Bees and Friends Hotels

Peaky Place – The Hedgehog Bike Hotel in Laax: Designed by mechanical engineer Josua Glünkin, Peaky Place is a miniature version of Peaks Place in Laax – tailored for hedgehogs who enjoy the forest trails before settling in for rest. Built from spruce wood, its jagged shape echoes the original hotel and blends seamlessly into the woodland. A cozy sleeping area in the back offers shelter, while two green rooftop sections provide food for insect and bird visitors. The playful highlight: a tiny pump track on the roof – just in case a little guest arrives on wheels.

Bee-Märchen – Where Fairy Tales Bloom and Bees Feel at Home: just like their human counterparts at the famed Märchenhotel Braunwald, wild bees enjoy a charming retreat at Bee-Märchen.

BEE Rivage – A Luxury Retreat for Wild Bees in the Park of Beau-Rivage Palace Lausanne: Designed by architects François Born and Adrien Clairac, BEE Rivage blends aesthetics with a strong ecological purpose. Inspired by the four seasons and local flora, it caters to the needs of the most discerning wild bees. A blooming grove, encircled by a protective ring, houses diverse nesting structures tailored to different bee species. The project aims to preserve vital habitats and raise awareness for the protection of these essential pollinators.

Relaxation in Nature – Luxury for the Smallest Guests: The Tiny Dolder Grand is a charming miniature version of the iconic Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich. Inspired by the elegance of the original ballroom, it was designed by mechanical engineer Josua Glünkin and nestled idyllically at the edge of the forest. Hedgehogs enjoy a luxurious suite below, while birds relax on the sturdy sandstone roof – serving as both a spa and meeting place. With its sustainable design, species-appropriate entrance, and removable roof for easy cleaning, the hotel combines style, functionality, and eco-consciousness. Built entirely from local materials, it embodies the Dolder Grand’s vision in miniature form.

Summnest – The Design Hotel for Sporty Bees: Inspired by the cross-country ski trails passing the Hôtel des Horlogers in Le Brassus, industrial designer Annina Mijatovic created Summnest – an avant-garde wild bee hotel. This striking column combines clean lines with durable natural materials, offering not only nesting space but also raising awareness of the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystem. Aesthetic, functional, and sustainable – an architectural statement for biodiversity.

Wild Bee Lodges – Where Design Meets Urban Biodiversity: In the garden of Silo Boutique & Design Hostel Basel, designer and concept developer Sarah Rittmann has created a stylish retreat for wild bees: the Wild Bee Hostel. Five elevated lodges made of natural materials rest on slender wooden stilts, nestled within raised beds and planted cavities integrated into the structure itself. With a hexagonal form and varying nest hole sizes, the lodges cater to the needs of different bee species. Natural materials like bamboo, reed, hardwood, and clay offer ideal, disease-resistant nesting conditions. A rooftop garden and lush green cavities provide nectar-rich food sources – right at the bees’ doorstep.

Villa Carona – Bee Edition: In the blooming Mediterranean garden of the historic Villa Carona near Lugano, a unique refuge for up to 30,000 honeybees is taking shape. Designed by Sarah Rittmann, this miniature bee hotel mirrors the architecture, colors, and proportions of the original villa. Elevated on elegant stilts and equipped with a professional beekeeping system, it meets all standards for species-appropriate care. A hinged roof, single flight entrance, and space for ten Dadant frames make maintenance by a local beekeeper efficient and sustainable. Surrounded by nectar-rich blossoms, the Bee Edition offers ideal conditions for honeybees – all in a heritage-inspired setting.

B-House – Architecture for Discerning Wild Bees: Inspired by the monastery building at See & Park Hotel Feldbach, the B-House was developed by architect Kosha Ahmadi and Laurin Schaffner, an industrial designer and design researcher. This modular concept features three scalable components. Each nesting tube acts like a brick in the facade, while the metal roof provides weather protection. Its uniform design wraps the structure and offers thousands of nesting spaces – a perfect retreat for busy bees amid a floral paradise.

Série Horns – A Charming Alpine Stay for Feathered Guests: Set in front of the Posthotel Rössli chalet in Gstaad, Série Horns is a birdhouse series designed by interior architecture master's student Jaemo Lee. Inspired by the iconic postal horn, the design pays tribute to the hotel’s history as a former post office. Shaped like musical horns and crafted from wood with chalet-style roofs, the birdhouses symbolically link birds to messengers and nests to mailboxes. This poetic reinterpretation blends traditional Swiss aesthetics with functionality, offering a refined retreat for birds who appreciate alpine elegance.

The idea of keeping our own bees came from a desire to offer our guests homemade honey. At first, the bees lived between the two buildings of our hotel — but they regularly took off, apparently finding the location too dull. Eventually, we entrusted them to beekeeper Peter Roth, who now looks after them. The four bee colonies still belong to us, and their honey — around 60 kilograms a year — is still served at our hotel.

The beehive in the youth hostel’s garden is a very special kind of accommodation – for guests of a different kind. In the beehive, one can enjoy an unobstructed view of the starry sky at night and a majestic view of the Eiger North Face during the day. The sky is the limit!

Bees are among the most important farm animals in the world. They pollinate various fruit trees and shrubs, thereby securing the harvest of many foods. Since mid-April 2022, bees have been living on the roof of the Einstein Congress, diligently producing sweet honey. Our guests can enjoy our delicious “Rooftop Honey” at the breakfast buffet.

Our five beehives, gracefully arranged on a slope overlooking the hotel, feature the same chalet-style roof design as our main building. Each hive embodies the spirit of our brand and is named after one of the five senses—taste, smell, touch, sight, and sound—reflecting our philosophy of the Sixth Sense. Two insect hotels, each over 1.5 meters tall and finished in a charming chalet style, have been thoughtfully placed in areas popular with our younger guests. Their purpose is to spark curiosity and raise awareness about the vital role of pollinators. Both the beehives and the insect hotels are funded through our Sustainability Development Fund, which represents 0.5% of our annual revenue. This fund supports local environmental and social initiatives, in keeping with our commitment to nature and the community.

The Wild Bee Youth Hostel is located on the grounds of the Delémont Youth Hostel. This initiative is part of the Swiss Youth Hostels’ comprehensive sustainability strategy, which integrates ecological, social, and economic dimensions.

Our beehives are located in a peaceful area behind the hotel, close to the edge of the forest and surrounded by blooming plants that provide a rich source of nourishment.

In and around the former monastery complex, nature flourishes in its purest form — something cherished by both our guests and the local wildlife.

The bees live in a privileged natural environment in the foothills of the Bürgenberg. Surrounded by near-natural forests, open meadows, and the rich diversity of the garden flora, they find an abundance of blossoms. This allows for the production of honey with a wide range of flavour notes — from berries and linden to sycamore and many other blossoms native to the Bürgenberg.

Welcome to the bat nature trail through the municipality of Fischingen. Along the circular route, you will discover fascinating information about our native bat species. The trail also takes you through various hunting grounds and habitats of the bats.

Our spacious hotel park, home to magnificent old trees, features four bird nesting boxes. The hotel is also located directly on the shores of Lake Thun, where we have our own small harbour. Every year, we place a wooden raft there, offering a nesting spot for coots. A beehive, insect hotels, and other nature-focused initiatives are also in the planning stages.

The insect house stands at the front of the hotel, while the birdhouses are nestled in the trees around our grounds.