Sustainability meets profitability in Swiss hotels

Sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive 

The World Economic Forum, which took place in Davos again from May 22 to 26, 2022, after a pandemic-related interruption, is an event with international appeal. Such occasions are enormously important for the hotel industry in Graubünden and throughout Switzerland. To be successful in the future as well, it is worthwhile for hotel operators to focus not only on tourism and gastronomic aspects

The cancellation of numerous events during the pandemic hit the hotel industry hard throughout Switzerland. The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos serves as an example, as it generates a great many overnight stays in normal times. Several thousand guests from around the world and the associated media coverage, which presented the name Davos and the Graubünden landscape in the best light, were sorely missed. Now, however, the outlook for the future is more positive again: Due to the pandemic, the event traditionally held in January was not cancelled in 2022, but postponed to the end of May – around 2,500 people participated this year. On television and in newspapers, potential guests from around the world could see images showing that the Graubünden destination and with it all of Switzerland is worth a trip in spring and summer as well. 

Impressive figures 

HotellerieSuisse, the industry association, is particularly pleased about such positive messages. The association, founded in 1882, sees itself as the strong voice of the accommodation industry in Switzerland. And with good reason: Its approximately 3,000 members comprise around 50 percent of all hotels in Switzerland and these are responsible for 80 percent of all overnight stays. The association is also influential in the canton of Graubünden: The Graubünden hotel industry with its almost 700 hotels offers more than 10,000 jobs and generates an annual gross value added of 560 million francs. The WEF in Davos alone generates an annual value added of around 60 million francs according to a study by HSG St. Gallen. 

Now that tourists are traveling again and events are being held, looking to the future is all the more important, especially because many guests are paying increasing attention to environmental aspects and sustainability. This view is not limited only to travel and food, but also to the way hotels handle their operations and business processes. Under this premise, efficient and economical hotel operations have become vital for most establishments. Not only for image reasons, but also for profitability considerations, those responsible want to ensure hotel operations that are as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. 

This is exactly where Siemens can help. Thanks to the partnership agreement signed at the beginning of May 2022, establishments affiliated with HotellerieSuisse can benefit from Siemens know-how in the field of building and energy technology. Interested hotel operators are optimally supported and advised by our specialists in the search for innovative and sustainable solutions. 

The first hotels have already been able to benefit from this. For example, a hotel in the Bernese Oberland can reduce its annual CO2 emissions by 719 tons thanks to Siemens' "Energy & Performance Services." Another element of the Siemens offering is the so-called performance guarantee. Siemens guarantees the customer the efficiency and thus the effectiveness of the new CO2-free heat generation over the next ten years. 

Hospitality Summit in Zurich-Oerlikon 

Interested hoteliers had another opportunity for knowledge exchange and to get to know Siemens services on June 1 and 2, 2022. At the HotellerieSuisse Hospitality Summit in Zurich-Oerlikon, participants received interesting background information. At the panel discussion "Green & Smart Hospitality," Jürg Herzog, Country Head of SI in Switzerland, presented Siemens' comprehensive solution portfolio and showed through concrete examples that a well-founded technical analysis and investments in technical infrastructure are worthwhile for hotel operators.