The few whose rates have increased a little have undergone renovation work and offer significantly improved facilities. Indeed, some of Geneva's finest hotels have recently undergone complete renovation, the hotels Bristol, Tiffany and Suisse, the airport Novotel and the Hotel Chavannes de Bogis, to mention but a few.
Swiss hotels - an excellent price/ quality ratio
The broad range of hotels on offer in Geneva and in the surrounding area has rooms to accommodate any traveller and rates to appeal to a range of budgets. Of the hotels in the INDEX block, almost half have maintained the same prices as in 2008, some even decreasing their prices slightly! Of the rest, the average increase for a double room is in the order of 4%, over a period spanning 3 years. The price of a single hotel room (double room with single occupancy) ranges from a modest 109 CHF per night in a 2-star hotel (a mere 78 € at current rates) to 410 CHF per night in the 5-star category – with breakfast included. The choice is yours!
Swiss hotel categories are controlled and monitored by the official industry association, ‘hotelleriesuisse’. Not only does Geneva possess a whole range of 4 and 5-star hotels, for which Switzerland is justifiably renowned, but has also an extensive range of more modestly-equipped accommodation. In fact visitors to Switzerland can book 3- or 2-star hotels with a clear conscience. For those seeking clean, comfortable accommodation at a moderate price, these hotels provide a highly adequate alternative. (For a more detailed description of the Swiss hotel star categories, please consult the www.hotelsterne.ch website, available in 4 languages).
Travel free in and around Geneva
Another advantage not to be underestimated is the availability of free public transport. In fact, even before changing their currency, visitors to Geneva can obtain a free ticket to get to their accommodation. Situated right in the baggage arrivals hall, a distributor dispenses tickets for the public transport system, enabling the voyager to travel free on the network for a period of 80 minutes - the time to reach their hotel and drop off their luggage. The no. 5 bus for example, which stops immediately in front of the terminal, takes passengers directly to Palexpo in 3 minutes before continuing its journey to the centre of Geneva.
Visitors staying in any type or category of accommodation in Geneva can then benefit from free transport on public transport for the duration of their stay by requesting the 'Geneva Transport Card' from their chosen hotel. This card entitles the bearer to free travel on the entire Geneva public transport network - buses, trams, local trains and even lake taxi boats too. With Geneva Palexpo's exhibition halls located only 15 minutes from the town centre by bus, this represents a welcome contribution to any budget, and the environment benefits too!
Exhibitors and visitors to INDEX 11 wishing to reserve hotel accommodation should contact our hotel partners MCI directly by e-mail on: index11@mci-group.com. Early booking is recommended to ensure you secure your choice of hotel.
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Switzerland has a long tradition of excellence in the hotel and restaurant trade. The siting of some of the world's most famous hotel schools around the shores of Lake Geneva – the Lausanne and Geneva hotel schools and the ‘Les Roches’ School, to name but a few - bear witness to the region’s long tradition of excellence in the field, which is then exported to leading establishments throughout the world. Indeed, in a 2007 study of hotel schools by the Taylor Nelson group, the top three in their world rankings were Swiss schools. |
