New board of directors: SHMA realigns
The Swiss Hospitality & Marketing Association SHMA is realigning itself. Under a new board, the association wants to actively promote and network young sales and marketing talent. The SHMAward will be continued.
The kick-off event of the Swiss Hospitality & Marketing Association SHMA at the Ameron Zurich Bellerive Au Lac was characterized by fresh ideas, great motivation and lively exchange. Under the new board of directors, the association is realigning itself and is focusing above all on networking between experienced professionals and young professionals in the sales and marketing sector of the Swiss hospitality and tourism industry.
"It is a matter close to our hearts to strengthen the sales and marketing community of our industry and to revive the SHMA," said Stefan Hannig and Karin Breitenstein in their welcoming speech at the kick-off event in Zurich. Together with their board colleagues Gina Domagala and Sven Häberlin they had invited to the Ameron Zurich and informed about the new orientation of the association, which was already founded in 1972. Around 40 people accepted the invitation.
SHMA President Karin Breitenstein described the main goals of the network as follows: "We want to show young people the diversity of the industry, offer interested players a platform for exchange and thus ultimately retain skilled workers in tourism." To this end, individual and corporate members are to be recruited to support the idea - initially in the greater Zurich area, and in the medium term throughout Switzerland.
SHMAward for young talent
The SHMAward, which has been awarded since 2019 in collaboration with the IST, Higher College for Tourism & Outdoor in Zurich, for the best diploma thesis on the subject of sales & marketing, is to be continued. The prize is endowed with 1000 Swiss francs.
Many advantages for members
Membership in the non-profit association SHMA costs 79 francs for individuals, 349 francs for companies and 49 francs for students. Among other things, members receive access to the SHMA Sales & Marketing Hubs, which will be held four times a year in the future. There, participants can expect interactive opportunities for the exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer between potential young professionals, university graduates and industry professionals.
Next networking events
The next dates for the SHMA Sales & Marketing Hubs in Zurich are Dec. 18, 2023; March 25, 2024; June 24, 2024; Sept. 30, 2024; and Dec. 16, 2024, each at 6 p.m. A Talent Event - including presentations on the topic of talent development and promotion - is also planned for 2024.
