Every Alpine hotel HR manager knows the number by heart: €1,500–2,500 per seasonal placement, paid to an agency, before the worker has spent a single shift on the floor. What's less obvious is where that money actually goes — and what it doesn't buy you.
We ran the math from the other side of the table, back when we were seasonal workers ourselves in Lech, St. Anton and Obergurgl. Here's what a hire actually costs, itemized.
1. What the Agency Fee Buys You
A flat €1,500–2,500 fee typically covers: a shortlist built from a database the agency controls, a CV forwarded with minimal vetting, and — once the contract is signed — nothing. The agency has been paid; whether the hire lasts the season isn't their problem anymore.
2. What It Doesn't Buy You
- No relationship before arrival. You're meeting the person for the first time when they check in.
- No housing verification. If the room doesn't match what was promised, that's discovered on day one — not before.
- No refund on early exits. A worker who quits in week three has already cost the agency fee, plus the cost of an emergency re-hire during peak season.
3. The Platform Alternative, Line by Line
- Placement fee — Agency: €1,500–2,500. SeasonHop (pilot): €0.
- Direct contact before hiring — Agency: no. SeasonHop: yes, via Direct Chat.
- Housing shown before applying — Agency: rarely. SeasonHop: Verified Room Photos.
- Group/team hiring — Agency: rebuilt each season. SeasonHop: Squad applications.
- Talent pool — Agency: its own database. SeasonHop: workers from 90+ countries actively seeking DACH/Alpine seasons.
4. Why Free, Right Now
SeasonHop isn't running a loss-leader with fine print. It's a pilot: we're not charging hotels for placements while we build this with the hotels and workers actually using it. That's not a permanent promise — it's an honest one for where the product is today.
Do the Math for Your Own Season
Ten placements a year at agency rates is €15,000–25,000 before a single shift is worked. Run the same season through a platform built by people who've done the job, and see what the difference actually looks like.
👉 Post your first Verified Job free at seasonhop.com