Les Roches & ADHA Win 3 Prestigious 2025 ISTTE Awards
Les Roches and Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy Les Roches Receive 3 Prestigious 2025 ISTTE Awards
India, 28th October, 2025: The International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards during its 44th Annual Conference, recognizing exceptional contributions to global tourism and hospitality education. This year, Les Roches received the 2025 ISTTE Institutional Achievement Award, while Professor Edmund Goh, Associate Dean of Research & Innovation at Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, was honored with the 2025 ISTTE Heidi Sung Achievement Award and Best Working Paper Award. Professor Goh has also been recognised among the top 2% of researchers worldwide by Stanford University and Elsevier, this marks his fifth consecutive year (2021–2025) receiving this distinction.
Les Roches has been honoured with the award in recognition of its long-standing impact on travel and tourism education worldwide. In 2024, the institution achieved official recognition as a Swiss University of Applied Sciences Institute, a testament to its academic strength and industry relevance. That same year, Les Roches expanded its international footprint with the opening of a new campus in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its commitment to delivering globally minded hospitality education in key markets.
In 2025, Les Roches was ranked No. 2 globally for Hospitality and Leisure Management by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, further cementing its position as one of the world’s top institutions in its field. With more than 16,000 Alumni contributing to the industry worldwide, the institution’s influence spans continents and generations.
“These awards affirm the vision, dedication, and global impact of Les Roches over the past 70 years. From our roots in Switzerland to our growing presence in the Middle East and beyond, we remain committed to shaping the future of global hospitality education with innovation, excellence, and purpose,” said Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches.
Additionally, the 2025 ISTTE Heidi Sung Achievement Award presented to Professor Edmund Goh celebrates a distinguished academic career that spans more than two decades. An accomplished scholar, Professor Goh has published over 150 academic papers and conference proceedings. His research has garnered more than 6,000 citations, with an H-index of 40 and an i10-index of 61—metrics that reflect his sustained influence in the field. Professor Goh and Sarah Belanger, Senior Practical Arts Instructor at Abu Dhabi Hospitality Academy – Les Roches, also received the 2025 ISTTE Best Working Paper Award for their project “Visualising the Sequence of Service AI-Generated Flowcharts”.
He has been consistently ranked among the top 2% of global scientists from 2021 to 2025, underscoring his contributions to hospitality and tourism research. “I am humbled to receive the Heidi Sung Achievement Award and inclusion in the top 2% of global scientists. The recognitions reflect the many inspiring colleagues, students, and mentors I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career. I remain passionate about pushing the boundaries of knowledge and education to prepare future leaders for this dynamic industry,” said Professor Goh.
Professor Goh also serves on the editorial boards of 10 leading academic journals in hospitality and tourism. His service to the sector includes a term as Vice Chair of the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), and as an external expert auditor for Australia’s Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). He has also received multiple awards for teaching and research excellence throughout his career.