Here is why half of the Swiss hotels are air -conditioned

When it is warmer inside than outside: in the past. In addition, many Swiss hotels have neglected to equip their infrastructure with an air conditioning system.Image: Getty

Swiss hotels are often not equipped with air conditioning systems, the chagrin of sweaty customers. Therefore, A new analysis gives an idea of ​​the heat that reigns in the country.

Benjamin Weinmann, Stefan Ehrbar / Ch Media

“It was like a here why half swiss hotels sauna,” says Sarah Miller*. Moreover, At the end of June. Therefore, during a heat wave, this American spent one night with relatives in a three -end three -end hotel by the Thoune lake.

“We paid more than 570 francs for a double room and a single room, so I expected to have air conditioning.” But she was disappointed. Meanwhile, The room was only equipped with a mobile fan.

In addition, a 76 -year -old parent was present. Similarly,

Sarah Miller is certainly not the only one to share this opinion. Meanwhile, given the scorching days that Switzerland is currently experiencing. Moreover, Added to this is the fact that abroad. Meanwhile, especially in the United States and Asia, air conditioning is part of the standard equipment.

Analysis of Booking.com figures – Here why half swiss hotels

But how many Swiss hotels have installed air conditioning systems? Meanwhile, Hotelriesuisse and Switzerland Tourism are unable to provide reliable figures on this subject. However, We have therefore analyzed the situation based on data from the online platform Booking.com, market leader in our country.

For the twenty Swiss localities having recorded the greatest number here why half swiss hotels of nights in the first half. Therefore, three test reservations were carried out in September and November 2024 as well as in July 2025, in different days of the week, in order to determine the number of hotels available for booking and how many of them indicate of air conditioning in the rooms.

The results show that French -speaking Switzerland and Ticino have more air conditioning facilities than German -speaking Switzerland: in Geneva, 78.7 % of hotels are equipped with it, compared to 91.1 % in Lugano. Moreover, There is also a gap between cities. countryside: in large cities, hotel rooms are generally more often equipped with air conditioners.

In Zurich, 51.9% of establishments are equipped with it, compared to 48.9% in Basel. If we consider all the hotels of the 20 main localities, only 45.5% on average declare that here why half swiss hotels have these devices.

This figure is mainly pulled down by mountain regions: in municipalities such as Zermatt. Saint-Moritz or Engelberg (OW), it is significantly less than 10%. The values ​​of localities such as Opikon. in the canton of Zurich, must be considered with caution, because only a few companies have been taken into account in the evaluation. In the whole of Switzerland, air conditioning systems are probably even rare than in these twenty municipalities.

Of the 3,645 companies listed in the Swiss Tourism hotel directory, only 503 declare having an air conditioning system, a rate of 13.8%.

Swiss air conditioning limitations

However, the need would be very real. The absence of air conditioning is regularly subject to comments and complaints. In response to this. here why half swiss hotels the Hotels by Fassbind group, which has establishments in Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne, has published information on its website. It is indicated that air conditioning systems in Switzerland are “not comparable” to those in the United States. Arab countries.

The chain reports strict conditions imposed by the authorities. Thus, the parts can only be cooled a maximum temperature 2 ° C below the outside temperature. Fines are provided for in the event of non-compliance. But that is not quite true, as Eric Fassbind, director of the hotel admits. This is a “little lie”.

The authorities would not have imposed restrictive requirements. It would rather be recommendations that he would have received, for example, from here why half swiss hotels the city of Lausanne. Some of its hotels are moreover. there would be large consumers of electricity, which is why it should have presented an energy concept. The text would appear on the website. because international customers would often require air conditioning, even in the middle of winter.

Switzerland Tourism does not pipe word

And how does the largest marketing organization in this tourist region assess the problem of heat in hotels. from Zermatt to Zurich? Should Swiss hotels invest more in air conditioning in order to meet the expectations of their customers? What is the importance of this subject in the promotion of Switzerland? Are there reliable data on this subject?

Nothing to report. The organization of Swiss Tourism Marketing. which spends millions of francs from federal funds here why half swiss hotels in advertising spots featuring Hollywood stars, such as Robert de Niro and Anne Hathaway as well as Roger Federer, hardly seems to worry about the drops of sweat of his customers.

When Anne Hathaway. Roger Federer stayed last time in a hotel without air conditioning?Image: Suissetourisme / Switzerland Tourismus / Aargauer Zeitung

A spokesperson is content to answer that information relating to the equipment of hotels is unfortunately not available. refers to the professional association Hotelleriesuisse.

According to the latter. prolonged heat periods lead to a slight increase in demand for air here why half swiss hotels conditioning on the part of customers. However, this is not a subject that members actively approach. In addition to conventional air conditioners. establishments often rely on modern ventilation systems capable of cooling or reheating parts of at least 5 ° C.

This is worth in particular for old buildings or classified Historic monuments. To this are added considerations linked to energy consumption and sustainability.

A spokesperson for the Booking.com platform refers to the results of a survey recently led to people who often travel. According to this survey. more than half of the Swiss participants say they take into account the risks linked to extreme weather conditions, including heat waves, in their future vacation here why half swiss hotels projects. Almost two thirds would avoid a destination if it was subject to extreme temperatures. This is probably also worth for hotel rooms.

*Last name. borrowed name

Airline Assistance SWITZERLAND ASSISTANCE employees strike on Friday afternoon on Friday afternoon. No theft was canceled thanks to other providers.

Employees of the Airline Assistance Switzerland Assistance Company (AAS) at Zurich airport went on strike on Friday afternoon. Threatened with collective dismissal, they require a social plan. At the end of the day, no flight had been canceled.