How we work

Many Swiss Youth Hostels are housed in historically significant buildings. We don’t rely on standard solutions when making structural modifications. In this way, these properties preserve and revive their architectural heritage, remain unique and each hostel tells the story of its location.

Sustainability is firmly anchored in everything we do: We rely on ecological construction with a focus on social responsibility, environmental compatibility and cost-effectiveness. The greatest impact lies in the consistently sustainable operation of the buildings. We have received several awards for this.

We deliberately focus on individuality over standard solutions: Each hostel draws on the region’s building tradition and translates it into contemporary architecture with local architects – for an authentic stay with a strong local connection.

We have always worked closely with municipalities: With public-private partnerships, we ensure high-quality, low-budget accommodation with expanded offerings, despite high costs in the destination of Switzerland, benefitting both sides and the public. 

As a social tourism organisation, we have been committed to barrier-free holidays for years: Together with the “Denk an mich” foundation, we are gradually creating barrier-free buildings, information and offers for self-sufficient travel for all. 

Good architecture creates added value: We rely specifically on architectural competitions for new buildings and renovations. This results in sustainable, cost-conscious solutions with high design quality.