Name: Sina Habegger
Position: Head of HR at the Belvédère Strandhotel
Hobbies: Walking my dog Yuma and spending time with family and friends. I occasionally work out at the gym.
My highlights in the Lake Thun region: I'm a big fan of the lake and enjoy stand-up paddleboarding on the water in summer or walking along the shore with my dog. Mühliplatz in Thun, the lively meeting place for locals and visitors, is also one of my favorite places.

What are your responsibilities?

My area of responsibility is varied and dynamic - and that's what makes it so exciting. From creating job profiles, recruiting new team members and the entire salary administration to entry and exit interviews and issuing references - I work in all areas of HR. I also accompany and support projects, for example in the area of digitalization. I also enjoy organizing birthday presents for our employees, planning employee events and designing the invitation cards for them, or filling in at reception or in the seminar area when there are bottlenecks. This colorful mix of administrative tasks and creative projects makes my day-to-day work very interesting and varied.

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Keyword background - how did you get into the hotel industry?

I decided early on that I wanted to do an apprenticeship in business administration, but I wasn't sure which sector I wanted to work in. In my search for the right training company, I therefore completed trial apprenticeships in various companies. When I was given the opportunity to get a taste of the Gstaad Palace, the fascination and diversity of the hotel industry became clear to me. I was immediately impressed by the atmosphere and the operation of the renowned hotel. Just two weeks later, I had accepted my apprenticeship there and I felt that this was the right path for me. Despite the challenges during my apprenticeship, which certainly had its ups and downs, I have never regretted my decision. It was an incredibly rewarding experience that further ignited my passion for the hotel industry and encouraged me in my career path.

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Could you share your future career plans with us?

After completing my apprenticeship in 2017, I started the part-time vocational baccalaureate with a 60% workload at reception in the Belvédère Strandhotel. After a year, I was able to take over as deputy reception manager. This was a great opportunity for me to gain management experience. I completed my vocational baccalaureate in 2019. I had already wanted to become a flight attendant. That's why I applied to the airline Edelweiss and was accepted. So I left the structured daily work routine to gain new experiences high above the clouds. At that moment, I never thought that I would return to the Belvédère Strandhotel *wink*.

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And how did you end up back at the Belvédère Strandhotel?

During my time at Edelweiss, I kept in touch with former colleagues from the Belvédère Strandhotel. After about two years, flying no longer gave me as much as it did at the beginning. There were also other circumstances, such as my dog and the long commute from Zurich to Bern. So I started looking for a job nearby again. Initially, I just wanted to minimize my workload at the airline, but decided to give up flying altogether. An inquiry to my former boss, Bruno Affentranger, Director of the Belvédère Strandhotel, to see if he would serve as a reference led to an unexpected job offer. A coffee meeting with the director and I was part of the team again - this time in the seminar and finance department and with a small workload in the HR department.

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How did you end up being 100% in HR?

My role in HR developed organically when I took over as HR manager during my maternity leave. This expanded my area of responsibility considerably and I decided to deepen my knowledge by training as an HR assistant. This increased my involvement in HR, while I reduced my other tasks and eventually gave them up completely.

What do you like and dislike about your job?

In my day-to-day work, I particularly appreciate the back office area and the administration. The variety in hotel operations is very valuable to me. I have the flexibility to either spend the whole day in the office or to go to reception and interact with guests. In HR, every day is different and I can organize my day independently, which gives me a lot of freedom. There are lots of nice moments, but of course there are also unpleasant aspects, such as giving notice or having difficult conversations.

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Where do you find the balance to your work?

Balancing my work is particularly important to me, and my dog "Yuma" plays a crucial role in this.

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Have you had a formative experience in your day-to-day work?

There are many experiences, but I am not allowed to share most of them. One particularly unexpected and moving situation occurred when one of our new employees didn't show up for work one morning and called in sick. During the night, she was admitted to hospital due to severe abdominal pain and was immediately taken to the delivery room. The next day came the surprising news: she had given birth to a little baby! This unexpected joy not only touched her deeply, but also the team at the Belvédère Strandhotel. There was a lot to organize during this turbulent time and we did our best to support the new mother. It was really nice to see how colleagues showed solidarity and left baby things that they no longer needed themselves to the young family. I was impressed by this spontaneous willingness to help and the collective support.

How do you see the future of the hotel industry?

The future of the hotel industry requires adaptation. In the past, there were many long-term employees. The hotel industry is more fast-paced and staff turnover has become the norm. Of course, there is also a shortage of skilled workers in this sector. Seasonal employees are a good alternative, but this poses the challenge of finding enough staff in the months in between. Despite the challenges, we have managed to fill all vacancies sooner or later. Regardless of these circumstances, it is important to us to select applicants carefully to ensure that they fit in well with the team and can integrate successfully.

Do you have career plans for the future?

I have been a vocational trainer since last year and supervise the apprentices in the commercial area of our hotel. I am also currently completing further training to become an examination expert for the final oral examinations for HGT business management trainees. I am also considering pursuing additional training in human resources. I am currently very happy with my position and the team at the Belvédère Strandhotel.

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What advice would you like to give to anyone who is considering training in the hotel industry / working in the hotel industry?

It's a worthwhile decision if you appreciate variety and are prepared to commit to challenging moments. It's a cool industry and it opens the door to the world. After all, training in Switzerland is highly valued and opens up not only local but also international career paths.

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