NEWS
The Tschuggen Collection has long stood for exceptional Swiss hospitality – but this year’s 101 Sustainable Hospitality Award 2026 shines a spotlight on something even more powerful: a deep, long-term commitment to climate protection and environmental responsibility.
Presented during the “101 Best Hotels in Germany” awards at Schloss Elmau by tennis legend and Wimbledon champion Michael Stich, the accolade marks an international acknowledgment of a philosophy that is lived, not merely claimed.
For Christian Klein, CEO Property & Finance of The Tschuggen Collection, sustainability is inseparable from the group’s identity. With hotels nestled in some of Switzerland’s most spectacular nature – Arosa, St. Moritz and Ascona – protecting these Alpine environments is an essential responsibility.“It is important not only to create outstanding guest experiences,” Klein notes,“but also to actively protect the nature that surrounds us.”
He extends his gratitude to employees, guests, and partners who have embraced this journey and continue shaping a more sustainable future for Swiss hospitality.
The award is a moment of recognition on a path the group has been following for more than a decade. Today, The Tschuggen Collection is the first Swiss premium hotel group to combine high-end hospitality with measurable climate action – the result of years of innovation, investment, and conviction.
At the heart of this mission lies a clear challenge: How can a luxury hotel reduce its environmental footprint without compromising comfort? The answer: rethink energy, adopt circular practices, optimise resources – and consistently choose long-term solutions over quick wins.
Behind the scenes, the transformation is remarkable. Through innovative energy systems, heat recovery, improved insulation and mindful consumption, the group has achieved a 90% reduction in fossil fuel use over the past eleven years. Today, all electricity is sourced from renewable, certified green energy.
A flagship example of climate innovation is the Valsana Hotel Arosa, featuring:
A CO₂-neutral building infrastructure (since 2017)
An ice-storage system, geothermal energy and advanced heat recovery
Zero reliance on fossil fuels – even at 1,800 metres above sea level
This pioneering approach forms the blueprint for the future. Looking ahead, the Tschuggen Collection plans to completely eliminate fossil fuels by the end of 2026. Work is already underway on a new energy concept for the Tschuggen Grand Hotel, including a photovoltaic façade harnessing high-altitude sunlight to generate clean power.
Beyond energy, the group is actively engaged in biodiversity and climate protection initiatives across Switzerland, including the renaturation of drained moorlands – some of the world’s most effective natural carbon sinks. Projects include
Rewilding of a raised bog of national importance in the Tourbières de Ponts-de-Martel nature reserve in the canton of Neuchâtel
Rewilding of the Bos-cha lowland moor in the Lower Engadin
Rewilding of the Palü Lunga lowland moor in the Lower Engadin (under implementation)
Since 2021, all four properties – the Tschuggen Grand Hotel and Valsana Hotel in Arosa, the Carlton Hotel St. Moritz and the Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona – have been certified to the globally recognised Green Globe sustainability standard. Behind this certification lie concrete actions:
Reduced-waste procurement
Circularity in renovations and purchasing
Eco-conscious guest experiences
Continuous sustainability training for teams
The 101 Sustainable Hospitality Award 2026 represents far more than recognition of sustainable luxury. It celebrates a philosophy that shapes every stay at The Tschuggen Collection: thoughtful enjoyment, uncompromising comfort and genuine respect for nature. Guests experience this in:
forward-thinking energy concepts
nature-positive building design
biodiversity projects
sustainable restaurant menus
community engagement initiatives
For The Tschuggen Collection, the award ceremony at Schloss Elmau is both honour and motivation – a reminder to keep moving towards a future where responsible travel, exceptional hospitality and effective climate action go hand in hand.
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