Portrait
Swiss Youth Hostels
To learn about and experience the world, people, cultures and nature, to expand one’s own horizons – this is all also particularly important for young people and extremely valuable for their development. Not everybody has the financial means to do this.
As a professional and modern non-profit organisation, the Swiss Youth Hostels are actively committed to enabling young people, school classes, families and persons with disabilities in particular to experience interaction, activities and experiences outside their usual environment. We firmly believe in the contribution we make towards supporting a society built on the principles of solidarity, responsibility and joyful living.
Basel Youth Hostel
Who we are
The Swiss Youth Hostels are a politically and denominationally neutral non-profit organisation with the legal form of a non-profit association.
The Swiss Youth Hostels Association is responsible for operating the youth hostels in Switzerland and in the Principality of Liechtenstein, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive network of youth hostels in attractive tourist regions and destinations in all parts of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The Swiss Youth Hostels are represented by two further independent partner organisations in addition to the Swiss Youth Hostels Association:
- The Swiss Foundation for Social Tourism is the proprietor of the youth hostels (properties) or leases these for use by the Swiss Youth Hostels Association.
- The Foundation for Youth Hostels in Switzerland provides financial support in the form of long-term loans for the construction of youth hostels.
Network Map of the Swiss Youth Hostels
Status April 2025
Our Vision
We envisage a world in which all people can happily experience interaction and joint activities together outside their usual environment, while acting in solidarity, as well as conscientiously.
Our Mission
We enable people to enjoy truly special moments through sustainable travel experiences and by providing enriching adventures in the most beautiful places in Switzerland.
Grindelwald Youth Hostel
Our goals
Together with the members of Hostelling International, we enable people with limited budgets access to affordable accommodation and catering facilities all over the world. Particularly for young people, this encourages interaction, joint activities and experiences outside of their usual environment and national borders.
We enable families with a small budget access to affordable accommodation with interaction, joint activities and experiences outside of their usual environment. This supports the physical and mental health of the whole family.
We enable schools and educational institutions access to affordable accommodation and catering outside of their usual environment. This enables us to promote school camps and project weeks, and to support extra-curricular learning and integration.
We enable groups, which have to take into account people with a small budget, access to affordable accommodation and catering outside of their usual environment. This enables us to promote equal opportunities and the integration of people with limited financial means.
We enable people with disabilities access to barrier-free, financially affordable accommodation and catering outside of their usual environment. This enables us to empower people with disabilities to participate independently in social activities.
This plays a role in shaping a society where solidarity, responsibility and a love of life prevail.
Awards
We encourage innovative thinking and action and set a good example. We value tourism research and see it as an opportunity for our ongoing development.
2024 | Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards | Award for the image film “Don’t be sad, come back soon”, Silver Dolphin in the category Marketing Films – B2C |
2024 | Best of ibex fairstay | the best overall performance, Locarno Youth Hostel |
2023 | Best of ibex fairstay | wellnessHostel4000, Saas-Fee |
2022 | Niesen Summit | Milestone Special Prize for Sustainability Strategy 2007 |
2021 | ICOMOS Special Prize | Burgdorf Castle Youth Hostel, distinction Special Award “Historic Hotel of the Year 2022” |
2021 | Atuprix Audience Award | Burgdorf Castle Youth Hostel, distinction for Bernese architectural culture |
2021 | Best of ibex fairstay | Pontresina Youth Hostel and Zurich Youth Hostel |
2020 | Best of ibex fairstay | St. Moritz Youth Hostel |
2020 | Switzerland’s Best Employer 2021 | 2nd place in the categories Gastronomy, Tourism, Accommodation, Entertainment and Leisure |
2019 | ICOMOS Switzerland | “Bella Lui” Youth Hostel in Crans-Montana nominated for Historical Hotel of the Year |
2017 | Hostelling International | “The most Sustainable National Association” |
2016 | Swiss Environmental Prize | Special award for long-standing commitment and services to environmental and climate protection |
2016 | myclimate Award | Distinction as a “Pioneer for integrated climate protection in the hotel industry” |
2016 | Global Youth Travel Awards | 2nd place in the “Green Accommodation Initiative” area |
2015 | Watt d’Or | wellnessHostel4000 and Aqua Allalin Saas-Fee, Gstaad Saanenland Youth Hostel – winners in the
“Buildings and Space” category |
2015 | Prix Lignum | wellnessHostel4000 Saas-Fee – 3rd place in the Wood Prize of the Central Region |
2014 | Milestone Switzerland | wellnessHostel4000 and Aqua Allalin Saas-Fee – 2nd prize in the category “Outstanding projects” |
2013 | “Good Buildings Award” by the cantons of Basel-City and Basel-Land | Basel Youth Hostel |
2013 | HI-5ives! Awards | Interlaken Youth Hostel “Best Hostel 2013” |
2013 | HI-5ives! Awards | Interlaken Youth Hostel “Most Comfortable Hostel 2013” |
2012 | Woodworking | Special award for the renovation and expansion of St. Moritz Youth Hostel |
2012 | The 50 best annual reports in Switzerland | Winner in the NPO category |
2011 | ZKB Sustainability prize for SMEs | Distinction for outstanding contribution in the field of sustainable development |
2011 | Swiss Solar prize | Award in category A “Personalities / Institutions”, for comprehensive environmental management
and a pioneering role in environmentally compatible tourism |
2010 | Award Marketing + Architecture | Award Scuol Youth Hostel, main winner |
2010 | Award Marketing + Architecture | Award Scuol Youth Hostel, special prize “Green Technology” |
2010 | Award Marketing + Architecture | Award Scuol Youth Hostel, winner in category “Hotels, Restaurants” |
2010 | myclimate Award | Award for best integration of CO2 compensation |
2008 | Hans E. Moppert Prize | Award Scuol Youth Hostel for sustainability in Alpine Tourism |
2008 | ICOMOS Switzerland | Distinction for Zurich Youth Hostel for its sensitive renovation of a building from the 1960s |
2007 | Milestone Switzerland | Tourism prize for sustainability strategy |
1999 | Event Master Award Switzerland | Winner in the “Public Events” category for the 75 events carried out as part of the
anniversary celebrations for “75 years of Swiss Youth Hostels” |
1994 | Goldene Reisekutsche Berlin | Bronze Medal for the basic campaign |
Our four pillars of sustainability
Social matters and society
We want to make travel affordable, especially for people with limited financial means. Integration and inclusion for guests (including barrier-free access) is important to us. When it comes to our catering offerings, we provide balanced menus made from products produced fairly. In terms of our actions, we remain in close contact with local institutions and residents.
We support educational measures both for our guests and our employees. We pay particular attention to appropriate and fair wages, social security, fair employment models, the integration and inclusion of employees, and a meaningful working environment where effort is recognised and valued.
Ecology
We aim to maintain a far-reaching and pioneering role in environmental and climate protection. In doing so, we pursue the implementation of effective measures to advance the circular economy, acting responsibly and out of conviction.
Economy
We aim to continually maximise cost-effectiveness while taking into account our values and objectives. We focus on maintaining sufficient liquidity, adequate reserves and a healthy capital structure. This aims to ensure financial stability and the ability to meet our social responsibility goals over the long term.
As a non-profit organisation, we count on broad financial support from our members, benefactors, partners and the public sector.
Governance
We aim to promote national and international partnerships and cultivate close partnerships with the public sector. Cooperation takes precedence over competitive thinking – together we create real added value for everyone.
We present our values, achievements and results to the public in transparent financial and non-financial sustainability reporting.
wellnessHostel3000 Laax
