AEHT – EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF HOTEL AND TOURISM SCHOOLS
AEHT is an International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) enjoying consultative status with the Council of Europe. The prime objective of the association is to promote a European outlook among Hotel and Tourism Schools:
- by acting as a link between European Hotel and Tourism Schools
- by promoting hospitality education in member countries and beyond
- by encouraging exchanges of students and teachers
- by creating closer links between schools and businesses
- by creating innovative teaching methods and materials, and exchanging knowledge and skills.
AEHT connects not only schools and their principals but focuses its activities predominantly on students and teachers. A large range of events is organised to meet the needs of all of these groups.
AEHT is run by an Executive Board, made up of one representative from each of the member countries. These members then elect a President and several Vice-Presidents. Communication and administrative support is provided by the Secretary General that sits in Luxemburg. Their roles are defined in the Association’s Statutes, while the House Rules define the roles of the members of the Managing Committee and of the Executive Board.
The Association was created in 1988 upon the initiative of Jean-Paul Bernard and Martin Bruder, Head and Deputy Head respectively of the Strasbourg-Illkirch Hotel and Tourism School in France.
At the time of its foundation in 1988, the AEHT consisted of 24 schools from 16 European countries. Over the years it has grown considerably, and now has a membership of around 400, with an AEHT national representative in 40 European countries.