To showcase the great diversity and sustainability of the Swiss hotel industry, nine new insect hotels, birdhouses and hedgehog shelters have opened this month just in time for today: World Bee Day! This new collection of miniature accommodation is the outcome of an architecture competition held by Switzerland Tourism, and will enable Swiss hoteliers to offer guests of all sizes – even birds, hedgehogs and bees – the stay of their dreams.

At the end of 2024, Switzerland Tourism and nine partner hotels across Switzerland, together with Bienen Schweiz (Beekeepers' Association of German- and Romansh-speaking Switzerland), held an architecture and design competition for wild bee hotels, birdhouses and hedgehog shelters, in a bid to further promote biodiversity in the Swiss tourism industry.

A jury of experts in the fields of tourism, hospitality, design and biology then selected nine winning designs from across the country, each representing one of Switzerland Tourism's partner hotels. These designs have now been built and form the latest (and cutest) Switzerland Tourism hotel cluster, 'Bees & Friends':

1. The Tiny Dolder Grand: Modelled on the ballroom of its larger counterpart, the Dolder Grand Hotelin Zurich, hedgehogs staying here can relax downstairs, while birds can kick back and relax in the upstairs bath.
2. Summnest: An avant-garde hotel for wild bees, whose design is reminiscent of the cross-country ski tracks that pass in front of the nearby Hôtel des Horlogers (in Switzerland's 'Watch Valley') every winter. This is THE hotel for sporty bees.
3. BEE Rivage: Luxurious accommodation in the grounds of the Beau Rivage Palacein Lausanne, whose design is inspired by the four seasons. The use of local flora in its design is particularly appealing to discerning bees.
4. B-House: A scaled-down model of the monastery building of the neighbouring See & Park Hotel Feldbach. The many nesting tubes are also suitable for larger conferences and team-building retreats for busy bees.
5. Bee-Märchen ('Bee Fairytale'): Just like the people in the larger Märchenhotel Braunwald, wild bees love to stop off here with their brood. They are joined by families of birds and butterflies, all staying in their own little houses.
6. Wild Bee Lodges: These five lodges are built from natural materials, appealing to design-conscious wild bees much in the same way as its sister hotel Silo Basel appeals to humans.
7. Villa Carona (Bee Edition): Modelled on the historic Villa Caronanear Lugano, this miniature hotel will soon play host to 10,000 to 30,000 bees.
8. Série Horns: Designed to look like a Swiss 'post horn', this hotel fits in perfectly in front of the Posthotel Rössliin Gstaad. Birds who appreciate a typical Swiss atmosphere will love spending the night here!
9. Peaky Place: A smaller version of the cyclist-friendly Peaks Place Apartment-Hotelin Laax, ideal for hedgehogs who love their bikes. There's even a small pump track on the roof!

This new initiative is part of an international campaign to highlight the biodiversity of Swiss hotels; in addition to these nine winning projects, there are dozens of other hotels that provide shelter for wild animals in their grounds and gardens. These can all be found on our 'Bees & Friends' webpage: switzerland.com/en-gb/accommodations/hotels/bees-friends

'Bees play an essential role in our lives and our environment,' says Mathias Götti-Limacher, CEO of Bienen Schweiz. 'As tireless pollinators, they work hard every single day – for us humans and for nature. That's why we're especially proud to offer our tiniest guests a chance to unwind in style after a job well done – with “Bees & Friends.”'

'Together with our hotel industry, we're keen to show the world that Switzerland really does have something to offer every kind of guest,' says André Hefti, Chief Marketing Officer at Switzerland Tourism. 'We are a dream destination, even for the tiniest travellers.'So whether bee, butterfly, bird, hedgehog or human, this May half-term will certainly bee the perfect time for visitors to Switzerland to enjoy the biodiversity of Swiss hotels for themselves.

-ENDS-

Note to editors:

• Switzerland Tourism 'Bees & Friends' webpage: switzerland.com/en-gb/accommodations/hotels/bees-friends
• Switzerland Tourism 'Bees & Friends' photos: sam.switzerland.com (please display all copyrights for all photos you use)