Switzerland’s hotel sector didn’t just recover from the pandemic—it soared to record-breaking heights, with CHF 12.8 billion in total revenue in 2023, a figure fueled by skyrocketing luxury stays, international guests, and mountain resorts that have become the envy of the travel world.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Swiss hotel industry generated total revenues of CHF 12.8 billion, marking a 15% increase from 2022 driven by post-pandemic recovery
- Average daily rate (ADR) for Swiss hotels rose to CHF 220.50 in 2023, up 8.7% year-over-year
- Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Switzerland reached CHF 137.20 in 2023, a record high with 12.4% growth
- Swiss hotels nationwide achieved 65% occupancy in Q4 2023, up 4.2 percentage points from Q4 2022
- Zurich city center hotels had 72% occupancy in 2023 annual average
- Luxury segment occupancy reached 68% in Switzerland 2023, highest since 2019
- Total bedplaces in Swiss hotels numbered 248,000 in 2023, up 1.2% from 2022
- Switzerland had 5,637 hotels with 152,500 rooms in 2023
- Zurich canton hosted 1,250 hotels with 45,000 beds in 2023
- Swiss hotel industry employed 152,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2023
- HotellerieSuisse represents 650 member hotels employing 45,000 staff in 2023
- Zurich hotels workforce totaled 28,000 employees in 2023
- Total overnight stays in Swiss hotels hit 42.5 million in 2023, record high
- Foreign visitors accounted for 61% of overnight stays, 26 million in 2023
- Germans topped visitor nations with 8.2 million overnights in 2023
Swiss hotels thrived in 2023, achieving record revenues driven by international guests and luxury stays.
Accommodation Capacity and Infrastructure
- Total bedplaces in Swiss hotels numbered 248,000 in 2023, up 1.2% from 2022
- Switzerland had 5,637 hotels with 152,500 rooms in 2023
- Zurich canton hosted 1,250 hotels with 45,000 beds in 2023
- Luxury hotels comprised 120 properties with 12,000 rooms nationwide in 2023
- New hotel openings added 2,500 rooms in Switzerland 2023
- Mountain resorts had 2,800 hotels with 85,000 beds in 2023
- Geneva had 180 hotels offering 18,500 rooms in 2023
- Midscale segment included 2,200 hotels with 65,000 rooms in 2023
- Bern region 450 hotels, 22,000 beds capacity 2023
- Economy hotels totaled 1,100 with 28,000 rooms in 2023
- Basel had 150 hotels with 12,000 beds in 2023
- City hotels represented 45% of total room supply at 68,000 rooms 2023
- Valais canton 1,200 hotels, 55,000 beds in 2023
- Spa and wellness hotels numbered 350 with 15,000 rooms 2023
- Lausanne area 120 hotels, 9,500 rooms capacity 2023
- Ticino had 850 hotels with 32,000 beds in 2023
- Upscale hotels 450 properties, 28,000 rooms nationwide 2023
- Lucerne 250 hotels, 14,000 beds in 2023
- Chain hotels occupied 35% of room inventory at 53,000 rooms 2023
- St. Gallen 180 hotels, 8,500 beds 2023
- Interlaken region 150 hotels, 11,000 beds capacity 2023
- Independent hotels 3,200 properties with 99,000 rooms in 2023
- Montreux 90 hotels, 6,200 rooms 2023
- Hotel room utilization rate was 64% based on 152,500 rooms 2023
Accommodation Capacity and Infrastructure Interpretation
Switzerland’s hotel industry is meticulously scaling its Alpine charm, adding rooms with precision while ensuring that luxury hideaways and mountain lodges still offer a serene escape from the urban buzz of its vibrant cities.
Employment and Human Resources
- Swiss hotel industry employed 152,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2023
- HotellerieSuisse represents 650 member hotels employing 45,000 staff in 2023
- Zurich hotels workforce totaled 28,000 employees in 2023
- 55% of hotel staff in Switzerland were women in 2023
- Average annual wage in Swiss hotels was CHF 58,200 in 2023
- Seasonal workers comprised 32% of hotel employment, 48,000 FTEs in 2023
- Geneva hotels employed 12,500 staff in 2023
- Front desk and housekeeping roles filled 40% of positions, 61,000 jobs 2023
- Bern hotel sector had 14,000 employees in 2023
- Foreign nationals made up 45% of hotel workforce in 2023
- Management positions grew 5% to 8,200 in 2023
- Basel hotels staff numbered 8,200 in 2023
- Apprenticeships in hospitality reached 25,000 trainees in 2023
- Valais hotels employed 22,000 FTEs in 2023
- Turnover rate in Swiss hotels was 28% annually in 2023
- Lausanne hotels workforce 7,800 in 2023
- Kitchen and F&B staff 35% of total, 53,000 jobs 2023
- Ticino region 18,000 hotel employees in 2023
- Staff shortages affected 62% of hotels in 2023 survey
- Lucerne hotels 9,500 staff in 2023
- Average tenure for hotel managers 8.5 years in 2023
- St. Gallen hotels employed 5,200 in 2023
- Part-time workers 25% of workforce, 38,000 FTEs 2023
- Interlaken 6,800 hotel jobs in 2023
- Training investment per employee CHF 1,200 annually 2023
- Montreux hotels staff 4,100 in 2023
Employment and Human Resources Interpretation
The Swiss hotel industry, a meticulously run machine of 152,000 FTEs, hums along with a backbone of women (55%), a heavy reliance on international talent (45%), and a troubling case of the shakes—62% suffer staff shortages despite a revolving door of seasonal workers (32%) and a 28% annual turnover, suggesting that while the beds are made to perfection, keeping a full house of employees is a far greater challenge.
Occupancy and RevPAR
- Swiss hotels nationwide achieved 65% occupancy in Q4 2023, up 4.2 percentage points from Q4 2022
- Zurich city center hotels had 72% occupancy in 2023 annual average
- Luxury segment occupancy reached 68% in Switzerland 2023, highest since 2019
- Winter 2022/2023 mountain hotels occupancy averaged 71%
- Geneva international hotels occupancy was 74% in 2023, driven by diplomacy
- Midscale hotels occupancy improved to 63% in 2023 from 55% in 2022
- Bern hotels averaged 67% occupancy in 2023
- Economy segment occupancy hit 59% in summer 2023
- Basel trade fair periods saw 89% occupancy peaks in 2023
- City hotels occupancy recovered to 69% annual average in 2023
- Alpine summer occupancy was 54% in 2023, up 9 points
- Lausanne occupancy averaged 66% in 2023
- Upscale hotels RevPAR grew 14% to CHF 165 in 2023
- Ticino lakeside hotels occupancy 62% in 2023
- Weekend occupancy in Swiss hotels averaged 78% in 2023
- Lucerne tourist hotels 70% occupancy in 2023
- RevPAR in mountain resorts rose 20% in winter 2023 to CHF 152
- St. Gallen hotels 64% occupancy average 2023
- Interlaken adventure hotels 75% occupancy summer 2023
- Montreux Riviera hotels 68% occupancy 2023
- National average occupancy 64.5% in 2023, with urban areas at 70%
- Q1 2023 occupancy lagged at 58%, improving to 71% in Q3
- Family-run hotels occupancy 61% vs chains 67% in 2023
- RevPAR Zurich CHF 180 in 2023
- Peak July occupancy 82% across Switzerland 2023
- Hotel occupancy in Valais reached 73% winter 2023
Occupancy and RevPAR Interpretation
Switzerland's hotels spent 2023 proving their resilience, as urban hubs and Alpine slopes alike saw bustling occupancy rates, with even Geneva's diplomats and Basel's trade fair crowds contributing to a national recovery that felt less like a statistical rebound and more like a welcome return to form.
Revenue and Financial Performance
- In 2023, the Swiss hotel industry generated total revenues of CHF 12.8 billion, marking a 15% increase from 2022 driven by post-pandemic recovery
- Average daily rate (ADR) for Swiss hotels rose to CHF 220.50 in 2023, up 8.7% year-over-year
- Revenue per available room (RevPAR) in Switzerland reached CHF 137.20 in 2023, a record high with 12.4% growth
- Luxury hotels in Switzerland accounted for 28% of total hotel revenues in 2022, totaling CHF 3.2 billion
- Zurich's hotels reported CHF 2.1 billion in revenue in 2023, representing 16% of national total
- Swiss mountain resort hotels saw revenue growth of 22% in winter 2022/2023 to CHF 1.8 billion
- Midscale hotels contributed CHF 4.5 billion to industry revenue in 2023, 35% of total
- Geneva hotels generated CHF 1.4 billion in revenue in 2023, boosted by international conferences
- Total hotel revenue from foreign guests was CHF 8.9 billion in 2023, 70% of overall
- Economy hotels in Switzerland earned CHF 2.3 billion in 2022, with 10% YoY increase
- Bern's hotel sector revenue hit CHF 850 million in 2023, up 14%
- Revenue from wellness and spa hotels grew 18% to CHF 1.2 billion in 2023
- Basel hotels recorded CHF 650 million revenue in 2023, driven by trade fairs
- City hotels nationwide contributed 55% of total revenue at CHF 7 billion in 2023
- Alpine hotels revenue from summer season 2023 was CHF 950 million
- Total ancillary revenue (F&B, events) in Swiss hotels was CHF 3.1 billion in 2023
- Lausanne hotels generated CHF 420 million in 2023, up 11%
- Upscale hotels saw ADR of CHF 285 in 2023, contributing CHF 3.8 billion revenue
- Ticino region hotels revenue reached CHF 750 million in 2023
- Independent hotels accounted for 42% of revenue at CHF 5.4 billion in 2023
- Winter sports hotels revenue peaked at CHF 2.2 billion in 2022/2023 season
- Lucerne hotels revenue was CHF 580 million in 2023
- Chain-affiliated hotels generated CHF 7.4 billion, 58% of total in 2023
- St. Gallen hotels revenue grew to CHF 320 million in 2023
- Revenue per occupied room (RevPOR) averaged CHF 220 in 2023
- Interlaken hotels earned CHF 280 million from tourism in 2023
- Hotel EBITDA margin improved to 28% in 2023 from 22% in 2022
- Montreux hotels revenue hit CHF 210 million in 2023, boosted by Jazz Festival
- National hotel profit before tax rose to CHF 2.1 billion in 2023
Revenue and Financial Performance Interpretation
The Swiss hotel industry has emerged from the pandemic not just refreshed but refined, strategically trading up its legendary precision into premium experiences where luxury, wellness, and scenic grandeur command record prices, proving that travelers will happily pay a king's ransom for a queen's view.
Tourism Demand and Visitor Profiles
- Total overnight stays in Swiss hotels hit 42.5 million in 2023, record high
- Foreign visitors accounted for 61% of overnight stays, 26 million in 2023
- Germans topped visitor nations with 8.2 million overnights in 2023
- Zurich welcomed 5.1 million overnight stays in 2023
- Average length of stay 2.3 nights per guest in 2023
- US tourists contributed 2.8 million overnights, up 25% in 2023
- Geneva hosted 3.2 million stays, 70% international in 2023
- Business travelers 35% of stays, leisure 65% in 2023
- UK visitors 2.1 million overnights in 2023
- Bern recorded 2.4 million overnight stays in 2023
- Winter season overnights 18.7 million in 2022/2023
- Dutch guests 1.9 million stays in 2023
- Basel trade fairs drew 1.8 million stays in 2023
- Families represented 28% of hotel guests in 2023
- Lausanne 1.6 million overnights in 2023
- French visitors 3.5 million stays, top EU source 2023
- Ticino summer stays 4.2 million in 2023
- Couples 42% of guest profiles in hotels 2023
- Lucerne attracted 2.9 million stays in 2023
- Chinese tourists recovered to 1.2 million overnights 2023
- St. Gallen 1.1 million stays in 2023
- Millennials (25-40) 32% of visitors in 2023
- Interlaken adventure tourism 1.7 million stays 2023
- Peak season July-August 12.5 million overnights 2023
- Italians 1.6 million hotel stays in 2023
- Montreux Jazz boosted 450,000 stays in July 2023
- Domestic guests 16 million overnights, 38% total 2023
Tourism Demand and Visitor Profiles Interpretation
While Switzerland’s hoteliers are rolling out the red carpet for a record 42.5 million overnight stays, they’re cleverly tucking the Swiss themselves into just 38% of the beds, proving they’re masterful at making the world feel at home—as long as it’s for an average of 2.3 nights.
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