Planes, trains, automobiles, boats, funiculars, cable cars, cogwheel trains, gondolas, "Disneyesque" aerial bucket cable cars over the clouds…we did it all. "Disappearing" after our incredible 2022 EMA Awards on October 8th, my husband and I decided we needed to play full-on tourists in the magical and incredibly sustainable Switzerland. The country's natural beauty is the clearly coveted and respected jewel of the EU. And the citizens of this gorgeous slice of our planet are very aware of their treasures.

Sitting within the majestic Alps and massive blue-hued lakes sit ancient Medieval architecture amidst a flourishing financial community. With an ambitious goal to become the most sustainable travel destination in the world, Switzerland is taking bold measures to mitigate its footprint. We were so fortunate to be able to visit both Zurich and Lucerne. In Zurich, staying at the elegant Baur au Lac, we walked the city, took in the Impressionists at the Kunsthaus Museum, and of course, we drank the best hot chocolate in the universe. All of that taking in the lake that engulfs the city.

In Lucerne, we stayed at the awe-inspiring Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne. Encircled by mountains, lakes, and picturesque towns, the arrival is by boat powered by hybrid propulsion. Then, up onto the electric-powered funicular to take us to the Resort. I have to say, traveling in Switzerland is a breath of fresh air, literally. For the past 125 years, the Swiss Forest Act has ensured that 30% of Switzerland remains forested, making for excellent air quality.

Sustainability at the hotel is the real deal. In fact, we learned that the electricity at the Bürgenstock Resort is 100% CO2-neutral certified and is distributed from a regional station in the Canton of Nidwalden. A wild fact that we were told is that the heating and air conditioning system is totally covered by the Lake. It's a unique lake water system to heat and cool all the resort's buildings. Further, the system covers 100% of the cooling and 80% of the heating needs of the resort. The remaining 20% accounts for peak loads during harsh winter conditions. The water rises to a temperature of 7°C as it is transported. It is then pumped 500 meters uphill into a reservoir at 926 meters above sea level. From there, water is steered to an energy station. From this station, a network of pipes has been built linking all buildings of the resort. Part of the water is heated until 50°C and distributed via the pipe network. In the buildings, the water can be heated to 60°C with heating pumps. Water with a 9°C temperature is used for air-conditioning. This efficient system avoids the need for cooling towers. Wow!!!!

And the food (Switzerland consumes the most organic products per capita)! Surrounded by nearby farms, the cuisine is hyper-local, which benefits the community that surrounds the resort. For example, cheese is sourced from the cows seen grazing in the meadows just 500 meters from the resort, and Bürgenstock's cheese is produced by a local cheesemaker. In addition, the Resort works with a nearby farmer to grow its berries in a greenhouse and has garden beds of herbs, which are utilized in the hotel's restaurants (and all so yummy).

Not one plastic water bottle was seen in our travels to Switzerland and throughout Italy. Even on the trains, boxed water was offered. Sadly, that's not the case here in the US. My huge takeaway from my trip is sustainable travel options are not only possible but more intelligent and financially beneficial. I hope to see the international travel community follow Switerzalnd's lead.

Here are but a few of Switzerland’s many sustainability travel initiatives that set the bar high for our global efforts:

· Swiss Federal Railways, the country’s biggest transport company, generates the electricity for its trains from hydropower –and this at the rate of 90 percent.

· The e-Grand Tour of Switzerland is the world's first road trip for electric vehicles.

· The solar-powered MobiCat is a unique feel-good and slow movement boat.

· The Cableway Staubern is the world’s first battery-powered cableway that leads to the summit by relying exclusively on solar energy.

· SWISS will be the first airline in the world to use ‘sun-to-liquid’ fuel. The process devised by Synhelion uses concentrated sunlight to produce carbon-neutral kerosene.

Happy travels!

Debbie Levin

EMA CEO

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