Switzerland’s Sustainable Ideas For Incentive Travel
Switzerland is leading the way towards a sustainable future. They’ve even got their own word for it, Swisstainable; a sustainable strategy that all about maximum relaxation in a natural setting. And what a breath-taking setting it is. Wherever you go in Switzerland you’ll see something spectacular; from soaring snow-capped mountains, wild gorges to mystical forests, there’s no end of outdoor adventures to enjoy. This is a country where embracing the scenic landscape is part of day-to-day life, making it easy to incorporate sustainable activities into your Incentive Trip, regardless of whether you’re an adrenaline or wellbeing junkie (or fancy doing a bit of both!).
Swisstainable is all about:
- Enjoying nature up close and at first hand
- Experience the local culture in an authentic way
- Consume regional products
- Stay for longer and delve deeper
10 Switzerland Sustainable Incentive Trip Ideas
- Charter your own train car and take in breath-taking views while travelling from Interlaken to Montreux on the Golden Pass Panoramic mountain train
- Get an adrenaline boost in Laax by sliding down the world’s longest treetop path at Senda dil Dragun (romansch for ‘The Path of the Dragon”).
- The common Swiss joke is “our cheese and chocolate are delicious because our cows are happy”. Eat local and try both with an authentic Swiss fondue lunch in Gruyeres or a chocolate making master class
- Grab a selfie at Bürgenstock Resort Luzern outdoor infinity-edge jacuzzi. But be quick as the hours when guests can take pictures are restricted so others can enjoy the views free of cameras
- Spend a day picking grapes on the terraces of Lavaux Vingeyards,a UNESCO heritage site. The terraces are so steep the grapes can’t be harvested by machinery so afterwards you’ll have earnt your bottle of wine, produced without the use of artificial fertilisers
- Take a trip of the “Funi” (short for “funicular”), Switzerland’s water-powered funicular railway. This nostalgic railway has been operating in Fribourg since 1899 – completely without electricity or exhaust fumes, powered by residual water from the upper town. It uses filtered waste water from a 3,000-litre tank to overcome 56.4 metres in altitude. Impressive
- Take to the water and enjoy the beauty of Lake Lugano on the Ceresio, the first fast-charging cruiser powered purely by electricity and free of emissions
- Grab a washing pan, trowel and wellington boots as you go panning for gold in the river Rhine
- Experience the world’s first revolving cable car in the TITLIS Rotair with breathtaking 360° panorama of the wide Engelberg valley and the opportunity to explore a 150-metre-long artificial glacier cave cuts straight into the heart of the Titlis Glacier
- Turn off your worries, inhale deeply and enjoy the comforting effect of alpine waters by hiking the Adelboden Valley or river rafting in one of the numerous gorges.
Switzerland Sustainable Hotel Recommendations
Valsana Hotel Arosa
With a system that uses ice-based heat exchange technology, this fashionable carbon-neutral hotel is the last word in sustainability. The modern chalet style of the 40 rooms and junior suites, as well as the nine apartments, uses natural materials and neutral tones for a paired back, informal interior style. The views of Lake Obersee and mountains are simply stunning. Enjoy creative and healthy cuisine at the Twist restaurant, sun terrace, bar and lounge whilst helping yourself to “winomat” self-service wine dispensers. The 800m2 spa area provides stunning views of the Arosa forest.
Alpina Gstaad
An uber luxury mountain retreat that’s dedicated to environmental awareness. Built in the local style with fresh and modern textures layered upon century-old wood this five star hotel was Switzerland’s first EarthCheck Gold Certificate recipient and is a member of the NOW Force for Good Alliance.The spa was built by 90% local tradespeople and uses a variety of renewable power sources whilst the ingredients that feed it’s two Michelin-starred restaurants come from the local area. It’s a snow paradise in winter and a hiker’s dream in summer with stunning views of the mountain scenery of the Bernese Oberland.
Whitepod
Surrounded by nature at 1,400 metres above sea level, with magnificent and unobstructed views of Lake Geneva is Whitepod, a series of eco-luxury pods embedded into the slopes of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range in the Alps. The capsule-shaped pods are reminiscent of space stations and are fully given over to ecological design and sustainable luxury. Every room, complete with private viewing platform and bathroom, is heated with its own wood chip furnace and is supplied with spring water. Exclusive suites come with Netflix access, private sauna and hammock. The close-to-nature location provides plenty of opportunities for Alpine experiences including dog-sledge tours.
The Dolder Grand, Zurich
Viewed from the exterior, the Dolder Grand is an unmistakeable landmark with its array of towers and thanks to its exposed position on top of Zurichberg Hill. But the Dolder’s real treasures are buried much deeper within this listed building, and they cannot even be seen from the outside. Seventy geothermal probes installed at a depth of 152 meters supply energy for the entire facility thanks to cutting-edge geothermal technology. The rest of the power requirement is met by 100% Swiss hydropower.
Together with all its partners and suppliers, the Dolder Grand actively practices a philosophy of environmentally, socially and economically beneficial behaviour; by adopting this approach, the hotel pursues the social, ecological and economic goals that it has set for itself. As a member of the NOW Force for Good Alliance, the hotel makes its contribution to responsible change in the travel industry. This establishment has also achieved the highest level of Switzerland Tourism’s Swisstainable programme.
Sustainable Ways Of Getting Around Switzerland
The Swiss Travel System comprises 29.000 kilometres of rail, road and waterway routes, making it the densest public transport system in the world. Travel in Switzerland is straightforward, supremely enjoyable and reliable (as the saying goes, you can set your watch by the Swiss trains).
Spectacular rail journeys are easy to integrate into any Switzerland Incentive Trip and you can take public transport to see some of Switzerland’s most beautiful panoramic routes. SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) generates the electricity for its trains from hydropower and by 2025, all electricity is planned to come from renewable sources. And it’s no wonder the country invests in them, as they can claim two of the best train journeys in the world.
How To Get There
- Direct flights to Geneva, Zurich, or Basel-Mulhouse
- Alternatively take the Eurostar to Paris then take a high speed TGV from Paris to Geneva (3h05), Lausanne (3h39), Bern, Basel (3h03) or Zurich (4h03) and experience great scenery on the way.
For more Switzerland sustainable incentive travel ideas or information about hosting incentive trips, meetings or events get in touch with the team.
TEL : 020 7610 2808 – EMAIL : info@evolve-events.com