Switzerland's Hotel Market Reports Mixed Results in 2011

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According to STR Global and their renewed partnership with hotelleriesuisse, the Swiss Hotel Association representing more than 2,100 hotels in Switzerland, a tough economic environment across Europe in 2011 resulted in Switzerland's hotel sector posting mixed results in 2011.

"We are delighted to continue our cooperation with hotelleriesuisse, supporting the association and hoteliers with our data and reports", said Elizabeth Randall, managing director at STR Global. "We hope that our reports will help hotel managers to keep an overview of the market and help them in their strategic decisions.

"With the main demand for Swiss hotels coming from Europe, the country's industry has been dealing with a tougher economic environment across Europe and the additional strengthening of the Swiss franc", Randall said. "Not surprisingly, the Switzerland hotel market reported mixed results in 2011."

The latest hotel performance results from STR Global show that despite a positive trend in the first half of 2011 across the major Swiss markets, the country's hotel industry faced a tougher environment during the second half of the year.

Average daily rate (ADR) reached CHF 229.27 (0.1 percent) and occupancy declined to 60.4 percent (-1.94 percent) 12-months to January 2012. The strengthening of the Swiss franc against, notably, the euro, provided additional concern for local hoteliers. ADR in euro-terms increased by 10.8 percent to €187.56, bringing RevPAR to €113.21 (+8.5 percent), making the destination more expensive to its main source markets.



Looking at city performance, Bern led the market with 0.9 percent RevPAR growth driven by an increase in ADR (+4.2 percent) 12-months-to-January 2012. The positive numbers were mainly the results of increased performance during the parliamentary sessions and supported by strong weekend business throughout the year (+4.2 percent).

Luzern, a more leisure-focused destination, saw during the summer months (June-August) a decline in occupancy by 5.1 percent to 82.2 percent. However, thanks to a robust spring and autumn period, Luzern hotels saw occupancy reaching 68.3 percent (+ 1.3 percent) 12-months to January whilst ADR increased to CHF 177.37 (+1.0 percent).

Hotel Performance by city 12-months to January 2012



Zurich saw declining demand from corporate clients as well as meetings and events, which resulted in occupancy decreasing by 3.1 percent to 70.6 percent 12-months to January. The latest forecast released in November for the Zurich hotel market reflects the challenging times ahead with RevPAR expected to decline by 3.7 percent in 2012.

On the other hand, whilst occupancy remained fairly stable in Geneva, ADR decreased by 2.0 percent, reaching CHF 305.68 12-months to January 2012. During 2011, the luxury segment in Geneva saw occupancy declining by 0.1 percent whilst ADR dropped by 2.1 percent as a result of fewer visitors from the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

The Basel hotel market, traditionally driven by trade fairs and pharmaceutical corporate travelers, decreased its RevPAR to CHF 132.66 (-0.3 percent) led by a decline in ADR by 1.95 percent to CHF200.86. In March 2011 during the famous "Baselworld" event, occupancy remained strong and ADR achieved CHF550 (+CHF25.0) compared to the previous year.

STR Global tracks more than 25,700 rooms in cities and regions across Switzerland.