The Tschuggen Collection – exceptional hotel experiences with a comprehensive commitment to climate action and sustainability

For more than 100 years, the family-run Tschuggen Collection has stood for genuine hospitality, award-winning cuisine, first-class wellness experiences and breathtaking views. For more than ten years, the Tschuggen Collection has been actively committed to preserving an intact environment. Inspired by its prized locations amidst spectacular natural beauty, the Collection firmly believes that protecting the environment is the most important challenge of our time. The Tschuggen Collection aims to continuously optimise its CO2 footprint. Key areas of focus include the design of its guest offering, purchasing and waste management. Further measures include optimising circular practices in renovations and new acquisitions, as well as ongoing training for all employees. Thanks to innovative energy concepts, heat recovery systems, thermal insulation and optimised consumption, the Tschuggen Collection has already reduced its total fossil fuel consumption by almost 90% over the past 11 years. In addition, 100% of the electricity used is certified green electricity. By financing national and global climate protection projects, the Tschuggen Collection also takes responsibility for demonstrable climate action beyond its own operational activities.

As a passionate and innovative hospitality company with a clear understanding of its social and environmental responsibilities, the Tschuggen Collection continually seeks to inspire and delight its guests. It gives time back its value through conscious enjoyment and experiences that surprise and remain unforgettable. This approach also led to the creation of the Collection’s own Moving Mountains concept: a scientifically based, holistic hotel experience that brings together the Tschuggen Collection’s hospitality DNA and the needs of today’s guests. The five pillars – MOVE, PLAY, NOURISH, REST and GIVE – enable complete relaxation and a lasting holiday experience. Guests are free to choose which pillars they wish to incorporate into their stay and to set their own priorities for their personal wellbeing.

The Tschuggen Collection comprises the following four hotels, each embedded in the intact natural surroundings of some of Switzerland’s most beautiful holiday regions and closely connected with the local community:

• Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Arosa – 5-star superior – 128 rooms and suites, 4 restaurants

• Valsana Hotel, Arosa – 4-star superior – 40 rooms and junior suites, 9 apartments, 1 restaurant

• Carlton Hotel, St. Moritz – 5-star superior – 60 junior suites and suites, 2 restaurants

• Hotel Eden Roc, Ascona – 5-star superior – 95 rooms and suites, 4 restaurants

Since 2013, we have been working intensively in our existing hotels to reduce their environmental impact as far as possible, and we continue to do so.

When constructing the Valsana Hotel in 2017, we placed particular emphasis on sustainable materials, products from Switzerland and a forward-looking energy concept, allowing our guests to enjoy their stay with a clear conscience.

One highlight of the hotel is that every bed is equipped with a 100% natural Elky Natur mattress. These mattresses are now gradually being introduced in our other hotels as well.

For us, environmentally sustainable business practices are a matter of course. By choosing the Green Globe standard, we have opted to participate in a globally recognised certification programme. Green Globe certification is awarded to companies in the tourism and events industries whose business practices are aimed at the respectful and economical use of resources.

Vision

We help guests rediscover the value of time – through conscious enjoyment and experiences that are at once unexpected and unforgettable.

Who

The family-run Tschuggen Collection offers world-class hospitality experiences. Our staff are passionate hosts with an enterprising spirit and a clear understanding of our social and ecological responsibility.

Why

We reward our guests’ search for the extraordinary and the one-of-a-kind with places and experiences that inspire and surprise in style.

How

As hosts, we are discreetly attentive: present, warm and obliging. With the courage to innovate and in accordance with the highest standards of quality, we uncover the unseen and unexpected and pique your curiosity.

What

Our superbly located hotels are the home of magical experiences designed to be remembered. We offer thoughtfully designed rooms that are worth making the journey for; holidays in breath-taking natural settings enriched by mindful enjoyment that respects our Earth.

Corporate culture (our values and code of conduct):

A passion for hospitality

We are welcoming hosts and ambassadors of our hotels.

An emphasis on inspiration

We strive to surprise and delight anew every day.

Attention to courtesy

We practise warm, attentive and respectful treatment towards guests and colleagues alike.

A clear sense of responsibility

We act for the good of our company, our fellow human beings and the environment.

Commitment

We strive for perfection without compromise – right down to the finest detail.

Out of conviction, we support the social and environmental principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

Anti-corruption

We condemn corruption and reject dishonest practices in any form.

Compliance with applicable law

In all our activities, we comply with all applicable environmental, labour and anti-corruption laws.

Data security

We maintain an appropriate security system for all personal data and business information held by us and ensure that this also applies to all partners who hold or process data on our behalf.

Environmental management

Through our internal environmental standards, we aim to minimise, wherever possible, the negative environmental impacts resulting from our business activities.

Equal opportunities

Within our company, we provide equal opportunities and development opportunities for all employees, irrespective of age, skin colour, race, gender, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation or religion.

Freedom of association

We recognise the right of our employees to join trade unions and interest groups of their own free will and to act within the applicable legal framework.

Green Team

Led by our Sustainability Expert, the Tschuggen Collection Green Team is made up of members from all our hotels. We believe that progress comes from consistent, mutual and honest engagement with relevant topics and from sharing best practices.

Human dignity

We treat all our employees with respect and dignity and provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Management systems

We operate a broad-based and recognised management system in order to facilitate continuous process optimisation and compliance with standards.

Moral and ethical concerns

We provide our employees with a formal way to report concerns regarding corporate conduct.

Occupational safety

We provide a safe and healthy working environment across all our hotels.

Purchasing

Sustainable purchasing and a cooperative relationship with our suppliers are important to us. For this reason, we ask our suppliers and business partners to share our principles in accordance with our Corporate Responsibility and purchasing guidelines and to take these into account in the production and delivery of the goods and services we order.

Training

We offer a wide range of training opportunities across all our hotels. In addition to apprenticeships, we also offer internship placements for recognised hotel management schools.

Waste management

We are committed to keeping the waste generated by our business activities to a minimum, increasing the proportion of recycling wherever possible and disposing of all residual waste correctly.

Working conditions

We offer fair working conditions based on applicable laws and the International Labour Organisation Core Conventions. This also includes the principles of Freely Chosen Employment and Child Labour Avoidance.

Environmental standards

Principle 1 – Environmental protection is a management responsibility

Environmental protection is a fixed agenda item at the Tschuggen Collection’s management and executive meetings.

Principle 2 – Informing and raising awareness among employees

Within their respective areas of responsibility, all employees are responsible for environmentally conscious behaviour and are encouraged to contribute to the implementation of our environmental guidelines. The active involvement of our employees forms the basis for achieving our goals and also offers significant potential for innovation. Idea management, targeted information and employee training and development help to promote environmental awareness throughout our company.

Arosa water / Mineral water

The Twist and The Basement restaurants serve high-quality Arosa water. It is filtered and bottled on site in glass bottles using state-of-the-art filtration systems, meaning that no additional bottled water needs to be purchased. In all other restaurants, we primarily aim to recommend local mineral water in order to keep transport distances as short as possible. We use Valser Wasser, a local mineral water from the region, as our main mineral water partner.

Bar supplies

No plastic straws are used anywhere within the Tschuggen Collection.

Bathroom amenities: Nooii and FAIRCosmEthics

Guest amenities such as shampoo, soap, conditioner and body cream are exclusively provided in refillable dispensers. The products are from the organic Swiss brands Nooii or FAIRCosmEthics.

Business stationery

The Tschuggen Collection uses 100% recycled paper for both internal and external paper correspondence, bleached without chlorine. Printed materials are always produced in Switzerland.

Candles

Candles are recycled by our partner Lienert Kerzen AG. Residual candle wax is melted down and reused.

CO2

The autonomous energy concept based on the ice storage system at the Valsana Hotel has significantly reduced CO2 emissions at the hotel. In addition, all our hotels exclusively use certified electricity from renewable energy sources. Since 2013, the Tschuggen Collection hotels have maintained a target agreement for reducing CO2 emissions with the Energy Agency for the Swiss Private Sector. All relevant data are recorded and documented annually.

Cultural preservation

The Tschuggen Collection is also committed to the sustainable protection and preservation of culture. Various parts of the Collection’s properties offer cultural experiences in their own right.

At the “boathouse” La Casetta on the grounds of the Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona, initial negotiations regarding Italy’s withdrawal took place between the Allied forces and the German occupiers towards the end of the Second World War.

Casa Epper, also located on the hotel grounds and formerly the artist’s home and workplace, still houses numerous works by Ignaz Epper, one of Switzerland’s most important expressionists. Today, it serves as a cultural meeting place for guests and the local community, with a varied programme of readings, workshops and exhibitions.

The Tschuggen Collection also regularly initiates or co-finances cultural projects. One example is the Collection’s own Moving Mountains photography project, for which renowned Swiss photographer Robert Bösch created both a photographic exhibition and a book showcasing the landscapes surrounding the Tschuggen Collection hotels in breathtaking images. The exhibition is now permanently accessible at the Tschuggen Bergoase.

A book by the Arosa Local History Museum about the Herwig family, tourism pioneers and builders of the Tschuggen Grand Hotel, was also recently made possible through generous co-financing.

In 2023, the contemporary art exhibition ETRA ARTE delighted guests at the Hotel Eden Roc Ascona. The exhibition showcased works by young local artists who transformed everyday waste generated by the hotel into surprising and thought-provoking works of art.

Electric vehicles

We offer charging stations for our guests’ electric vehicles at all our hotels.

Food

Wherever possible, we purchase food and beverages from local producers and products from organic or regenerative agriculture. We exclusively use animal products from animal-friendly and certified farms.

Wherever possible, orders are bundled in order to avoid additional delivery journeys to our two hotels in Arosa. The wine list at the Valsana Hotel is exclusively European.

General purchasing

Wherever possible, our suppliers are based in Switzerland in order to avoid unnecessary transport distances. We also pay close attention to minimising packaging materials as much as possible across all our suppliers.

• Cafè Badilatti: For three generations, this family-run company in the Engadin mountains has stood for the finest coffee specialities. All Tschuggen Collection hotels are supplied with high-quality coffee.

• Pharmos Natur: Pharmos Natur stands for Green Luxury natural cosmetics and holistic spa treatments harnessing the power of plants. Its certified natural cosmetic products are offered in all Moving Mountains Spas.

Hand towels and bath towels

Using a laundry card system, guests decide for themselves when they would like their towels to be washed. This significantly reduces the volume of laundry and considerably reduces the consumption of water, detergent and energy.

Heating

Valsana: The entire heating requirement of the three buildings is covered by the hotel’s own waste heat and geothermal probes. This means that the use of environmentally harmful oil or gas can be avoided entirely.

Other hotels: Here, too, we aim to reduce the use of fossil fuels as much as possible. Most recently, a pellet heating plant with district heating for Arosa was installed at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel, while at the Hotel Eden Roc the oil heating and cooling systems were replaced with a heat exchange system using lake and groundwater.

Ice storage system at the Valsana Hotel

The entire heating requirement of the three buildings is covered by the hotel’s own waste heat and geothermal probes, which feed into a large latent heat storage unit. The heat pumps draw their energy directly from this storage unit, which can be imagined as a large water tank.

Inside the tank is more than 400 metres of pipework, 1.5 metres high, through which a water-glycol mixture flows and which is connected to the heat pump circuit. When the heat pumps extract large amounts of energy, the water around the pipework can freeze, forming a block of ice.

To thaw the ice again, waste heat from all heat recovery systems is fed back into the water tank. If more waste heat is available than energy is extracted, the ice melts and the water can heat up to 15°C. The water can then be cooled again and the heat reused.

Information for new employees / Intranet

Wherever possible, printed information for employees is avoided. We use our employee intranet to share information.

Light fittings

To save energy, many of the lights in the corridors and entrance areas of our hotels are operated by motion sensors. All light fittings in the hotels use particularly energy-efficient LED lamps.

Printer toner

All empty printer cartridges, toner cartridges and ink cartridges are collected without exception under the motto “Every toner counts”. They are inspected, processed and recycled by Pelikan at its recycling centre. Pelikan makes a donation to the Swiss Red Cross for the toner cartridges collected. The proceeds from the collection campaign support the work of the Swiss Red Cross, particularly families affected by poverty in Switzerland.

Refrigeration systems

A large proportion of our refrigeration systems, including freezers and refrigerators, are already equipped so that the heat generated can be reused. In addition, all our refrigeration systems are freon-free.

Moving Mountains

Move

We work with experienced consultants and experts in the fields of personal training and yoga to meet the needs of our guests and prepare them for the many activities available in nature.

Play

To help our guests experience our regions, we have put together a range of excursions and adventures designed to provide pure and unforgettable enjoyment. These are our Empowering Expeditions and Curated Adventures.

Nourish

Together with renowned nutritionist Rhaya Jordan, our award-winning chefs have created wonderful Moving Mountains menus and dishes based on delicious plant-based cuisine. An important principle of Moving Mountains dishes is: Inspired by the Swiss mountains – wholesome, fresh, nutritious, seasonal and locally sourced.

Rest

Our guests can take time out, relax and recharge with scientifically based sleep and spa experiences.

Give

Reflecting the continuous cycles of nature, the final pillar of Moving Mountains is about giving something back.

Cleaning products and detergents

Wherever possible, we use biodegradable cleaning products.

Construction of the Valsana in 2017

Building materials from the former building were reused through upcycling and can now be found, for example, in the wooden panels in the lounge and in chairs in the guest rooms.

Heat recovery from waste water and ventilation systems

A large proportion of our thermal energy is required to heat water. Another significant proportion is used by the ventilation systems. The systems in our hotels are therefore gradually being equipped with heat exchangers in order to further reduce energy consumption.

Nespresso coffee pods

Sustainable Nespresso coffee pods are provided in the guest rooms and recycled after use.

Online table booking tool

Our online table booking tool provides more reliable bookings and therefore enables better food planning. This helps to sustainably reduce food waste.

Packaging

No PET bottles are used in our restaurants or guest rooms. We also avoid unnecessary packaging and do not use plastic bags.

Paperless Valsana

For both internal communication and communication with guests, we aim to operate as paperlessly as possible. Information regarding towel changes is displayed on a glass surface in the bathroom. All guests receive their invoice by email after departure.

Room plants

In most of our hotels, we use long-lasting potted plants as decorative elements instead of cut flowers.

Shuttle service

At the Hotel Eden Roc, all our guests can use our e-Smarts, e-scooters, e-bikes, mountain bikes and city bikes free of charge as part of our mobility concept. In addition, all our hotels offer arrival and departure shuttle services to and from the railway station in order to encourage travel by train. Free bikes are also available at all our hotels.

Tschuggen Express

To avoid thousands of shuttle journeys to and from the ski area, the Tschuggen Express was opened at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in February 2009. Since then, the hotel’s own mountain railway has transported guests to the heart of Arosa’s extensive skiing and hiking area in less than four minutes. It is powered by 100% certified electricity from renewable energy sources.

Waste sorting

Strict waste separation is a key priority across the Tschuggen Collection. New employees receive training to prevent errors caused by a lack of awareness or knowledge from the outset. Kitchen waste is separated and sent to producers of biogas fuels.

Water consumption

The use of special aerators in the taps in guest bathrooms makes it possible to significantly reduce drinking water consumption. At low water pressure, the aerators mix air into the water jet, increasing its diameter. Among other things, this also gives guests the sensation of “softer” water.

Wild bees and more

Around the Valsana, there is a biodiverse lawn area that includes a habitat for wild bees, bumblebees and other insects. We also maintain our own bee colonies near the Hotel Eden Roc in Ascona to produce the hotel’s own honey and support biodiversity.

Since 2019, the Tschuggen Collection has been measuring its greenhouse gas emissions, continuously reducing them and currently compensating for unavoidable residual emissions through certified climate protection projects.

For more than ten years, the Tschuggen Collection has been actively committed to preserving an intact environment. By financing national and international climate protection projects, the Tschuggen Collection also takes responsibility for demonstrable climate action beyond its own operational activities.

Partnership with myclimate

The partnership includes:

• Continuous reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across all Tschuggen Collection hotels

• A comprehensive climate protection programme including emissions measurement, emissions reduction and the compensation of unavoidable residual emissions

By financing national and global climate protection projects, the Tschuggen Collection also takes responsibility for demonstrable climate action beyond its own operational activities. The Tschuggen Collection finances restoration projects in Switzerland, thereby supporting both climate protection and biodiversity through the following climate protection projects:

• 2019: Restoration of the raised bog in the Tourbières de Ponts-de-Martel nature reserve, Canton of Neuchâtel

• 2022: Restoration of the Bos-cha lowland moor near Guarda in the Lower Engadin

• 2023: Restoration of the Palü Lunga lowland moor in the Lower Engadin

• Virunga mountain gorilla project in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda

• Community Saving Project in the Siaya region of Kenya

Cause We Care Initiative

As part of Cause We Care, guests can make a voluntary contribution based on the estimated climate impact of their journey to and from our hotels. The Tschuggen Collection doubles these contributions. The funds are used both for climate protection measures within the hotels and for the myclimate Community Saving Project in the Siaya region of Kenya.