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People and faces

Our success has many faces: more than 650, to be precise. While our management team and the Executive Board focus on ensuring everyone is moving in the same direction, many talented individuals work both behind the scenes and in the foreground to ensure that our guests enjoy a carefree time at our youth hostels. 

The Management Team

The management team runs the operational business and is responsible for implementing the ongoing strategy. It also ensures coordination between the the Swiss Youth Hostels Association and the "Stiftung für Schweizer Sozialtourismus (SSST)", the Foundation for Swiss Social Tourism.

Swiss Youth Hostels Management Team (from left): André Eisele, Laura Walter, Hans-Urs Häfeli, Janine Bunte (CEO SYH), René Dobler (CEO SFST), Corina Gilgen, Tom Unger
Swiss Youth Hostels Management Team (from left): André Eisele (Director Marketing & Communication), Laura Walter (Director Finance & Controlling), Hans-Urs Häfeli (Project Manager / Deputy CEO SFST), Janine Bunte (CEO SYH), René Dobler (CEO SFST), Corina Gilgen (Director Sales & Revenue Management), Tom Unger (Director Operations / Deputy CEO SYH)

The Executive Board

The Executive Board of the Swiss Youth Hostels is the supreme governing body and is elected by the Assembly of Delegates for a term of four years. The Board defines the strategic direction and monitors operational performance.

Frank Reutlinger
President
Since 06/15/2019
Thomas Kulcsár
Vice President
Since 09/23/2023
Mathias Gallo
Board member
Since 11/29/2019
Gian Marco Juon
Board member
Since 03/06/2020
Andreas Wyss
Board member
Since 09/25/2021
Stephanie Tauber Gomez
Board member
Since 09/29/2022
Yves Schneuwly
Board member
Since 09/23/2022
Nico Züllig
Board member
Since 09/23/2023
Daniel Thaler
Board member
Since 06/14/2025
A multi-faceted team

Committed at all levels

Our employees make the Swiss Youth Hostels what they are: for over 100 years, they have been the first port of call for budget-conscious and environmentally-conscious travellers.

More than 650 employees

We share over 350 full-time positions. From architects to receptionists, many people work together to ensure the success of the Swiss Youth Hostels.

We like a good mix of people

We come from over 50 countries and more than half of us are women. Different cultures and perspectives make us strong.

We like working here

On average, we work for the Swiss Youth Hostels for 3.4 years. Just under 10% between 5 and 10 years, and 14 colleagues have even been with us for more than 20 years.

We are all members

We are all members of the Swiss Youth Hostels and with the accommodation vouchers that we receive as part of our salary, we are pleased to make use of our youth hostels throughout Switzerland.