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Neuchatel and Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Swiss hotel industry at 31 December 2008 turned in its best year since 1990, with the number of overnight stays up by 2.7%, an increase of nearly one million, to 37.3 million. Even December 2008, when the world economic crisis was well underway, saw an increase of 1.1% over the same period in 2007, a rise that the federal statistical office attributes to excellent weather and snow conditions in the mountains.

Cities, including Geneva and Lausanne, have seen nearly 9% growth since 2006.

The increase was nearly evenly divided between foreign (up 2.8%) and Swiss hotel guests (up 2.4%).

The Swiss Hotel Association noted at a press conference 24 February that three- and four-star hotels have benefitted the most from strong growth in the past two years.

Foreign visitors accounted for 58% of the hotel business, with strong differences between nationalities: Germans were the largest group, 29%. While their overnight stays rose by 3.8%, Dutch and Russians visitors increased by 14% each. US visitors’ stays decreased, however, down 8.8%.

The length of visitors’ stays remained stable, at 2.5 nights for foreign visitors.