Establish a Hotel in Switzerland

The hospitality industry in Switzerland is a major component of the local economy, as tourism is a very developed field of business in this country. The accommodation industry in Switzerland is comprised of standard hotels, as well as supplementary accommodation units, comprised of private rooms, campsites, hostels and similar premises. In order to establish a company in Switzerland that will manage a hotel, the businessmen will have to take into consideration numerous aspects, related to the overall budget of the business, as well as the numerous business permits that are required for this type of premises. Our team of lawyers in Switzerland can offer in-depth assistance on the types of permits that are necessary for a Swiss hotel. 

 

 

Businessmen who are interested in opening a company in Switzerland that will operate as a hotel should know that the Swiss accommodation industry accounted for 35,6 million overnight stays at the level of 2015, out of which 19,6 million were represented by bookings registered by foreign visitors. 

 

The top overnight stays were registered in the following Swiss regions:

 

• Zurich;

• Graubunden;

• Valais.

 

The video below offers more information on the registration of a Swiss hotel:

 

 

 

According to the applicable legislation in Switzerland, a hotel is required to provide minimum facilities, depending on the star(s) the accommodation unit has received from the official authorities. In Switzerland, the main institution which verifies the premises of an accommodation unit and awards a suitable classification is the Hotelleriesuisse, the Swiss Hotel Association.  

 

The Swiss hotel classification ranges from 1 star to 5 stars, as it is available for most of the European countries (where 1 star refers to minimum accommodation facilities, and 5 stars designate luxury premises). However, in Switzerland, such units can also receive the Swiss Lodge classification, introduced in the classification system in 2011. The Swiss lodge is awarded to small companies owning accommodation units, which provide minimum facilities. Our team of Swiss lawyers can offer further information on the classification system applicable here.  

 

During the registration procedure, the company is also required to obtain special licenses. In this particular case, the investors may need to apply for a building permit, for water and sewage permits, a fire permit and other licenses that will attest the safety of the respective premises. 

 

Businessmen are invited to contact our law firm in Switzerland for more details on the registration of a hotel. If you are the representative of a foreign company and need to open a Swiss bank account for a branch, you must follow a number of procedures in order to set up a local bank account. Be prepared with all of the necessary information and documentation to minimize the process and speed up the opening of a corporate account.