According to Booking.com’s latest Sustainability Report, 84% of global travellers intend to travel more sustainably. This growing awareness marks a profound shift in customer priorities: experience and destination now go hand in hand with the impact those choices have on local communities and the planet. In this context, Les Roches’ second-place position globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for Hospitality & Leisure Management is more than a proud milestone. It is a clear signal that higher education must take the lead in shaping a future where excellence is aligned with social impact and environmental responsibility.
Educating sustainability-driven hospitality leaders
The hospitality industry faces increasing pressure to embrace more responsible business models. Educating the next generation of leaders with a sustainability mindset is no longer optional, it’s an ethical imperative. At Les Roches, we have not only recognised this, but we have also embedded it into the core of our educational identity.
Academic programs such as our Bachelor of Science in Global Hospitality Management with a specialisation in sustainable development, our Executive MBA, and targeted diplomas like the Cruise Line Management program include modules on circular economy, carbon footprint management, and regenerative tourism.
Learning is applied far beyond the classroom: our students regularly contribute to real-world industry projects with measurable impact, from designing low-emission guest experiences to helping hotels implement zero-waste F&B operations, amongst others.
Innovation and entrepreneurship with purpose
Our SPARK Innovation Sphere – Les Roches’ entrepreneurial and incubation hub – is a catalyst for sustainable innovation in the industry. Through SPARK, students and business partners develop clean-tech and eco-friendly solutions that address real environmental challenges and provide viable actionable business solutions for the hospitality industry.
From energy-saving tools to digital platforms that encourage responsible guest behaviour, SPARK fosters a sustainability-driven entrepreneurial mindset while delivering practical, scalable solutions for the industry.
Academic research that moves the industry forward
Academic excellence must be matched by research that fuels industry change. Les Roches faculty are advancing the field with research in sustainable practices, environmental innovation, and responsible tourism.
A standout example is Professor Jaime Hervás, recently named one of the 50+1 Most Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Professionals in Europe and Latin America 2025 by the Ibero-American Forum on Sustainable Tourism. His recognition reflects the leadership and influence of Les Roches in shaping the sustainability agenda.
Operational excellence that leads by example
True leadership requires action. At Les Roches, our campuses operate according to the same principles we teach. In 2024, despite increased student and staff numbers, we reduced electricity consumption compared to the previous year. We fully transitioned to a 100% electric vehicle fleet, eliminating diesel use altogether.
Solar panels are already active at our Marbella campus, with similar initiatives underway in Crans-Montana. Food waste is monitored and reduced using Swiss technology KITRO, delivering measurable environmental benefits. Local sourcing through zero-kilometre policies and environmentally guided purchasing protocols further reduces our carbon footprint while strengthening local economies.
In waste management, Les Roches has implemented internal recycling systems, procedures for hazardous waste, and purchasing guidelines based on environmental impact — favouring biodegradable products and reusable packaging.
These efforts earned Les Roches a place on the Climate Friendly Travel Register and contribute directly to the UN 2030 Agenda goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 55%.
Sustainability as a competitive advantage in guest experience
Sustainability is no longer a marketing buzzword; it is a decisive factor in the guest experience. Destinations and hospitality brands must respond to a more informed and environmentally aware traveller. And this transformation starts with education.
As proud members of UN Tourism (formerly UNWTO) since 2017, Les Roches is committed to producing professionals capable of turning sustainable practices into tangible business results – from concept to execution, and from local solutions to global strategy.
Community action and purpose-driven engagement
Beyond the campus, Les Roches remains closely engaged with its local and global communities. Through our ‘We Care 4 Others’ initiative – a key pillar of our CSR framework – we lead our student body to volunteer efforts and partner with NGOs.
Through these activities, we deepen the connection between education, empathy, and civic responsibility.
Shaping the leaders who will transform the industry
If education is about preparing people for the real world, then hospitality education must prepare future leaders to care for the planet as much as they care for their guests.
At Les Roches, we believe that academic excellence must always go hand in hand with responsibility. We are not just educating hospitality professionals: we are shaping future leaders ready to redefine the hospitality and travel industry through purpose and sustainability.
By Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches
Meanwhile, Les Roches and Sommet Education Foundation have announced their partnership with UN Tourism in launching the Social Innovation Challenge, a global call to accelerate startups and scaleups that deliver sustainable, inclusive, and green solutions with measurable social impact.
The initiative is powered by strategic partners: Sommet Education Foundation as the education partner, the non-for-profit entity from Sommet Education, world leader in hospitality education, with the involvement of its hospitality school, Les Roches.
With tourism contributing 10.4% of global GDP in 2023 and supporting 319 million jobs worldwide, the challenge comes at a pivotal time. As the sector recovers from global disruptions, new models are needed to address climate change, inequality, accessibility gaps, and the need for regenerative growth.
A global call for bold solutions
The UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge seeks bold, tech-driven and people-centred solutions across three categories:
- Category 1: Community-Based Tourism
Empower communities by involving them in tourism value chains, cultural preservation, and local entrepreneurship.
- Category 2: Inclusivity & Accessibility
Enhance travel for people with disabilities, seniors, and those with specific access needs through universal design and inclusive services.
- Category 3: Green Projects
Promote technologies and practices that reduce the environmental impact of tourism, support circular economy models, and help manage mass tourism through smart solutions.
Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism, said: “Innovation is not just about technology – it’s about empowering people, preserving our planet, and shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for global tourism. Globally, social enterprises contribute over 5% of GDP in many countries and employ millions, with a significant focus on tackling inequality, environmental sustainability, and community development. This challenge is a call to action for solutions that place social innovation and equality at the heart of tourism.”
Education as the engine of transformation
As education partner, Sommet Education Foundation will provide scholarships that empower individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds to access world-class higher education hospitality programs. Winners of the challenge’s scholarships will undertake higher education programs at Les Roches to gain the skills and knowledge needed to develop their bold ideas into impactful and innovative products and services.
Anouck Weiss, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Sommet Education Foundation, commented: “At Sommet Education Foundation, we are committed to empowering the next generation of changemakers through access to world-class hospitality education. By supporting the Social Innovation Challenge, we aim to not only foster inclusive and sustainable tourism – but also to provide the skills and knowledge needed to shape bold ideas into innovative products and services. These scholarships will enable individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter prestigious institutions like Les Roches, equipping them with the tools to drive meaningful social impact. Education is the engine of transformation, and through this initiative, we are nurturing talent that will lead tourism into a more resilient, equitable, and regenerative future.”
Les Roches: Shaping innovative hospitality leaders
Les Roches, as part of the Sommet Education network, will host selected entrepreneurs at its Marbella campus. Winners will receive up to six full scholarships for advanced hospitality programs lasting 9-12 months, providing both academic excellence and direct exposure to global industry leaders.
Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches, added: “Tourism has the power to transform societies, elevate communities, and inspire global progress when anchored in inclusivity and sustainability. At Les Roches, we believe education is the spark that turns ideas into movements and equips hospitality leaders to shape the future. By supporting the Social Innovation Challenge alongside the Sommet Education Foundation and UN Tourism, we are helping accelerate solutions that can deliver real impact for communities and the planet.”
Call for applications
The Challenge is open to entrepreneurs, start-ups and scaleups with a disruptive approach in the tourism sector, offering solutions that have at least a minimum viable product (MVP) or are ready for implementation.
The UN Tourism Social Innovation Challenge is also backed by Plug and Play as the technology partner, and TORNUS Agency as branding and communications partner.
Applications will close 8th December 2025.
Selected finalists will gain access to a wide range of strategic benefits, including:
- Up to six full scholarships financed by Sommet Education Foundation for higher education programs from 9-12 months in hospitality education and international hotel management delivered at Les Roches Marbella.
- The opportunity to pitch at the UN Tourism Demo Day, and connection to a global network of 90+ investors and leading tourism corporations in over 160 countries.
- Finalists personalised mentorship through the UN Tourism Innovation Network.
- Exclusive Plug and Play benefits such as access to the Silicon Valley Summit.
- Scholarships offered by the UN Tourism Online Academy.
Watch UN Tourism’s video here.
