For fans of winter, a visit to Switzerland is hard to beat! Our 2025 Winter Programme participants certainly made the most of the snowy season with us...
Winter in Switzerland is nothing short of spectacular - surrounded by snow-peaked mountains and ice-blue lakes, there is no better place for those looking to fully appreciate this magical time of year.
IMI's January Winter Programme gives participants the chance to spend two weeks exploring all that Switzerland has to offer while, at the same time, experiencing classes and workshops at one of the world's leading hospitality schools.
This is a fantastic opportunity for those considering hospitality, business, or culinary management study at IMI, to get a true taste of what it's like to live and study with us as well as creating some unforgettable winter memories.
For our 2025 programme, we were joined by a group of young students from Malaysia who were all experiencing their first visit to Switzerland.
Participants enjoyed trips to the cities of Luzern, Zurich, and Bern.
We certainly kept them busy during their stay, with city trips, mountain excursions, winter activities, and plenty of masterclasses and workshops ensuring the time flew by.
As part of the programme, the students attended a variety of class sessions, including wine and cocktail masterclasses and management workshops. Many of these sessions were identical to those that our full-time degree students would complete, providing them with hands-on experience and real insight into the world of hospitality management education.
They also enjoyed a visit to the 5* Zurich Marriott Hotel - one of our Swiss industry partners - where they learnt all about the diverse internship opportunities that our students have access to here in Switzerland and the exciting professional connections they can make during their studies.
"The Winter Programme is an amazing opportunity for students to explore this beautiful country at one of the most spectacular times of year, as well as getting a true taste of life at a leading Swiss hospitality school.
Tamires Giraldeli Segatto - Winter Programme Coordinator
Of course, the academic experience is just one aspect of this programme; outside of the classroom, our guests enjoyed fun winter activities including ice skating and sledging.
The journey to the top of Mount Rigi was a particular highlight, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding snow-capped peaks and serene valleys (and some incredible photo opportunities).
There were also some tasty trips to the Kambly biscuit factory and the Lindt chocolate factory, where they indulged in Swiss culinary delights and learnt about the craftsmanship behind these iconic brands.
Winter-themed activites included sledging at the nearby Klewenalp resort.
City tours of Luzern, Zurich, and Bern allowed the students to immerse themselves in Swiss culture and history. Exploring the charming streets, they admired the stunning architecture and experienced the vibrant city life on offer. They even paid a visit to Albert Einstein's former apartment in Bern.
In Zurich, they visited the WOW Museum, an interactive wonderland that challenged the students' perceptions and creativity. The Animal Park in Goldau offered a different kind of exploration, where they encountered diverse wildlife in a beautiful natural setting. There was also the chance to learn about Switzerland's rich engineering heritage during a visit to Luzern's Transport Museum with its many interactive displays and exhibits.
A busy and varied schedule was concluded with final-day presentations, where the participants shared their main takeaways from the programme and their reflections on their time both at IMI and in Switzerland.
It was fantastic to see these young students fully immersing themselves in all the events and activities and taking so much from this programme. We would be delighted to welcome any of them back to pursue their hospitality, business or culinary management degrees with us in the future!
Interested in joining our January 2026 Winter Programme? Find out more details on our website and benefit from early-bird pricing with an early application and payment!
