with the Cesar Ritz Colleges in Brig, Switzerland and Sydney, Australia. She worked in the industry for nearly two years, spending time at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and London’s Churchill InterContinental as a management trainee and Food and Beverage supervisor.

Having realized the significance of business strategy and marketing management through her experiences at the two firms, Carolin went on to study for a BA in Marketing and an MA in International Business Management with the University of Glamorgan and Bournemouth University in the UK. During and between her studies, Carolin held marketing management roles with several international corporations in England and Germany.

In 2004, she was offered a scholarship for a doctoral thesis at Bournemouth university alongside a lecturing position for business- and research-related subjects. Carolin’s PhD is ongoing and focuses on organizational behavior and psychology issues in organizations.

She became a lecturer at IHTTI in September 2007 and teaches business administration subjects as well as research methods.

Evangelos Vantzos, Lecturer

Evangelos Vantzos is from Greece and he joined IHTTI January of 2008. After completing his BSc in Greece (Technological Educational Institute of Patras) in Tourism Business Administration (1998), he continued his studies in Bournemouth University (UK). He received his MSc in Tourism Management and Marketing in 2002. Evangelos Vantzos is currently a Ph.D. candidate with University of Plymouth on the field of hotel management. His Ph.D. is about the Customer Relationship Management strategy in the hotel industry focusing to business processes.

He has participated in conferences and he has worked as a lecturer in Business, Tourism and Hospitality Management in Greece and Singapore. In addition, he has worked in the past in hotels (Greece and the United Kingdom).

Evangelos Vantzos' personal interests are: Traveling, basketball, football and music.