What is the new impulse programme for hotels?

The program, adopted by the Federal Council on September 2, 2026, aims to incentivize targeted investments towards hotel facilities located in mountain regions. The main objective is to promote technological and structural modernization, with a specific focus on exemplary energy renovations. The initiative responds to motion 19.3234 Stöckli and aims to improve the energy efficiency of the hotel park, ensuring the future competitiveness of Alpine tourist resorts through financial support coordinated by the Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA).

What are the times and methods of financing?

The program provides for a total allocation of 100 million francs, to be distributed over eight years, covering the period from 2028 to 2035. The distribution of resources will be managed by the Swiss Hotel Credit Company (SCA), which will act as the operating body. Companies will have to submit projects that demonstrate compliance with the energy rehabilitation criteria. The operational details and methods of access to tenders will be defined during the implementation of the federal decree by the Federal Department of Economy, Training and Research.

How can hotel companies prepare for the program?

Entrepreneurs need to plan well in advance, working with energy efficiency experts to craft sound projects that meet legal requirements. Since the investigation will be rigorous, it is advisable to monitor the official communications of the Federal Department of Economics, Training and Research and consult the documentation relating to the new federal law on the impulse program. It will be essential to integrate SCA aid with own investments to ensure the economic viability of the deep redevelopment projects planned between 2028 and 2035.

Mountain hotels: 100 million for sanitation

By Redazione Frontaliere Ticino (AI-generated text) · Published on 2 September 2026 · Updated on 8 October 2026

The Federal Council allocates 100 million francs for the energy modernization of mountain hotel facilities in the period 2028-2035.

Context

In brief

The Federal Council has adopted the additional message for the hotel sector
100 million francs allocated for mountain regions over eight years
The program aims to encourage energy renovation of hotels
Implementation will be carried out through the Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA)

Key facts

What: Impulse program for hotel modernization
When: September 2, 2026 (adoption of message); period 2028-2035
Where: Mountain regions in Switzerland
Who: Federal Council and Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA)
Amount: Total of 100 million francs

On September 2, 2026, the Federal Council adopted the additional message related to the total revision of the federal law on the promotion of the hotel sector. This decision aims to introduce a limited-duration impulse program specifically dedicated to the modernization of hotel businesses located in mountain regions. The initiative is part of a broader regulatory path that saw, already on April 16, 2025, the government adopting a message for the relaunch of the Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA), the central entity in the process of financing and promoting the sector.

Objectives and purposes of the program

The heart of the new proposal lies in the desire to stimulate targeted investments towards hotel structures that have carried out exemplary energy renovations. The objective is twofold: on the one hand, to promote technological and structural modernization of the often outdated mountain hotel park; on the other hand, to respond to increasingly stringent national environmental sustainability standards. The total financing provided amounts to 100 million francs, to be disbursed over eight years. These resources will be managed and distributed through the SCA, which will act as the operational arm for the implementation of the program. This measure was formalized upon specific request of the Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxation of the National Council (CET-N), which, during the examination of the total revision of the law, insisted on the integration of motion 19.3234 Stöckli. Initially, the Federal Council had expressed reservations about proceeding with such a program, citing the difficult situation of federal finances, the lack of perceived urgency, and the management complexity required for implementation. However, parliamentary dialogue led to a reconsideration that culminated in the adoption of the additional message, thus overcoming previous government resistances based on budget prudence.

Operational details

The introduction of this boost program represents a significant change in the federal strategy to support alpine tourism. While the hypothesis of implementing motion 19.3234 Stöckli had previously been shelved by the Federal Council for financial and organizational reasons, the current post-consultation scenario has required a new analysis. The choice to link public support to investments in energy renovation reflects the sector's need to align with modern efficiency requirements. For hotel businesses operating in mountain regions, this availability of capital does not only represent an incentive for ordinary maintenance but a catalyst for deep renovation projects that would otherwise be economically unsustainable. The Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA), in this process, assumes the role of guarantor and facilitator, ensuring that resources are channeled towards projects with a real qualitative and environmental impact.

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Key points

For hotel businesses intending to access these resources, the procedure follows the regulatory framework provided for the Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA). Although the operational details for submitting applications will be defined during the implementation of the federal decree, companies must demonstrate that their projects comply with the exemplary energy renovation criteria required by law. The administrative process will require rigorous technical documentation that not only proves the need for the intervention but also the added value in terms of energy efficiency. It is advisable for companies to monitor the official communications of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research to understand the opening times of the calls and the minimum access requirements, thus ensuring they are ready as soon as the 2028-2035 funding period enters the operational phase.

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Source: admin.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new impulse programme for hotels?: The program, adopted by the Federal Council on September 2, 2026, aims to incentivize targeted investments towards hotel facilities located in mountain regions. The main objective is to promote technological and structural modernization, with a specific focus on exemplary energy renovations. The initiative responds to motion 19.3234 Stöckli and aims to improve the energy efficiency of the hotel park, ensuring the future competitiveness of Alpine tourist resorts through financial support coordinated by the Swiss Hotel Credit Society (SCA).
What are the times and methods of financing?: The program provides for a total allocation of 100 million francs, to be distributed over eight years, covering the period from 2028 to 2035. The distribution of resources will be managed by the Swiss Hotel Credit Company (SCA), which will act as the operating body. Companies will have to submit projects that demonstrate compliance with the energy rehabilitation criteria. The operational details and methods of access to tenders will be defined during the implementation of the federal decree by the Federal Department of Economy, Training and Research.
How can hotel companies prepare for the program?: Entrepreneurs need to plan well in advance, working with energy efficiency experts to craft sound projects that meet legal requirements. Since the investigation will be rigorous, it is advisable to monitor the official communications of the Federal Department of Economics, Training and Research and consult the documentation relating to the new federal law on the impulse program. It will be essential to integrate SCA aid with own investments to ensure the economic viability of the deep redevelopment projects planned between 2028 and 2035.