Direct contact with guests at the Tourist Centre counter, organising and running media trips, looking after the Instagram and Facebook social media channels, helping with events, bookkeeping and much more. The work at a tourism organisation is varied. And so the apprentices at Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG (JRT) also benefit from a varied training programme. At this point, we let Jasmin Binzegger have her say. The 19-year-old from Steffisburg is training to become an HGT E-Profile clerk. She is in her third year of training and tells us about her work in the Product Management department at Grindelwald Tourism, where she helps to organise events from A to Z, among other things.

"On my morning walk to the Grindelwald Tourism office in the Grindelwald Sports Centre, I only meet a few people. It's still quiet in the snow-covered village, but I know there will be a lot going on here in a few hours. Shortly before the entrance to the sports centre, I walk past metre-high mountains of snow. Today is the penultimate day of the annual "World Snow Festival". For a week, international teams build snow sculptures in Grindelwald and the surrounding area - and compete against each other. This year's theme is "Mountain", which explains the mountains of snow on my route to work.

Designing brochures

Almost at my workplace, I notice a pile of brochures. They are flyers advertising the "World Snow Festival". During the planning of this event, as with others before it, I was involved in the creation of the flyer. This is part of my work in the Product Management department. During three months of my apprenticeship, I was able to take a look behind the scenes of Grindelwald events. Not only was I able to help with the planning, but I was also able to visit the events in person and lend a hand on site. But back to the flyers. These are distributed to the local hotels, guests and businesses before the event, so they have to be designed accordingly. Sometimes it takes a while for a flyer to look the way you want it to. In such cases, I work closely with the graphics team in Interlaken - the headquarters of Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG - who design the flyers.

Contact with hotels and mountain railways

With the extensive knowledge that I have acquired in the last two and a half years of my training as an HGT (Hotel-Gastro-Tourism) clerk, I can help out in many different areas. For example, communicating with local hotels or shops is a job that I often do in the Product Management department. Depending on the event, the hotels and restaurants are very closely involved in the planning. At the "World Snow Festival", the artists are invited to spend the week in Grindelwald. This means that suitable rooms and catering have to be organised. As soon as the artists are on site, we are not only in constant contact with them, but also with our partners, the hotels and mountain railways.

Favourite photo subjects

Lunch break. The village is now a hive of activity. The artists are putting the finishing touches to their work. The spectators are fascinated. The almost finished works are popular photo subjects. I see "World Snow Festival" posters everywhere on the streets of Grindelwald. I helped with these, as well as with the large banners at the entrance to the village and at the railway station.

From small village festivals to major international events

Whether small-scale events or events with international flair - Grindelwald hosts events of all kinds. In summer, sport often takes centre stage, as is the case with the Inferno Triathlon. This takes place every year in August and runs through a large part of the Jungfrau Region. The athletes also pass through Grindelwald. Here they switch from road bikes to mountain bikes. I was right in the middle of the action at the last event. The team from the Product Management department is responsible for the set-up and later the smooth running of the transition zone. For example, we made sure that all participants found their mountain bikes - and gave them refreshments.

As several events take place in Grindelwald every week during the peak winter and summer seasons, there is always something to do in the Product Management department. That's one of the reasons why I like the work. It's never boring. The most exciting aspect of this department for me is working with so many parties before and during an event. Incidentally, I have just received definitive confirmation that I will be able to stay with Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG after my apprenticeship. I will continue to work for Grindelwald Tourism. What a great job.

The reward for the work

My working day is coming to an end. I leave the office just before nightfall. The artworks are now finished. It is a tradition that they are illuminated on the last two evenings of the "World Snow Festival". The artists have let their imaginations run wild. I am thrilled with the results. Yes, the work of the past weeks and months has definitely paid off.

Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG offers two apprenticeships every year. During the three-year HGT E-profile apprenticeship, the apprentices work for one and a half years each at the head office in Interlaken (marketing/accounting) and in the tourist centres (Grindelwald and either Meiringen or Mürren).