Seasonal in Tourism: Featured Accommodation Expenses

Context

In brief

• University of Lausanne study on seasonal workers
• Commissioned by the Federal Housing Office
• 95 interviews conducted in 4 tourist destinations
• Housing expenses indicated as the main difficulty

Key facts

• What: Analysis of the housing situation of seasonal workers
• When: September 11, 2026
• Where: Adelboden, Leysin, Saas-Fee and Villars-sur-Ollon
• Who: University of Lausanne and Federal Housing Office
• Amount: 95 total interviews, of which 84 with seasonal workers
• Context: Co-financed by the Cantons of Bern, Vaud and Valais

The Swiss tourism sector cannot do without seasonal workers, but their presence is closely linked to the availability of adequate living spaces. A recent study conducted by the University of Lausanne, commissioned by the Federal Housing Office and co-financed by the Cantons of Bern, Vaud and Valais, has analyzed for the first time the housing situation from the perspective of seasonal workers. The report, entitled «Usages et besoins en logement des travailleurs saisonniers en stations de sports d'hiver», highlights the main problem encountered in this economic sector: housing expenses.

In Swiss alpine localities, rising rental prices heavily impact the budgets of temporary employees, whose cantonal minimum salaries average between 3,800 and 4,200 gross Swiss francs per month according to the collective employment agreements of the hotel and catering industry (L-GAV).

Methodology and scope of the research

Research is based on a total of 95 interviews, including 84 conducted directly with seasonal workers employed in the destinations of Adelboden, Leysin, Saas-Fee and Villars-sur-Ollon. Living spaces play a central role not only for the daily life of these people, but decisively influence the possibility of finding a job, the individual financial situation and the eventual decision to return to work in a specific tourist resort. The presence of an adequate housing supply therefore represents a crucial factor for tourist destinations, useful for attracting labor and retaining it over the long term, ensuring the operational continuity of local businesses.

The housing crisis in tourist valleys directly threatens the competitiveness of our hotel and non-hotel system.

Practical scenarios and financial impact

In Saas-Fee and Adelboden, a standard studio apartment for the winter season can exceed 1,200 francs per month, absorbing up to thirty percent of the net salary of an unskilled seasonal worker. To make a comparison with urban centers like Zurich or Geneva, where cost per square meter is high but offset by higher average salaries, in tourist resorts the ratio between fixed rental costs and seasonal income of 4-5 months creates a structural savings deficit for foreign employees or inter-cantonal commuters. Companies that provide company housing at subsidized prices, often obtained from old annexes or converted hotel rooms, record staff retention rates forty-five percent higher than those who leave workers free to find a roof on the free alpine real estate market.

Operational details

Analyzing the housing needs that emerged from the interviews, industry operators and local authorities are facing well-defined priorities indicated by workers. The research highlights that finding affordable housing represents the absolute need. High housing costs relative to income drastically reduce the possibility of setting aside savings during the season. In Graubünden and Valais, where the average cost of a studio apartment often exceeds 1'200 Swiss francs per month, seasonal workers who earn a gross minimum salary of around 3'800 francs according to the Collective Employment Agreement for the hotel and catering industry find themselves allocating over 35% of their income solely to rent. In addition to the economic factor, seasonal workers express the need to find housing solutions close to their workplace and the essential services of the location. Short routes simplify everyday life and reduce costs related to mobility, a particularly relevant aspect if one considers the sometimes irregular working hours typical of winter tourism and the adverse weather conditions of the cold season.

Qualitative aspects and contractual flexibility

As for the furnishings and quality of the housing, the priorities are not linked to high demands for comfort, but rather to cleanliness, adequate sizes, complete equipment and the possibility of enjoying a minimum of privacy. This need proves crucial in shared accommodation, where different schedules and life rhythms can complicate daily coexistence between colleagues. The fourth priority identified by the study concerns the flexibility of lease contracts. Often the duration of rental agreements does not coincide with that of the seasonal employment contract, generating unjustified additional costs for workers. Interviewees hope for flexible lease start and end dates and the possibility of re-renting the same accommodation in subsequent seasons, thus stabilizing the presence of workers in the alpine valleys.

• Rent commensurate with the cantonal minimum wage
• Maximum distance of fifteen minutes on foot from the ski lifts
• Minimum equipment with independent kitchen and internet connection included

The stabilization of the workforce necessarily passes through a farsighted housing policy for the tourist valleys.

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Key points

The housing situation for seasonal workers in the Swiss tourism sector varies considerably depending on the location, highlighting marked disparities between the various Alpine centers of the Confederation. The ease of finding suitable accommodation depends on critical factors such as local availability and prices, the percentage of secondary residences in the area pursuant to the Federal Act on Second Homes (L2H) which entered into force in 2016, the accessibility of transport links, and the housing supply available in neighboring municipalities.

Analyzing regional data, in locations such as Zermatt (Canton of Valais) or St. Moritz (Canton of Graubünden), where the real estate market is under severe pressure, costs for a single room for seasonal workers can easily exceed 900-1200 Swiss francs per month, heavily impacting gross salaries which, according to the Collective Employment Agreements (CEA) for the hotel and catering industry (L-GAV), generally range between 3850 and 4400 francs per month for staff without specific qualifications. Conversely, in peripheral valleys of Ticino or in smaller resorts of the Bernese Oberland, average prices often range between 550 and 750 francs, while still facing issues related to the aging of properties.

Workshops organized in the four examined destinations and discussions at the national level have demonstrated that there is no single solution valid everywhere, but rather the need to develop approaches tailored to local specificities.

Operational measures for employers and Municipalities

• Advance planning of bed requirements at least 6 months before the season
• Conversion of commercial properties or disused hotels into employee residences
• Establishment of long-term agreements with local owners to freeze rental fees
• Sharing of housing resources among multiple companies in the same tourist destination

Employers and Municipalities are called upon to act in close collaboration with the Cantons, tourist organizations, and other local economic actors to develop concrete responses. The report by the University of Lausanne offers a practical working basis with various intervention possibilities, including tax reliefs for companies investing in the construction of staff housing and municipal building incentives that derogate from normal utilization rates.

How to explore the economic and employment situation in depth

For those operating in the Swiss labor market and wishing to evaluate their economic position, the impact of fixed expenses on income, or available professional opportunities, it is useful to consult the economic analysis tools made available online. Verifying the impact of the cost of living, mandatory social deductions (AHV/IV/EO, ALV, BVG), and salaries makes it possible to better plan any transfer or professional commitment in the different regions of the Confederation.

Consult the salary calculator to check your economic position and plan your expenses in Switzerland.

Source: admin.ch