Here Are the Three Finalists for the Hotel Innovation Award 2025

From numerous concepts, the seven-member jury has selected three finalists for the anniversary edition of the Hotel Innovation Award. "This year, we had an exciting selection of innovative concepts. We are pleased to present three of them on Innovation Day," said Kevin Abgottspon, Head of Marketing.

Appenberg

https://www.appenberg.ch

The Appenberg in Emmental is evolving into an innovative hotel village that challenges the classic seminar culture. Instead of standardized rooms, flexible work and meeting zones are being created, connecting digital technology with analogue retreats. The 12 historic buildings are designed to encourage creativity, exchange, and concentration — from the whiteboard in the seminar room to meetings under apple trees. Transparent charges and modular offerings aim to replace complex pricing structures. The goal is to enable teams to work more productively and inspirationally than in the office. The opening is planned for autumn 2026.

Hotel Jardin

https://www.hotel-jardin.ch/de/saal

Hotel Jardin Bern is transforming its nearly 100-year-old event hall into 15 additional rooms — without any new construction, but with a resource-saving space-in-space concept. The existing historic architecture of the hall remains visible and becomes part of the guest experience. Two new room categories are intended to appeal to different budgets and expand the current offerings. The project demonstrates how densification in urban areas can be creatively and resource-efficiently achieved. The planning phase is complete, and construction begins in autumn 2025. The opening is scheduled for spring 2026.

Waldhuus Bellary

https://www.bellary.ch

With the "Back to the 70s" concept, Waldhuus Bellary in Grindelwald becomes a trendy accommodation for young and young-at-heart guests. 25 rooms styled in the 1970s, a bar & lounge, and a large garden create a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the Eiger. Existing furniture and fittings like bathroom tiles are carefully refurbished and integrated into the new retro design — a clear commitment to resource conservation. The concept is complemented by digital services: Check-in, payment, and room access are all done via smartphone. This creates a sustainable offering that combines design, technology, and experience.

The winner will be announced on Innovation Day, themed "Sustainable Business & Smart Saving - Success Strategies for the Hospitality Industry." Experts like Christine Schäfer from GDI and Patrick Zbinden, food journalist and AI expert BR, will explore trends in the context of societal change and topics such as pricing strategy, sustainable business, lean management, and the benefits of AI in hospitality. The event takes place on October 14, 2025, at the Transport Museum in Lucerne. www.gastrosuisse.ch/de/events/impulstagungen/innovations-tag

Jury Hotel Innovations Award

Hans R. Amrein, Partner & Editor-in-Chief Hotel Inside Margrith Blum, Head of Tourism, Swiss Mountain Aid Peter Gloor, Director, Swiss Society for Hotel Credit Beat Imhof, President, GastroSuisse Christian Laesser, Professor, University of St. Gallen Nicoletta Müller, Owner, Consulting Firm Innovation, Sales & Marketing GmbH Martin Nydegger, Director, Switzerland Tourism

Host Organisation Hotel Innovations Award

Swiss Society for Hotel Credit, GastroSuisse

Partners Hotel Innovations Award

Swiss Mountain Aid, GastroJournal, Hotel Inside

Press Contact:

GastroSuisse, Patrik Hasler-Olbrych, Head of Communication Phone: 044 377 53 53, communication@gastrosuisse.ch