Swiss Deluxe Hotels launch the - SapoCycle Run - a virtual running and walking challenge for less hotel waste and improved hygiene access

February 2026. 42 hotels, one mission: Swiss Deluxe Hotels (SDH), the first joint SDH initiative uniting more than 8,000 employees across Switzerland, are launching the first "SapoCycle Run" together with SapoCycle. From March 1st to June 30th, 2026, employees from all hotels will participate virtually – for team spirit, well-being, and social impact. The principle is simple: Every kilometer run or walked is converted into a recycled bar of soap, which will be given free of charge to people living in poverty.

In Switzerland, around 150 tons of used hotel soap end up in the trash every year. At the same time, many people living in poverty struggle to access basic hygiene products.

Hotel waste becomes hygiene aid

This is where SapoCycle comes in: The initiative collects partially used soaps, shower gels, shampoos, and conditioners from hotels, hygienically reprocesses them, and distributes them free of charge to people in need. The reprocessing takes place, among other places, at the WohnWerk Foundation in Basel – thus creating meaningful jobs for people with disabilities.

How the challenge works

Participation is intentionally simple: Employees register online starting February 1, 2026, receive their digital starter kit, and document their activity and kilometers themselves as part of the challenge. The hotels cover the registration fee of CHF 5 per person. The shared goal: a virtual route of approximately 1,840 kilometers connecting all 42 Swiss Deluxe Hotels. "Together, we want to complete the route several times – for more than just virtual kilometers." “It’s about team spirit across all locations, about lived values, and about an impact that truly makes a difference,” says Nathalie Seiler-Hayez, Managing Director at Swiss Deluxe Hotels.

Winner-Event in Zürich

will be announced at the Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich on September 1, 2026, in four categories: longest individual distance, strongest running team, highest participation rate, and best average performance per participant.

Until then, it’s time to lace up your running shoes – every kilometer for a good cause.

About Swiss Deluxe Hotels

Founded in 1934, the Swiss Deluxe Hotels (SDH) association unites 42 of Switzerland's most prestigious 5-star hotels, including The Dolder Grand and the Baur au Lac in Zurich, the VictoriaJungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, the Gstaad Palace and the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, Badrutt's Palace Hotel and the Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz, the Castello del Sole in Ascona, and the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basel. For nearly two centuries, these hotels have shaped the reputation of Swiss luxury hospitality.

With a total of 4,300 rooms and suites and approximately 8,600 beds, the group represents more than 40% of Switzerland's 5-star hotel capacity. Swiss Deluxe Hotels is thus the most important association in the sector and has played a leading role in the Swiss luxury hotel industry for decades. The name "Swiss Deluxe Hotels" stands for exclusive quality and the highest standards. The personalized service is unique: Over 8,000 employees ensure the well-being of a discerning clientele accustomed to luxury. In 2024, revenue amounted to approximately CHF 1.52 billion.