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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about tourism
Investment rolls on in Graubünden despite tourism crisis
Friday, 11 January, 2013
News of declining tourist numbers and overnight stays has been a common story in the last year or two, blamed on everything from weather to the strong Swiss franc. So what is a canton dependent on tourism to do in the midst of a financial crisis? Keep investing, and watch outside investors do the same. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Friday, 11 January, 2013
News of declining tourist numbers and overnight stays has been a common story in the last year or two, blamed on everything from weather to the strong Swiss franc. So what is a canton dependent on tourism to do in the midst of a financial crisis? Keep investing, and watch outside investors do the same. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
What you don't know about online hotel bookings
Friday, 14 December, 2012
Are you being ripped off when you book a hotel online in Switzerland? Is the hotel itself getting gouged? COMCO, the country’s competition commission, has launched an investigation into three major online hotel reservation sites. They say it suspects Booking.com, Expedia and HRS of unlawfully hindering competition, especially by offering a best price guarantee to their customers. One of the sites, German-based HRS.com told WRS consumers benefit from their low price guarantee—and hotels get better exposure by working with them. Thomas Allemann is a member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Hotel Association who asked Comco to investigate. He talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Friday, 14 December, 2012
Are you being ripped off when you book a hotel online in Switzerland? Is the hotel itself getting gouged? COMCO, the country’s competition commission, has launched an investigation into three major online hotel reservation sites. They say it suspects Booking.com, Expedia and HRS of unlawfully hindering competition, especially by offering a best price guarantee to their customers. One of the sites, German-based HRS.com told WRS consumers benefit from their low price guarantee—and hotels get better exposure by working with them. Thomas Allemann is a member of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Hotel Association who asked Comco to investigate. He talks to WRS’s Dave Goodman:
Why tourism industry can thank 'loyal' Swiss
Wednesday, 31 October, 2012
The number of tourists taking holidays in Switzerland has been falling ever since the financial crisis hit in 2008. Last year the number of overnight stays in Swiss hotels was down again and the latest predictions for the 2012 to 2013 winter season say there’s going to be more of the same. So what’s the problem and what is Swiss Tourism doing about it? The latest predictions for the sector were announced yesterday in Zurich and WRS’s Jo Fahy was there:
Wednesday, 31 October, 2012
The number of tourists taking holidays in Switzerland has been falling ever since the financial crisis hit in 2008. Last year the number of overnight stays in Swiss hotels was down again and the latest predictions for the 2012 to 2013 winter season say there’s going to be more of the same. So what’s the problem and what is Swiss Tourism doing about it? The latest predictions for the sector were announced yesterday in Zurich and WRS’s Jo Fahy was there:
What hotel schools are doing about tanking tourism
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
Lausanne’s famous hotel school, the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, welcomed students back yesterday. Five hundred new recruits have arrived from the four corners of the world at the same time as the school announced a glamorous new partnership with Europe’s biggest hotel management group. But the enthusiasm was in sharp contrast with recent news from the Swiss hotel industry, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Wednesday, 19 September, 2012
Lausanne’s famous hotel school, the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, welcomed students back yesterday. Five hundred new recruits have arrived from the four corners of the world at the same time as the school announced a glamorous new partnership with Europe’s biggest hotel management group. But the enthusiasm was in sharp contrast with recent news from the Swiss hotel industry, as WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Switzerland Tourism defends high prices
Monday, 19 March, 2012
“Hey Switzerland, you’ve got pretty alps and your chocolate is delicious. But would you mind knocking down your lofty hotel rates a bit?” That’s the caption on a photo on cnngo.com. It was referring to the latest Hotels.com survey of lodging prices. It put Switzerland square at the top of the list of most expensive places to stay for people coming from a number of countries. So is the tourism industry bothered? WRS’s Jordan Davis put the question to Switzerland Tourism’s Veronique Kanel:
Monday, 19 March, 2012
“Hey Switzerland, you’ve got pretty alps and your chocolate is delicious. But would you mind knocking down your lofty hotel rates a bit?” That’s the caption on a photo on cnngo.com. It was referring to the latest Hotels.com survey of lodging prices. It put Switzerland square at the top of the list of most expensive places to stay for people coming from a number of countries. So is the tourism industry bothered? WRS’s Jordan Davis put the question to Switzerland Tourism’s Veronique Kanel:
Fribourg launches 'pay what you can' to stay campaign
Monday, 27 February, 2012
Did you every fancy staying in a hotel and paying only what you want? Since last week and until the end of the year this is possible in some hotels in Fribourg—but only on Sunday night. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Sophie Rouvenaz, manager of the Ibis Hotel in Bulle, which is part of this campaign along with seven other hotels across the canton:
Monday, 27 February, 2012
Did you every fancy staying in a hotel and paying only what you want? Since last week and until the end of the year this is possible in some hotels in Fribourg—but only on Sunday night. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Sophie Rouvenaz, manager of the Ibis Hotel in Bulle, which is part of this campaign along with seven other hotels across the canton:
As hotel stays drop, Swiss tourism eyes new markets
Wednesday, 22 February, 2012
Guglielmo L. Brentel, president of Hotelleriesuisse says the industry can’t reduce prices but can focus on quality. He was reacting to the latest Swiss tourism figures which revealed yet another bad year. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Wednesday, 22 February, 2012
Guglielmo L. Brentel, president of Hotelleriesuisse says the industry can’t reduce prices but can focus on quality. He was reacting to the latest Swiss tourism figures which revealed yet another bad year. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Swiss service with a (forced) smile
Friday, 20 January, 2012
A few ski resorts in the canton of Valais think there’s plenty of room for improvement in the Swiss service industry—most notably in the smiling department. They’ve hired experts to help staff at hotels, banks, restaurants and ski lifts discover their potential for that welcoming grin. Lucas Chambers reports from Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais:
Friday, 20 January, 2012
A few ski resorts in the canton of Valais think there’s plenty of room for improvement in the Swiss service industry—most notably in the smiling department. They’ve hired experts to help staff at hotels, banks, restaurants and ski lifts discover their potential for that welcoming grin. Lucas Chambers reports from Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais:
Strong franc not slowing holiday rentals
Wednesday, 4 January, 2012
Politicians, exporters and the tourism industry alike have complained the Swiss franc is over-valued. As a result, they say, the Swiss economy is on the verge of tipping into a recession. Federal statistics have shown a clear decline in hotel bookings from eurozone countries, helped only slightly by a boost in tourists from Asia, but there is some good news—in Switzerland’s holiday homes sector. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Wednesday, 4 January, 2012
Politicians, exporters and the tourism industry alike have complained the Swiss franc is over-valued. As a result, they say, the Swiss economy is on the verge of tipping into a recession. Federal statistics have shown a clear decline in hotel bookings from eurozone countries, helped only slightly by a boost in tourists from Asia, but there is some good news—in Switzerland’s holiday homes sector. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Kandersteg back in business after severe flooding
Wednesday, 23 November, 2011
Just over a month after devastating floods caused millions of francs worth of damage in the Bernese Oberland and upper Valais region, the Swiss army has announced its support mission has finished. Severe damage costs and a lack of communication with some communities worried tourists and locals. Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland was particularly badly affected. But the town is now eager for tourists to return. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on how the area is faring after the floods:
Wednesday, 23 November, 2011
Just over a month after devastating floods caused millions of francs worth of damage in the Bernese Oberland and upper Valais region, the Swiss army has announced its support mission has finished. Severe damage costs and a lack of communication with some communities worried tourists and locals. Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland was particularly badly affected. But the town is now eager for tourists to return. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on how the area is faring after the floods:
Yahoo! weather app gets it wrong in Kandersteg
Monday, 21 November, 2011
Swiss tourism has been hit by the strong franc and ski resorts are suffering from a lack of snow. However one Swiss town has got a thoroughly 21st century problem right now, caused by a smartphone app. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Monday, 21 November, 2011
Swiss tourism has been hit by the strong franc and ski resorts are suffering from a lack of snow. However one Swiss town has got a thoroughly 21st century problem right now, caused by a smartphone app. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
How Swiss tourism lures skiers spooked by steep franc
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers will be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit. It’s the strong Swiss franc. At Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference, WRS’s reporter Vincent Landon got the lowdown:
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers will be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit. It’s the strong Swiss franc. At Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference, WRS’s reporter Vincent Landon got the lowdown:
Gloomy winter forecast for Swiss tourism
Monday, 31 October, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers are expected to be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit: It’s the strong Swiss franc. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was at Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference earlier today:
Monday, 31 October, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers are expected to be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit: It’s the strong Swiss franc. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was at Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference earlier today:
Making the (Swiss) Jura attractive to the French
Monday, 10 October, 2011
The canton of Jura is now selling itself as the closest Swiss region to Paris. That is since the high speed TGV train linked up with Jura, making the journey to Paris just 2.5 hours. After years of relatively difficult access, Jura is also now linked up with the Swiss motorway network. To coincide with these new connections, Jura has launched a PR campaign to attract new visitors to the region. Roughly translated, the slogan is “Jura, the original canton.” WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Pierre-Alain Berret, head of communications for the canton:
Monday, 10 October, 2011
The canton of Jura is now selling itself as the closest Swiss region to Paris. That is since the high speed TGV train linked up with Jura, making the journey to Paris just 2.5 hours. After years of relatively difficult access, Jura is also now linked up with the Swiss motorway network. To coincide with these new connections, Jura has launched a PR campaign to attract new visitors to the region. Roughly translated, the slogan is “Jura, the original canton.” WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Pierre-Alain Berret, head of communications for the canton:
Top Swiss hotels give writers a room with a view
Thursday, 15 September, 2011
When it comes to hosting famous authors, Switzerland’s luxury hotels have a rich tradition. Voltaire,Victor Hugo, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Mann, Mark Twain—to name but a few. The tradition has been revived and reinterpreted this year with the Swiss Deluxe Hotels’ Writers in Residence programme. Thirty-seven writers have been staying at the leading five star hotels in Switzerland, writing a short story during their visit. American author Davis Bunn, whose books have sold more than six million copies in 16 languages, is visiting the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt. WRS’s Vincent Landon went to hear his story:
Thursday, 15 September, 2011
When it comes to hosting famous authors, Switzerland’s luxury hotels have a rich tradition. Voltaire,Victor Hugo, Leo Tolstoy, Thomas Mann, Mark Twain—to name but a few. The tradition has been revived and reinterpreted this year with the Swiss Deluxe Hotels’ Writers in Residence programme. Thirty-seven writers have been staying at the leading five star hotels in Switzerland, writing a short story during their visit. American author Davis Bunn, whose books have sold more than six million copies in 16 languages, is visiting the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt. WRS’s Vincent Landon went to hear his story:
