Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo

What Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo does

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo (ESHT) is a public polytechnic higher education institution located in Vila do Conde, Portugal, operating under the Instituto Politécnico do Porto (P.PORTO) on its Campus 2 at the border with Póvoa de Varzim. Established as a specialized higher education unit, ESHT focuses exclusively on hospitality, tourism, catering, and gastronomy education, serving five distinct student segments: secondary school graduates entering via the national access competition, vocational secondary graduates enrolling in CTeSP programs, bachelor's degree holders seeking master's-level specialization, working professionals taking postgraduate short courses, and international students via the special international admission process and Erasmus+ mobility. The school's product portfolio comprises 3 bachelor's degrees (Tourism Activities Management, Restaurant and Catering Management, Hotel Management), 3 master's programs (Hotel Management, Tourism Management, Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality) plus a joint Master's in Gastronomic Sciences delivered with FCNAUP, 4 CTeSP vocational programs, 5+ postgraduate specializations, and short-cycle micro-credentials and Wine School masterclasses.

ESHT delivers its programs through purpose-built specialized facilities including an application restaurant, showcooking kitchen, applied bar, accommodation laboratory, sensory analysis laboratory, food physics-chemistry laboratory, food microbiology laboratory, and wine and oil tasting room, supported by a Moodle-based LMS, Microsoft 365/Teams environment, and the centralized Domus admissions platform. The institution's research infrastructure includes two research centres (CiTUR Porto and UNIAG) and active participation in nine-plus European research projects covering sustainability, olive oil vocational excellence (ELIA), workplace violence prevention in HORECA (ACT10N), immigrant integration in tourism (IMMiNTE), and ecological-digital hotel management (GreenHost). Revenue is generated through a mix of government-regulated tuition (national admissions via DGES, master's and postgraduate via P.PORTO), short course fees (Wine School, micro-credentials), and a Gabinete de Prestação de Serviços ao Exterior providing catering and event services.

The go-to-market combines centralized public admissions channels (DGES national competition, Concursos Especiais, international student competition), event-driven recruitment (school visits, STEP UP TOUR, education fairs, Buddy Program), and community-led engagement (Wine School masterclasses, BIP Generation Week). The school's documented differentiators include its unique position as the only dedicated hospitality/tourism unit within P.PORTO, a network of protocol partnerships with named industry operators (Living Tours, Sogrape, Hilton Sê Catedral, Conservas Pinhais, WOW, Relais & Châteaux, and others), Erasmus+ mobility with 10+ countries, and stated high graduate employability outcomes.

Name

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo

Legal name

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo

Website

https://esht.ipp.pt

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo (ESHT) is a public polytechnic school in Vila do Conde, Portugal, part of the Polytechnic of Porto system, offering hospitality and tourism education across bachelor's, master's, postgraduate, and vocational technical levels for domestic and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality and Tourism Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAEAF

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

Keywords

• Hospitality higher education
• Tourism management programs
• Hotel administration courses
• Culinary arts education
• Vocational technical training

Headquarters

HQ city

Vila do Conde

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (Public Higher Education): As a public polytechnic institution under the Polytechnic of Porto (P.PORTO), ESHT charges tuition fees regulated by the Portuguese government for national and international students across bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate programs.
2. Short Course Fees (Wine School, Micro-credentials): Revenue from short courses including Wine School masterclasses (Business and WineLovers programs) and micro-credential courses in areas such as pastry, gastronomic tourism, cook & chill, English for tourism, and food & beverage management.
3. External Services Provision: The school operates a Gabinete de Prestação de Serviços ao Exterior (Office of External Services Provision) that provides catering and event services to external clients, generating service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ESHT is a public polytechnic higher education institution delivering degree and professional programs in hospitality, tourism, and gastronomy, including bachelor's degrees, master's programs, postgraduate specializations, CTeSP vocational higher technical courses, and short micro-credentials, supported by specialized teaching laboratories (teaching restaurant, showcooking kitchen, sensory analysis, food science) and a Wine School. The school also provides external services through its Gabinete de Prestação de Serviços ao Exterior, offering catering and event services to external clients.

Product overview

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo (ESHT) is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of higher education programs in hospitality, tourism, and gastronomy. The core academic offerings include 3 Bachelor's degrees (Licenciaturas) covering Tourism Activities Management, Restaurant and Catering Management, and Hotel Management; 3 Master's programs in Hotel Management, Tourism Management, and Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality; plus a joint Master's in Gastronomic Sciences with the University of Porto. Professional development is served through 4 CTeSP (Professional Higher Technical Courses) and 5 Postgraduate programs (Enotourism, Digital Marketing, Revenue Management, Beer Sommelier, Literary Tourism). Free and continuing education is offered through the Wine School masterclass program and various micro-credentials. The institution operates specialized laboratories for practical training including kitchen, restaurant, accommodation, sensory analysis, and bar facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wine School: A wine knowledge sharing space offering masterclasses for professionals and general public passionate about wine.

Products and services

• Licenciatura em Gestão de Atividades Turísticas (Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Activities Management)
• Licenciatura em Gestão de Restauração e Catering (Bachelor's Degree in Restaurant and Catering Management)
• Licenciatura em Gestão e Administração Hoteleira (Bachelor's Degree in Hotel Management and Administration)
• Mestrado em Direção Hoteleira (Master's Degree in Hotel Management)
• Mestrado em Gestão do Turismo (Master's Degree in Tourism Management)
• Mestrado em Sustentabilidade no Turismo e na Hotelaria (Master's Degree in Sustainability in Tourism and Hospitality)
• Mestrado em Ciências Gastronómicas (Master's Degree in Gastronomic Sciences)
• Pós-graduações (Postgraduate Programs)
• Cursos Técnicos Superiores Profissionais - CTeSP (Professional Higher Technical Courses)
• Wine School
• Micro-credenciais (Micro-credentials)
• External Services Provision (Gabinete de Prestação de Serviços ao Exterior)

Quantifiable outcome

• High graduate employability through protocols with hotel and tourism companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACT10N Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026ACT10N (Commitment to Violence-free Culture in European HORECA, 2024-1-PT01-KA220-VET-000253898) focuses on preventing workplace violence in the HORECA sector. ESHT participates alongside partners from Portugal, Slovenia, Netherlands, and Cyprus.
• Escola Superior de Media Artes e Design (ESMAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026ESMAD and ESHT are co-located on Campus 2 of P.PORTO, sharing campus facilities. They jointly organized the 'Prémio Amizade' award for master's students and collaborate on cross-disciplinary projects such as the 'Memória e Futuro' exhibition and student events.
• CiTUR Porto (Centre for Research, Development and Innovation in Tourism)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026CiTUR Porto organizes a conference cycle hosting international researchers. The school participates in and hosts these seminars, including events on cross-border wine tourism with the University of Vigo.
• Universidade de VigominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026University of Vigo researchers Diego R. Toubes and Noelia Araújo presented at the CiTUR Porto conference cycle on cross-border wine tourism (Tourisfarm project) and fiction series as destination promotion strategies.
• ELIA Project Consortium (21 partners, 7 countries)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026ELIA (Excellence in Learning, Innovation, and Agriculture) is a trans-Mediterranean vocational excellence centre in olive growing. ESHT coordinates WP2 (scientific basis) of the project, partnering with entities from Croatia, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey.
• IMMiNTE Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026IMMiNTE (Integrating Immigrants into the Tourism and Hospitality Sector in the EU) promotes digital tools and professional training for cultural diversity and inclusion of immigrants. Partners from Portugal, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Cyprus.
• Università degli Studi di PerugiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026University of Perugia organized the BIP VISIT (Metaverse Tourism Design for Sustainable Destinations Project) in Assisi, Italy. ESHT and ESMAD students participated alongside students from other institutions, developing innovative solutions for metaverse-based tourism design.
• GreenHost Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026GreenHost (Vocational Excellence, Policy and Enterprise United for Hospitality Management Skills Adapted on Environmental Footprint Methods) combines 19 partners to integrate ecological and digital practices into hotel management curricula across vocational education levels (ISCED 3-8).
• Beer Learning – Instituto de Desenvolvimento da CervejaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeer development institute partner in the BIP Generation Week (Generation Wine 2.0 and Sip & Savour) program, contributing to the international gastronomy and beverage curriculum for Erasmus+ students.
• SograpeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine producer partner in the BIP Generation Week program, providing immersive wine experiences and site visits for international students in the Porto wine region.
• VINEVINUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine-related partner in the BIP Generation Week program, contributing to enotourism activities for international students.
• Casa Ana Monteiro (Chef Renato Cunha)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChef partner hosting students during the BIP Generation Week for hands-on gastronomy experiences and culinary demonstrations.
• Associação Nacional dos Industriais de Conservas de Peixe (ANICP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association of canned fish producers partnering in the BIP Generation Week program to showcase Portuguese seafood traditions and gastronomy.
• Conservas PinhaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanned fish producer participating in the BIP Generation Week program, offering cultural and gastronomic immersion in Portuguese seafood heritage.
• NorthRoadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the BIP Generation Week program contributing to gastronomy and wine tourism experiences for international students.
• Mercado do BolhãominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional market in Porto serving as a cultural and gastronomic site visit location for the BIP Generation Week program.
• WOW – World of Wine (Serviço Educativo)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWine and cultural tourism venue in Porto contributing educational services to the BIP Generation Week program for international students.
• Hilton Sé Catedral (Chef Diogo Gaspar e Gonçalo Coelho)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel partner hosting students during the BIP Generation Week, with chefs providing professional insights into hotel gastronomy and service.
• Living ToursminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism operator providing professional shadowing opportunities for CTeSP students in Animação Turística through the 'Um Dia Com' project.
• Boost PortugalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism company providing professional experience opportunities for CTeSP Animação Turística students in the 'Um Dia Com' project.
• Rota do DourominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouro River maritime-fluvial operator hosting CTeSP students for professional immersion in river tourism operations.
• Hotel Lince Santa ClaraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotel partner hosting visits during the STEP UP TOUR promotional event for secondary school students exploring tourism education pathways.
• Loja Interativa de TurismominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal tourist information office participating in STEP UP TOUR visits, showcasing tourism career opportunities to prospective students.
• Câmara Municipal de Vila do CondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government supporting ESHT initiatives including the 'Memória e Futuro' exhibition and the STEP UP TOUR event for promoting the region.
• Junta de Freguesia da Póvoa de VarzimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal parish council supporting the 'Memória e Futuro' exhibition and initiatives promoting the Póvoa de Varzim territory.
• Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação da Universidade do Porto (FCNAUP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint delivery of the Master in Gastronomic Sciences (Mestrado em Ciências Gastronómicas), combining FCNAUP's nutritional and food science expertise with ESHT's practical culinary and hospitality education. Classes primarily at FCNAUP with practical kitchen sessions at ESHT.
• Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (Escola Superior de Gestão de Idanha-a-Nova)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivery partner for the Master Executive in Rural Tourism Management (Master Executive em Gestão de Unidades de Turismo em Espaço Rural), a joint postgraduate program across polytechnic institutions.
• Erasmus+ Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerErasmus+ mobility partnerships with European universities for student and staff exchanges. The school has ongoing Erasmus+ programs with institutions across Europe including Hungary, Romania, Germany, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Netherlands, Cyprus, Turkey, Sweden, and Finland.
• Edutus CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHungarian higher education institution hosting incoming Erasmus+ lecturers at ESHT, contributing to international academic exchange.
• Rede Norte Consortium (APNOR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorthern Portugal higher education consortium (P.PORTO, IPB, IPCA, IPVC, UTAD) providing a unified admission pathway for vocational secondary graduates through the Provas Redes Norte assessment system.
• Candidaturas Platform (domus.ipp.pt)coreTechnology or IntegrationCentralized P.PORTO application management system used for all program applications including master's, postgraduate, CTeSP, special competitions, and international student admissions.
• DGES (Direção-Geral do Ensino Superior)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortuguese Directorate-General for Higher Education manages the national access competition (Concurso Nacional de Acesso) for bachelor's degree admissions, of which ESHT is a participant.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institut Paul Bocuse: French higher education institution specializing in hospitality, gastronomy and culinary arts. Closely comparable in the culinary/gastronomy angle that ESHT addresses through its Master's in Gastronomic Sciences with FCNAUP and its CTeSP restaurant/catering programs.
• ESTM – Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar (IPLeiria): Portuguese polytechnic school under IPLeiria focused on tourism and marine technology. Closest domestic peer — same polytechnic system, same national access competition, overlapping tourism degree offerings and shared labor market for tourism graduates in Portugal.
• Glion Institute of Higher Education: Swiss hospitality and luxury management school with campuses in Switzerland, London and Spain. Comparable in delivering undergraduate and postgraduate hospitality degrees targeted at the international luxury hotel industry that many ESHT master's graduates also feed into.
• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management: Swiss-based hospitality management school (with campuses in Switzerland, Spain, China, UAE) offering bachelor's and master's degrees. Directly comparable in hospitality/hotel management curriculum and international student orientation.
• Atlantic Technological University (ATU): Irish technological university with multiple campuses offering hospitality, tourism and culinary arts programs. Comparable as a public technological university with applied hospitality programs and Erasmus+ participation — direct competitor for European hospitality student recruitment.
• César Ritz Colleges Switzerland: Swiss hospitality and culinary arts school in Le Bouveret offering bachelor's and master's programs in hotel and tourism management. Directly comparable in hospitality/hotel curriculum focus and career-oriented international model.
• Hotelschool The Hague: Dutch higher education institution dedicated to hospitality management, operating a similar polytechnic-style model with strong industry integration. ESHT is directly comparable in target audience (hospitality students), practical training emphasis, and European recruitment footprint.
• BHMS – Business & Hotel Management School: Swiss hospitality and business school in Lucerne offering bachelor's, master's and diploma pathways. Similar polytechnic-style practical orientation and European hospitality student profile; serves overlapping international applicant pool.

Broad incumbents

• EHL Group (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne): Globally leading hospitality management education group headquartered in Switzerland. Operates across multiple education tiers (university, vocational, executive) at significantly larger scale; sets the benchmark ESHT competes against for international brand recognition.

Regional players

• ICHM – International College of Hotel Management: Australian higher education institution offering hospitality and hotel management degrees. Comparable curriculum and target student (international hospitality students), but operates primarily in Asia-Pacific rather than competing directly with ESHT in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9BDp-wCv9n8DT6aOuWyHag
• Facebookfacebook.com/pporto.esht
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pporto_esht
• Instagraminstagram.com/esht_pporto

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo