The Gstaad Palace, an emblem of luxury hospitality in Switzerland, has recently obtained a prestigious recognition for its commitment to sustainability: the Travelife Gold certification, which is awarded to those who demonstrate conscious management of resources and a hospitality model that places respect for the environment and social responsibility at its core.
The external audit conducted by Travelife certified the efforts of the Gstaad Palace in this direction, thanks to constant investments over the years in sustainable practices at an ecological, economic and social level.
The certification, internationally recognized and accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), certifies that the hotel has adopted effective strategies to reduce its environmental impact, promote the well-being of the local community and ensure fair management of human resources.
Gstaad Palace, a model of sustainability in luxury hotels
Andrea Scherz, General Manager and owner of Gstaad Palace, was delighted with the recognition: “With the Travelife Gold certification, we want to further raise our standards in terms of sustainability. We know that the luxury hospitality sector presents specific challenges in this area, but we firmly believe in the need to integrate responsible practices into every aspect of our business.”
But the hotel's commitment is not destined to stop: as the managers say, the certification must be renewed every two years, ensuring continuous improvement of the sustainable practices adopted, such as the very characteristic one of the Gstaad Palace linked to the introduction of district heating in Saanen.
Since 2008, the Palace has been one of the first hotels to adopt energy generated from local wood, contributing significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions.
A triple success in the field of sustainability
In addition to the Travelife Gold certification, the Gstaad Palace has received two additional awards in the sustainability panorama. The prestigious hotel has reached the highest level in the Swisstainable program, obtaining the «level III – leading», which certifies excellence in respect of environmental, social and economic criteria.
In parallel, the hotel has become part of the Sustainability Leaders of The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW), an exclusive selection that includes only 25% of the organization's more than 400 members. As president of LHW since 2022, Scherz emphasized the importance of this achievement: "Being recognized among LHW's Sustainability Leaders allows us to serve as a model for the entire luxury hotel industry, demonstrating that it is possible to combine excellence and environmental responsibility."
Tradition of excellence and responsibility
Founded in 1913, the Gstaad Palace is one of the few European hotels still family-run. With 90 rooms and suites offering spectacular views of the Bernese Oberland, the hotel skilfully combines glamour and Alpine comfort. Its gastronomic offerings range from five renowned restaurants, boasting 16 Gault Millau points, while the GreenGo nightclub continues to be a hub for exclusive nightlife in Gstaad.
The concept of wellbeing is at the heart of the Gstaad Palace experience, which includes a 1.800-square-meter spa, an outdoor Olympic-size pool and four tennis courts available during the summer season. To complete the picture, the Walig Hut, an ancient Alpine hut dating back to 1783 located at 1.700 meters above sea level, offers guests an authentic experience in the heart of the Swiss mountains.
The summer season of Gstaad Palace will be open from June 22nd to September 4th, 2025, while the winter season will welcome guests from December 15th, 2025 to March 8th, 2026.
