Become a pilot hotel for «FirstShift» – gamification as a recruiting tool
The Hospitality Booster is looking for five top training companies to test the FirstShift prototype starting in January 2026. We’re seeking hotels with significant recruitment needs that regularly train multiple apprentices and are ready to take new approaches in employer branding.
The testing is straightforward
- Duration: 1–2 hours from January 2026
- Location: directly at your property
- Language: German
- Support: Project lead Stephan Roth will visit in person. Also part of the project team: Michael Nyffenegger.
- Goal: Gather feedback from apprentices and hotel directors to further develop the tool in a practice-oriented way
Interested? Get in touch at hospitalitybooster@hotelleriesuisse.ch.
Using gamification to tackle the skilled labor shortage
The skilled labor shortage is one of the industry’s biggest challenges, and it starts with the next generation. «FirstShift» is an innovative HR tool that addresses this head-on: In faithfully recreated 3D environments of real properties, young people can experience day-to-day work in hospitality and food service in a hands-on way. All departments—such as kitchen, service, or front desk—can be replicated in detail. This makes career exploration tangible, lowers barriers to entry, and significantly strengthens the employer branding of participating hotels. At the same time, «FirstShift» is also ideal for onboarding new employees, since procedures and processes are conveyed realistically and interactively.
Despite a slight easing, the skilled labor shortage remains one of our industry’s central challenges, especially when it comes to attracting and developing young talent.
Why FirstShift?
- Realistic & interactive: Apprentices can experience typical kitchen, service, or front-desk situations in a virtual environment—before their first trial day.
- Strengthen employer branding: Hotels position themselves as modern, digital training companies—a clear signal to Generation Z/Alpha.
- A strategic investment in the future: Gamification speaks the language of youth and opens new pathways in recruiting.
Added value for hotels
- Quality over quantity: FirstShift brings not just more applications, but the right candidates—those who already know what everyday life in a hotel feels like.
- Versatile use cases: The hotel’s virtual twin can also be used for marketing, social media, onboarding, or internal training.
- Signaling effect: Hotels show they take the expectations of the younger generation seriously and are rethinking HR strategies.
Key points for usability testing
- Target groups:
- Potential apprentices; Current apprentices; Onboarding; Career changers.
- Prototype: Completion by November 2025; testing from January 2026
- Content focus: First version maps the kitchen; tested with apprentices and hotel directors
- Questions: How well does FirstShift resonate with young people? Is it attractive for managers? How scalable would the tool be?
Supporting partners
Properties already on board include Schweizerhof Lenzerheide. We’re now looking for additional innovative hotels that want to help shape and test the prototype.
3 key takeaways
- Virtual 3D worlds make careers tangible and lower entry barriers.
- Hotels strengthen their employer branding and stand out from the competition.
- Gamification is a strategic, future-focused investment in recruiting.