In brief
- Inauguration of the École Cheval Excellence Hôtelière on Thursday, 22 October 2026 in Besançon.
- Takeover of the historic institution founded in 1916 by the CCI Saône-Doubs after its liquidation in 2023.
- Transformation of the pedagogical model towards apprenticeship, making training that was once charged at €12,000 free of charge.
- An initial intake of 16 students selected from 100 applications for the profession of housekeeper.
The inauguration of the École Cheval Excellence Hôtelière, this Thursday, 22 October 2026 in Besançon, marks the rebirth of a historic institution in the French hospitality landscape, now located at 46 avenue Villarceau. Housed in the premises of the Chambre de commerce et d’Industrie (CCI) Saône-Doubs, the school is turning the page on a period of turbulence to anchor itself in luxury hospitality through apprenticeship.
This rebirth takes place in the heart of the Doubs prefecture, a historic city renowned for its tradition of high standards and cultural heritage in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. By establishing itself permanently in this strategic environment, the establishment is not merely relaunching a professional teaching tool: it is redefining the standards of training for high-end hospitality professions. The ambition stated by local stakeholders is to create a centre of excellence capable of promoting Franc-Comtois expertise far beyond its regional borders, by directly connecting the talents of tomorrow with the strictest requirements of exceptional hospitality.
The high-end hospitality sector is facing a profound transformation of its professions, where technical rigour must constantly be accompanied by an acute sense of personalised welcome, discretion, and bespoke service. By moving to 46 avenue Villarceau, the school chooses a perfectly structured setting to deliver this high-precision teaching. Learners find an organisation designed to stimulate theoretical learning while actively preparing for the demanding realities of the field. The approach initiates a new dynamic for the Besançon territory, which thus consolidates its role as a training player for prestige accommodation professions.
The rescue of a century-old hospitality heritage
The Cours Hôtelier Bisontin, better known as the École Cheval, very nearly disappeared after the announcement of its liquidation in September 2023. The CCI Saône-Doubs took over the school’s assets in April 2024 with the deep conviction that expertise founded in 1916 could not be allowed to die out. Under the impetus of its president Jean-Luc Quivogne, the establishment has been redesigned to combine historic heritage with the contemporary requirements of the greatest palaces.
Founded during the First World War, this Bisontine institution has spanned more than a century of French hospitality history, training generations of professionals recognised for the quality of their operational rigour. The closure announced during the liquidation in September 2023 had sparked strong emotion among economic and regional players, aware of the intangible and heritage value represented by the school. The outright disappearance of this hospitality signature would have constituted a major loss for the professional teaching fabric of the Saône-Doubs region.
The takeover orchestrated in April 2024 by the Chambre de commerce et d’Industrie Saône-Doubs therefore acted as a true institutional shield. Under the leadership of Jean-Luc Quivogne, the CCI committed to preserving the establishment’s DNA while adapting its structures to the economic and social realities of the 21st century. This rescue is based on the conviction that learning gestures of excellence requires solid historical foundations, capable of inspiring new generations. The reinvented school thus honours the legacy left by its founders while equipping itself with the strategic levers necessary to meet the evolving expectations of luxury partner establishments.
Apprenticeship as a vector for accessible excellence
A pedagogical revolution focused on apprenticeship
The great revolution of this reopening lies in accessibility: while tuition fees previously amounted to around €12,000, students now benefit from apprentice status, making the training free and paid. This work-study model, comprising one week at school and three weeks in immersion within 4 and 5-star hotels, allows for the attraction of talent regardless of their financial resources while meeting the recruitment needs of the sector.
The abandonment of the private paid teaching model in favour of a course fully covered within the framework of apprenticeship constitutes a fundamental paradigm shift. Previously, the cost of €12,000 represented an insurmountable financial barrier for many high-potential candidates. By opening the way to free education and guaranteeing legal remuneration for learners, the École Cheval Excellence Hôtelière democratises access to the most prestigious careers. This approach promotes real social diversity within the cohorts, with selection based exclusively on the motivation, vocation, and aptitudes of the candidates.
The immersion rhythm chosen, structured around one week of theoretical and practical classes in Besançon followed by three weeks within 4 and 5-star hotels, offers a particularly effective balance. This prolonged rhythm in the company allows apprentices to fully integrate into the daily life of housekeepers and management teams of partner establishments. They discover the reality of guest flows, the management of the unexpected, and the strict application of quality procedures specific to high-end establishments. For the host structures, this format guarantees a continuous and operational presence of the learners, who quickly become valuable collaborators within the housekeeping and governance teams.
Premises designed for luxury standards
To guarantee optimal transmission of technical gestures, the CCI has invested in pedagogical spaces reproducing the real conditions of the housekeeper profession. For this first intake, 16 students were selected from a total of over one hundred applications. These future professionals evolve in a modern setting, while benefiting from the institution’s prestigious network for their internships and apprenticeship contracts in Maisons.
The selectivity observed during this first cohort testifies to the establishment’s regained attractiveness. With 16 places awarded for over a hundred applications submitted, the recruitment process confirms strong demand from young people and professionals in career transition attracted by hospitality governance professions. The selected students evolve within technical platforms specially fitted out at the headquarters of the CCI Saône-Doubs, faithfully recreating the workspaces of the greatest Maisons: mock-up rooms with high-end bedding, reception areas, and linen management zones meeting the most demanding standards.
The profession of housekeeper for a home or hotel requires absolute precision in cleanliness control, floor staff management, supply provisioning, and constant attention paid to the well-being of the clientele. The teaching provides the most rigorous methods for orchestrating the invisible but indispensable operations for the perfect functioning of an exceptional establishment. By mastering traditional expertise such as the use of new hospitality management technologies, the 2026 cohort is preparing to join teams throughout France and internationally, supported by the excellence of the school’s partnership network.
The strategic stakes of governance in high-end hospitality
In the ecosystem of luxury hospitality and high-end hotels, the role of the housekeeper is vital for maintaining the brand image and operational excellence of an establishment. This key service, often described as the heart of the hotel, ensures that every space offers an irreproachable level of perfection. The École Cheval Excellence Hôtelière focuses a large part of its programme on mastering these requirements, training professionals capable of supervising cleanliness, maintenance, and the aesthetics of rooms and common areas, while coordinating floor teams with great rigour.
Beyond pure technique, governance in prestige hospitality requires varied skills in management, budget management, and customer relations. The professionals trained in Besançon learn to anticipate residents’ desires, manage special requests, and maintain permanent quality control. The evolution of the sector also requires awareness of new eco-responsible practices, the rational management of cleaning products, and respect for ergonomics at work for floor brigades. This global vision of the profession guarantees graduates rapid professional integration in a market constantly seeking qualified and immediately operational staff.
A digital showcase for the school’s future
A digital showcase turned towards the international stage
The management, represented by Françoise Sanchez, took advantage of the inauguration to present the new website dedicated to the École Cheval Excellence Hôtelière. This digital portal traces the history of the establishment through a chronological timeline paying tribute to Madame Denise Cheval, while promoting the alumni network and partner hotels. It now constitutes the central pivot for the recruitment of future candidates and the development of the school’s international influence.
The launch of this portal is part of the global modernisation strategy led by Françoise Sanchez and the CCI Saône-Doubs. By highlighting the historic figure of Madame Denise Cheval through an interactive journey, the site recalls the century-old roots of the establishment while asserting its position in the digital age. The chronological timeline allows for the appreciation of the continuity of expertise preserved since 1916, creating a bridge between hospitality tradition and contemporary apprenticeship methods.
This new digital tool fulfils a key function in the development of partnerships and the external visibility of the school. It allows prestige establishments, located both in France and abroad, to discover the detailed content of the training, the apprenticeship terms, and the profile of the learners. For students from past cohorts, the platform acts as a rallying point facilitating the maintenance of a dynamic alumni network. This structured directory promotes the mentoring of new cohorts and the exchange of career opportunities within high-end establishments, consolidating the school’s influence on the global hospitality market.
