In the academic year 1993-1994, a new course at the Universidad Autònoma de Barcelona commenced (the Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management ) and a little later, the first cohort in Hotel Management would graduate. In 2008-09 this education celebrated its 15th anniversary. So far, 15 cohorts and almost one thousand students have completed these studies.

On the occasion of this achievement, a piece of work has been recently published describing the track record of the University School of Tourism and Hotel Management (EUTDH) and all the evolution of the studies of the Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management (future undergraduate course) in a university framework, in the context of the tourism and hotel industry, and besides in the social and economic environment of Catalonia and Spain.

The publication entitled “Hotel Management at the UAB. 15 years of History” also compiles the opinions of various figures linked with this school (its Director, Francesc J. Uroz ; the Director of Studies, the lecturer Maria Noguera ; the administrator of the School and the Department of Quality and Environment, Maria Àngels Rodríguez ; and the former Vice President and General Director of the Foundation Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Dr. Santiago Guerrero ), where they analyze from the perspective of their respective work areas the track record of these studies and of the School throughout this period of teaching and scientific research.

The students were and are an important part of daily life at the EUTDH and its success as a leading school and a benchmark for Catalonia. For this reason, a specific chapter has been dedicated to gathering together the experiences of ex-students at the school and how it influenced them later in their careers.

The companies and entities of the tourism and hotel industry that have always supported our hotel management courses are also included in one of the chapters of this publication. In this chapter, details are given about how the companies contributed to make the work placement easier for students to continue their education from an applied aspect. Furthermore, they have participated in event management, like the annual Workshop which puts students in touch with the world of business to help them access the labour market.

Finally, we received as a special collaboration, the prestigious film director Jaume Balagueró , who left his hallmark with the writing of an unpublished short story set in a famous hotel in Paris.