Hotel- og Restaurantskolen

What Hotel- og Restaurantskolen does

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen (HRS), founded in 1922 and headquartered in Valby, Copenhagen, is Denmark's oldest and most established vocational school for gastronomy, hospitality, and culinary arts. The institution delivers a full stack of education: youth vocational programs (EUD in cooking, waiting, smørrebrød/catering, nutritional assistant, receptionist, baker/pastry chef, gourmet butcher), EUX Gastro Science combined vocational/academic tracks, 10th grade preparation (EUD10 and GYM10), adult vocational education (EUV), and 200+ AMU continuing education courses. It also runs premium professional certifications in partnership with Vinakademiet and the Scandinavian Wine Academy — including Sommelier levels 1–2, WSET Levels 2–3 Awards in Wines, Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory + Certified, a Natural Wine Sommelier program, and a Kellner beer-server certification — plus a youth summer cooking school, a webshop, the public Gastro Wiki knowledge base, a 70+ recipe collection, and on-campus public dining venues (Spisehuset, Restauranten, Kaffebaren, Madboderne) that double as live learning environments.

The underlying technology is workshop-based, hands-on vocational training supported by physical infrastructure: teaching kitchens, restaurants, fermentation labs, an organic urban garden (Økologisk Byhave), and a planned new campus (currently halted) that would have added 50 basic workshops and 16 specialized workshops to a 38,500 sqm footprint. Digital assets are limited to the Gastro Wiki content library, the YoungCRM-managed segmented newsletter system, the hrs.dk and shop.hrs.dk e-commerce sites, and a YouTube video presence. HRS does not disclose AI/ML capabilities.

HRS generates revenue through four primary streams: (1) government-funded vocational education via Danish Ministry of Children and Education per-student subsidies; (2) fee-paying professional and continuing education courses (Sommelier N1 at 18,000 DKK, N2 at 26,000 DKK, WSET L3 at 14,500 DKK, Naturvinsommelier full at 20,000 DKK, Kellner at 17,000 DKK) with subsidy eligibility through the Hotel-, Restaurant- og Turisterhvervets Kompetenceudviklingsfond; (3) events, venue rentals, catering, and on-campus public dining; and (4) webshop sales of books, materials, uniforms, and event tickets. The Fullservice solution, launched in May 2026, adds a B2B corporate channel that handles course registration and subsidy applications for employer companies, with the school claiming a potential 1,500 DKK-per-course-day surplus for the client. Go-to-market is sales-led across three audiences — youth/parents/guidance counselors, working professionals, and corporate HR — using info days, 'student for a day' experiences, newsletters, content marketing, and direct outreach, with no paid advertising evident.

Name

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen

Legal name

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen

Website

https://hrs.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen is a 100+ year-old Danish vocational school in Valby, Copenhagen, training chefs, waiters, caterers, and hospitality professionals through youth programs, EUX tracks, and certified continuing education (sommelier, WSET, Kellner, naturvinsommelier).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Culinary and Hospitality Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Caterers (72232), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management (EDAOAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Catering & Events Food Service (EDALADAC), Retail Dining & Quick Service (On-Campus) (EDALADAB), Concessions, Pop-Ups & Temporary Foodservice for Events (THAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Vocational culinary education
• Hospitality training programs
• Sommelier certification courses
• Professional cooking education
• Gastronomy vocational training

Headquarters

HQ city

Valby

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Vocational Education (Erhvervsuddannelser): Government-funded vocational education programs for youth (including EUX Gastro Science, 10th grade, and adult vocational education), funded through the Danish Børne- og Undervisningsministeriet system. Students receive annual reporting and the school receives per-student subsidies.
2. Continuing Education and Professional Courses: Fee-paying courses and after-school programs for working professionals, including sommelier certifications (Vinakademiet), WSET wine credentials, beer service (Kellner), green gastronomy, and AMU labor market training courses. Revenue generated through course fees charged to individuals and employers.
3. Events, Rentals, and Catering: Venue rental and event hosting services, including the school's own restaurants (Spisehuset, Restauranten, Kaffebaren, Madboderne) where student work is showcased. Also includes summer cooking schools for youth (1,400 DKK per participant) and public tasting events.
4. Webshop Sales: Online sales of books, teaching materials, school uniforms, and event tickets through shop.hrs.dk.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen delivers government-recognized vocational education and continuing-education programs in gastronomy, hospitality, and culinary arts, training chefs, waiters, caterers, nutrition assistants, gastronomic assistants, sandwich-makers and other hospitality professionals. Offerings include youth and adult vocational education (EUD/EUX/EUV), 10th-grade tracks, AMU continuing-education courses, and credentialed professional programs (Vinakademiet sommelier levels 1-2, WSET Levels 2-3, Court of Master Sommeliers, Kellner beer service, Natural Wine Sommelier). Complementary services include a corporate fullservice enrollment/subsidy solution, on-campus public restaurants and catering, venue rentals and events, a youth summer cooking school, the Gastro Wiki knowledge base, and a webshop for books, teaching materials, uniforms and event tickets.

Product overview

Hotel- og Restaurantskolen operates a multi-faceted educational ecosystem centered on gastronomy, hospitality, and culinary arts. The core offering consists of vocational education programs (Erhvervsuddannelser), EUX Gastro Science combined academic-vocational tracks, and 10th grade preparation programs (EUD10 and GYM10). These are complemented by an extensive continuing education portfolio including Sommelier- and WSET-certified wine programs, Kellner beer server certification, and Natural Wine Sommelier courses. The school also operates a summer cooking school for youth, a public-facing webshop selling books and teaching materials, the Gastro Wiki ingredient database, and a recipe collection. A Fullservice administrative solution handles course registration and subsidy applications for corporate clients. The institution positions itself as 'the entire industry's school' (hele branchens skole) serving both students and working professionals seeking skill development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vinakademiet: Wine academy offering sommelier and WSET wine education programs at Hotel- og Restaurantskolen.
• Scandinavian Wine Academy
• Kellner-uddannelsen
• Naturvinsommelier

Products and services

• Erhvervsuddannelser (Vocational Education Programs) Government-recognized vocational education programs for youth and adults in gastronomy and hospitality trades, including chef/cooking, waiter/service, smørrebrøds/catering specialist, nutritional assistant, receptionist, baker/pastry chef foundation, and gourmet butcher foundation. Programs include the practical 10th-grade track and adult vocational education (EUV).
• EUX Gastro Science Combined vocational-academic track within the school's program portfolio that awards both a vocational diploma and an upper secondary certificate, offered across cooking, waiting, smørrebrøds/catering, and nutritional assistant pathways.
• 10. klasse (10th Grade Programs) Two 10th-grade preparation programs - EUD10 (practical kitchen-focused track for students needing to strengthen basic subjects) and GYM10 (preparatory track for upper secondary education).
• AMU Courses and Continuing Education Over 200 AMU (Arbejdsmarkedsuddannelser) vocational courses and specialized continuing-education programs for working professionals in the hospitality and culinary industry.
• Sommelieruddannelser (Sommelier and WSET Programs) Professional wine education programs including Vinakademiet's Sommelier levels 1-2, WSET Level 2-3 Awards in Wines, and Court of Masters Sommeliers certifications, covering wine regions, grape varieties, food pairing, and wine service.
• Kellner-uddannelsen (Beer Server Certification) Three-module beer service certification program covering brewing, beer styles, flavor profiles, food pairing, and professional service, including a basic module (4,875 DKK), advanced module (8,125 DKK), and branch-focus module with optional Kellner diploma (6,500 DKK).
• Naturvinsommelier (Natural Wine Sommelier) Three-module natural wine certification program covering natural wine production, terroir, blind tasting using the SAT method, wine regions, food pairing, and wine list management, with optional certification exam; full package 20,000 DKK (VAT-exempt).
• Fullservice (Corporate Administrative Solution) Administrative service handling course registration, government subsidy applications, and reimbursement paperwork for companies sending employees for continuing education, with stated potential of up to 1,500 DKK financial upside per course day for the employer; free fullservice handling on the company's first course.
• Sommermadskole for unge (Summer Cooking School for Youth) Three-day cooking workshop for youth aged 12-15 years, teaching techniques like sausage making, pizza baking, and ice cream production, culminating in a summer party event; priced at 1,400 DKK per participant, including teaching, lunch/snacks all 3 days, apron, and recipe booklet.
• Venue Rentals and Events (Udlejning og events) Venue rental and event-hosting services offered at the school's Valby campus, with public-facing on-site restaurants where student work is showcased and industry tasting events hosted (e.g., the No- & Low Alcohol Summit 2026 at 100 DKK).
• Copenhagen Teaching Lab: Green Gastronomy (International Professional Course) Five-day international professional course on green gastronomy innovation, lab-based learning, and didactic approaches, for intermediate-level teaching professionals in hospitality education; priced at 5,600 DKK and Erasmus+ eligible, with breakfast and lunch included.

Quantifiable outcome

• Companies can earn up to 1,500 DKK per course day through subsidies when sending employees to the school's fullservice courses.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vinakademiet (Scandinavian Wine Academy / Vinkällan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVinakademiet is the Danish branch of the Swedish Vinkällan, with over 20 years of sommelier education experience across Stockholm, Göteborg, Linköping, and Helsingborg. Hotel- og Restaurantskolen hosts Vinakademiet's sommelier programs (levels 1–2), WSET wine courses, and Court of Master Sommeliers programs on its premises. Vinakademiet manages course content, instructors, and certification examinations; Hotel- og Restaurantskolen provides facilities and administrative support.
• Juul Frost ArkitektercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJuul Frost Arkitekter (Juul Frost Architects) developed the preliminary building program and sketch proposal for the new Hotel- og Restaurantskolen campus. The firm designed the new school and campus area as a world-class vocational training facility focused on craft, sensory experience, and sustainability, incorporating 50 workshops, 16 specialized workshops, rooftop gardens, and public-facing spaces.
• Hotel-, Restaurant- og Turisterhvervets Kompetenceudviklingsfond (HRTKF)minorOthersThe Industry Competence Development Fund for Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism provides financial subsidies to companies that enroll employees in qualifying courses at Hotel- og Restaurantskolen. To be eligible, the employee must have been employed at the company for at least nine months.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL): Swiss-based, internationally recognised hospitality management school with bachelor's, master's and executive programmes. Directly comparable through its workshop-based applied hospitality training, premium credentialing and employer network.
• Culinary Institute of America: Premier US culinary college offering degree and certificate programs in culinary arts, baking, and food service management. Directly comparable as a multi-track vocational/professional culinary school with on-campus teaching restaurants and a strong employer placement record.
• Hotelschool The Hague: Dutch hospitality vocational university with a four-year Bachelor programme and strong applied-learning model including in-house restaurants. Closest geographic and structural peer to HRS given Nordic/European vocational hospitality education model.
• Ecole Ducasse: French culinary and pastry arts school operating Alain Ducasse-branded programs across Paris and abroad. Comparable as a premium workshop-based culinary credentialing institution with sommelier, bread and pastry tracks and an industry-driven curriculum.
• Institute of Culinary Education (ICE): US-based culinary and hospitality school with diploma and continuing-education programs in culinary arts, pastry, restaurant management and hospitality. Comparable as a multi-track applied culinary school with strong continuing-education and recreational cooking offerings.
• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management: Swiss-founded global hospitality school with campuses in Switzerland, Spain, China and the UAE. Comparable as a premium hospitality and culinary credentialing institution with strong industry placement and continuing-education offerings.
• Apicius International School of Hospitality: Florence-based international hospitality, culinary and wine school offering diploma and bachelor programs. Comparable as a European applied culinary/hospitality institution with sommelier and wine programs and a workshop-driven curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Le Cordon Bleu: Global culinary arts and hospitality education network with schools across dozens of countries. Comparable in offering internationally recognised culinary diplomas, sommelier and hospitality certificates, but operates at significantly broader scale and as a multi-campus franchise.

Regional players

• BASES (Base Academy of Service Excellence): Danish vocational service and hospitality training provider offering continuing education and professional development for the Danish service industry. Comparable as a domestic continuing-education competitor within the same Danish vocational education market.
• Restaurangakademien: Stockholm-based Swedish vocational culinary and hospitality school offering chef, waiter and sommelier education. Closest Nordic vocational peer; comparable in scale, target audience and public-funding model, but operates in a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HotelogRestaurantskolen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hotel- og Restaurantskolen