Hotel & Gastro formation

What Hotel & Gastro formation does

Hotel & Gastro formation Schweiz (HGf) is a Swiss national umbrella organization for vocational education and training in the hospitality and gastronomy sector. It is jointly established and operated by three principal Swiss industry associations — GastroSuisse, HotellerieSuisse, and Hotel & Gastro Union (with Berufe Hotel Gastro as a supporting brand) — giving it an industry-mandated role in setting and delivering professional qualifications. The organization offers a cradle-to-career pathway covering entry-level vocational training (EFZ/EBA), continuing professional education (Fachkurse), higher vocational education (Höhere Berufsbildung, including G1, G2, G3 federal diplomas), adult qualification pathways under Art. 32, and integration programs for refugees and unemployed individuals (HotelGastro365, RIESCO, MigIn). Programs are delivered in German, French, and Italian across all Swiss cantons through a network of more than 15 regional cantonal associations (GastroBern, GastroAargau, GastroGraubünden, GastroTicino, GastroBaselland, etc.) and partner institutions including EHL Hospitality Business School, SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern, and AKAD. The central training facility, Bildungszentrum Weggis (BZW), hosts inter-cantonal specialist courses (IFK) with residential accommodation.

The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform. Its digital infrastructure consists of a multilingual marketing website (hotelgastro.ch) and a self-service enrollment portal (portal.hotelgastro.ch). The business model is fee-based: individuals and employers pay for courses and seminars (ranging from free L-GAV-covered offerings to CHF 14,200 for the Führungsfachmann EFA leadership certification), with installment plans available above CHF 1,000. HGf also administers federal subsidies (up to 50% reimbursement on eligible courses), cantonal contributions, and L-GAV collective labor agreement financing on behalf of participants and employers, and conducts federal professional examinations (eidgenössische Prüfungen) on behalf of industry associations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the entity is an industry-funded association rather than a venture-backed or listed company.

Name

Hotel & Gastro formation

Legal name

Hotel & Gastro formation Schweiz

Website

https://hotelgastro.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hotel & Gastro formation Schweiz is the Swiss national umbrella organization for hospitality and gastronomy vocational training, jointly owned by GastroSuisse, HotellerieSuisse, and Hotel & Gastro Union, delivering federal certifications from entry-level to management in German, French, and Italian.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Weggis

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Course and training fees: Individual learners and employers pay fees for courses, seminars, and exam preparation programs. Fees vary by program; installment plans are available for courses exceeding CHF 1,000 (with a 5% processing fee). The company also administers federal and cantonal subsidies, L-GAV financing, and federal contributions as part of its financial handling, but these are passed through rather than retained revenue.
2. Federal and L-GAV subsidy administration: The organization processes and administers government subsidies (federal contributions, cantonal contributions, L-GAV financing) for eligible participants and employers. It issues certificates of attendance required for subsidy recovery claims. Revenue here is indirect — the organization facilitates the flow of public and collective labor agreement funding rather than retaining it as revenue.
3. Federal examination administration: HGf conducts federal examinations (eidgenössische Prüfungen) on behalf of the respective professional associations, collecting examination fees. Participants covered by L-GAV financing have exam fees paid directly through the financing program without separate invoicing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hotel & Gastro formation is a Swiss vocational education and training organization providing comprehensive hospitality and gastronomy courses from basic vocational apprenticeships (EFZ/EBA) through federal specialist examinations and diplomas to university-level BSc and MSc programs. It administers federal subsidies and L-GAV financing, conducts federal professional examinations, and runs labor market integration programs (HotelGastro365, RIESCO, MigIn) for refugees and unemployed persons. Courses are delivered across all Swiss cantons in German, French, and Italian through the company's online portal, a residential training center (Bildungszentrum Weggis), and a network of regional cantonal associations and partner institutions.

Product overview

Hotel & Gastro formation is a Swiss vocational education and training organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of courses and certifications for the hospitality and gastronomy industry. The portfolio includes: (1) Fachkurse - specialized short courses covering leadership, gastronomy, administration, communication, and hospitality; (2) G1 Gastro Grundseminar - foundational seminar for hospitality entrepreneurs; (3) Führungsfachfrau/-mann EFA - leadership certification with federal specialist examination; (4) Systemgastronomie (AFP/CFC) - system gastronomy professional training; (5) Progresso - practical five-week training program; (6) HotelGastro365 - qualification program combining integration and employment; (7) Berufsspezifischer Sprachkurs - job-specific language training; (8) Bildungsangebote für Erwerbslose - training for unemployed; (9) Revision höhere Berufsbildung - ongoing revision of federal professional examinations; (10) Nachholbildung nach Art. 32 - supplementary education for adults; (11) Höhere Berufsbildung - higher vocational education pathways; (12) Hochschule - university-level programs (BSc, MSc, CAS). The offerings range from basic vocational training through to university degrees, serving entry-level professionals, career changers, and experienced managers across all sectors of Swiss hospitality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fachkurse (Specialized Courses)

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates of Hotel & Gastro formation programs gain Swiss federally recognized qualifications enabling employment in hotels, restaurants, and hospitality businesses across all cantons.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Verein Sonnenberg KrienscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2026The Sonnenberg Association is the first certified HotelGastro365 training partner, collaborating with Hotel & Gastro formation on the pilot project for sustainable labor market integration of people with barriers to employment, running from August 2026 in Lucerne and Basel-Stadt cantons.
• EHL Hospitality Business School SAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEHL is a premier Swiss hospitality management school that collaborates with Hotel & Gastro formation to deliver professional courses and programs in hospitality management, connecting academic excellence with vocational certification.
• SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule LuzerncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSHL (Swiss Hotel Management School) Luzern is a key educational partner delivering hospitality and culinary programs in collaboration with Hotel & Gastro formation. A testimonial from SHL's Kitchen Manager highlights the training quality.
• Regional Cantonal Associations (GastroBern, GastroAargau, GastroGraubünden, GastroTicino, GastroBaselland, GastroKanton Zürich, and others)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver a dozen regional cantonal associations deliver HGf courses locally across Switzerland, covering all four national languages. These are the primary channel partners enabling nationwide reach for vocational training programs.
• AKADcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAKAD is a major Swiss adult education provider that partners with Hotel & Gastro formation and HotellerieSuisse to deliver the Führungsfachfrau/-mann EFA (Leadership & Management) certification program.
• Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation (SBFI) — Swiss Federal Office for Vocational Education and TrainingmajorOthersThe SBFI is the Swiss federal body that approves and funds the revision of higher professional education (höhere Berufsbildung) programs in hospitality and gastronomy. It also administers federal subsidies reimbursing up to 50% of eligible training costs for individuals and employers.
• Cantonal Integration Services (Integration Integrationsstellen) and RAV (Regionale Arbeitsvermittlungszentren)majorOthersSwiss cantonal integration offices and regional employment centers (RAV) refer unemployed individuals, refugees, and social assistance recipients to HGf's integration programs (HotelGastro365, RIESCO, MigIn, Perfecto Futura). They also fund the first six months of the HotelGastro365 program and provide existential security (unemployment benefits, AI pensions, social assistance).

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EHL Hospitality Business School: Premier Swiss hospitality management school that collaborates with HGf to deliver courses and programs. Both serve the Swiss hospitality training market with overlapping vocational and degree-level offerings, making it both a channel partner and direct competitor for advanced credentials.
• Hotel Institute Montreux: Swiss hospitality school offering Swiss-accredited bachelor's degrees and postgraduate diplomas in hotel and hospitality management. Comparable scope and target audience as HGf's higher-tier training portfolio.
• Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS): Swiss hospitality school offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in hotel operations and design. Targets the same Swiss hospitality workforce education market as HGf's higher vocational and university pathways.
• César Ritz Colleges Switzerland: Swiss-based hospitality management school offering bachelor's and master's programs in hotel and tourism management. Comparable to HGf's higher-tier offerings (BSc/MSc, Höhere Berufsbildung) targeting the same Swiss and international learner base.
• Les Roches Global Hospitality Education: Swiss-based international hospitality school with undergraduate and graduate programs in hospitality management, luxury, and entrepreneurship. Directly comparable to HGf's university-level offerings in scope and target learner.
• SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern: Swiss hotel management school in Lucerne that delivers culinary and hospitality programs in collaboration with HGf. Directly comparable as a vocational and professional training provider for the same Swiss hospitality talent pool.

Emerging players

• AKAD University: Major Swiss adult education provider that partners with HGf to deliver the Führungsfachmann EFA leadership certification. Overlaps with HGf in the adult professional education segment for working professionals seeking federal credentials.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Swiss university of applied sciences that collaborates with HGf on advanced hospitality programs. Comparable in delivering higher-education credentials to working professionals, with partial overlap on hospitality management content.

Broad incumbents

• GastroSuisse: Swiss gastronomy trade association and one of HGf's founding members. Operates broader industry advocacy, employer services, and continuing education across the restaurant sector — overlapping with HGf's gastronomy training portfolio.
• HotellerieSuisse: Swiss hotel industry association and one of HGf's three founding member organizations. Operates as a broader industry body with overlapping training, advocacy, and standards-setting activities that encompass HGf's mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hgfschweiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hotelgastroformationschweiz
• Instagraminstagram.com/hgf.schweiz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 & Gastro formation