Vistula School of Hospitality

Vistula School of Hospitality is a university business college that prepares graduates for work in the field for the creation and management of tourism, sports and recreation companies.

Vistula School of Hospitality was formed by the merger of three colleges of tourism.

The Higher School of Tourism and Recreation, named after Mieczyslaw Orłowicz, in Warsaw was established in 1995 and given entry number 56 in the register of the Ministry of National Education for Non-State Universities. The founding organisation of the Higher School of Tourism and Recreation was the Centre of Tourist Education Ltd. The Higher School of Tourism and Recreation was the first tourist university in the industry. The University received the honorary award of "Globe '98" granted by the Polish Chamber of Tourism for achievements in personnel training for tourism in Poland. The Higher School of Tourism and Recreation was awarded the Medal of Merit for Tourism. It also received recognition from the Polish Tourist Organisation for its educational achievements and its significant contribution to the development of tourism. In addition, the Polish Chamber of Tourism expressed its appreciation for the School's cooperation and contribution to the development of Polish tourism.

The ranking of universities providing tourism and recreation education by the weekly journal 'Wprost' ranked the Higher School of Tourism and Recreation in the first place every year from 2003 to 2007. The confirmation of the degree's market value was provided by the results of the 2008 National Ranking of Universities by the weekly 'Newsweek Poland'. It presented the percentage of young university graduates occupying managerial positions in 1,409 surveyed companies in different industries. The Higher School of Tourism and Recreation was placed 1st of all tourism and recreation universities and was in 4th place of all the public and private universities in Poland.

Another university that became part of the School of Tourism and Recreation was the Higher School of Hotel Management, Catering and Tourism in Warsaw. This was a non-state college (Registration No. 84), which from 2009 has been offering a Masters degree in "Tourism and Recreation" specialising in the hotel and catering industry.

The third school which became part of the School of Tourism and Recreation was the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management in Łódź, a non-state school of higher education established in 2000. It offers specialisations in tourism, hotel management, catering and recreation. In 2007 it set up another campus in Gostynin.
The final entity to join the School of Tourism and Recreation was the Institute of Tourism, created in 1972 on the basis of the Council of Ministers Act No. 108 of 26 April 1972. It is the only research and development unit in Poland that conducts interdisciplinary, comprehensive research in the field of tourism. It works in the area of research, analyses, provision of expert opinions, organisation of training and seminars focused on the general sector of tourism.