tourism
Switzerland proposes CHF100 million programme to modernise mountain hotels
The Federal Council has proposed CHF100 million over eight years to modernise mountain hotels and other accommodation providers. Funding would be available from 2028 to 2035 and tied to exemplary energy-efficiency improvements, with the programme now going to Parliament.
CHF100 million is set to flow into mountain accommodation from 2028 to 2035, if Parliament approves the Federal Council’s proposal. The eight-year programme would help hotels and other lodging providers finance modernisation projects in Switzerland’s mountain regions, where ageing buildings, seasonal demand and difficult access to capital can constrain investment.
The Federal Council adopted the supplementary dispatch on September 2, 2026. The proposal now moves to Parliament, which must decide whether to release the funding through the revised framework for promoting the accommodation industry.
The programme links public support to a clear condition: applicants must carry out exemplary energy-efficiency refurbishments. That could include major building upgrades, although the government’s announcement does not specify the exact technologies or standards that would qualify.
The federal government expects the measure to stimulate additional private investment. It plans to assign implementation to the Swiss Hotel Credit Society, known by its German acronym SGH. The federally supported institution already provides financing assistance to the accommodation sector.
The proposed sum represents a targeted intervention rather than a blanket renovation grant. Properties in mountain regions would have to meet the programme’s energy and financing requirements before receiving support.
Energy efficiency sets the terms
Energy efficiency will determine access to the proposed funds. The Federal Council says only accommodation providers that complete exemplary energy-efficiency refurbishments will be eligible for support. The condition places building performance at the centre of a programme designed to renew a major part of Switzerland’s mountain tourism infrastructure.
The announcement does not list the eligible measures, the required efficiency threshold or the size of individual contributions. Those details would have to emerge during the parliamentary process and subsequent implementation by the SGH. Operators will therefore need to assess both the cost of renovation and the financial rules attached to the programme before planning projects.
Mountain hotels often operate in buildings exposed to severe winters and high heating requirements. Better insulation, more efficient heating systems and upgrades to building services could reduce operating costs, although the government has not provided estimates for potential savings. The proposal also does not set out how many hotels or accommodation businesses could benefit.
By tying financial support to refurbishment standards, the government intends to channel investment into projects with a lasting effect on energy use. The approach could encourage owners to combine overdue maintenance with climate and efficiency upgrades when they seek financing.