On June 18 and 19, 2025, the fifth Hospitality Summit took place at Halle 550, once again setting the benchmark as the most significant industry event in the Swiss hospitality sector.
More than 1,800 industry professionals took advantage of a diverse range of offerings presented by over 100 renowned speakers and more than 100 dedicated exhibitors.
For the second time, the Career Day was part of the program. It served as a valuable platform to connect young talent with hospitality businesses and educational institutions—an important signal for the future of the industry.
A particular highlight of the Summit was the official awarding of the title "Hotelier of the Year", which this year went to Michael Smithius, General Manager of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. The ceremony was accompanied by an emotional musical performance by talented young Swiss artist Julie Meletta, who captivated the audience with her own original songs.
Following the award ceremony, approximately 900 guests at the evening event were treated to a culinary experience of the highest standard. Leading establishments such as The Dolder Grand (Blooms), 7132 Vals, Grace La Margna, Planted, and Oberwaid delighted attendees with exquisite creations. Dessert was created by the EHL (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne), while a cheese buffet curated by Jumi provided the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable evening.
Since early 2020, WOEHRLE PIROLA has been responsible for the conception and organization of the Hospitality Summit as a partner of HotellerieSuisse.
The next Hospitality Summit will take place on June 3 and 4, 2026, for the first time at the Festhalle BernExpo. We are already looking forward to once again welcoming numerous participants and partners—for further networking, inspiration, and strengthening of our industry.
Copyright: Corinne Glanzmann, Philipp Schmidli, Nadia Schärli, Susanne Keller and Beat Baschung
