Workshop for SME in the Hospitality Sector
Innovation is a critical success factor today – especially in the hospitality and gastronomy sector, an industry that must continuously adapt to evolving expectations, technologies, and sustainability requirements. In our most recent Design Sprint Workshop, conducted in collaboration with Büro Züri (ZKB) on 6 November 2025, we worked closely with an SME from the gastronomy sector to address exactly these challenges.
The workshop marked the conclusion of an intensive innovation process and resulted in a wide range of exciting ideas with the potential to redefine traditional gastronomy concepts. At the core were tangible concepts that combine sustainability, economic viability, and an enhanced guest experience.
From circular economy to nature-positive innovation
The ideas developed during the workshop clearly demonstrate how strongly the industry is moving towards a smarter, more resource-efficient, and experience-driven approach to gastronomy. This was particularly evident in focus areas such as:
- Circular material use: Applying reusable, durable, or returnable materials across operations – from interior design to packaging.
- Circular energy use: Concepts centred on efficiency, energy recovery, and intelligent resource management.
- Nature-positive innovation: Approaches that integrate nature and biodiversity as part of future-proof business models – going beyond mere impact reduction.
- Personalised products and services: Ideas for more tailored offerings that focus on the guest while simplifying internal processes.
What we are currently observing in the industry
Across the hospitality sector, we see strong momentum around sustainability, local innovation, quality, and economic agility. At the same time, AI-powered process optimisation is gaining importance – from smarter planning and more efficient operations to a holistic, enhanced guest experience.
These developments make one thing clear: in a rapidly changing world, innovation is not just an advantage – it is the key to resilience and growth.
Ready for the next step?
Are you looking to explore new ideas and identify future-fit opportunities that truly match your organisation? We support you in making innovation potential visible and translating it into concrete solutions – practical, structured, and developed together with your team.
Get in touch to learn more:
katharina.reblitz@engageability.ch
Learn more about our strategy and innovation initiatives:
https://engageability.ch/strategy-innovation/
Partner: Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB)
