New Cultural and Business Hub Will Reshape Zurich’s Tourism Image
Photo Credit: What The Circle at Zurich Airport will look like. The development will give tourists another reason to visit the city. The Circle
Skift Take
As we have seen in recent years, new multi-use developments can have transformative effects on under-utilized sections of major cities. Zurich is banking on The Circle to create a new reason for tourists to visit the city.
The Circle, Switzerland’s biggest commercial development to date, is taking shape within walking distance of Zurich Airport and a 12-minute train ride to the city. When it opens in 2020, the lifestyle and business center will help change the landscape of Zurich and may serve as a model for other international airports in search of new business models.
The city within a city encompasses a convention center, hotels, restaurants, high-end retail, a health care facility, green spaces, art places, and co-working areas and offices. Zurich Airport’s operating company owns 51 percent with insurer Swiss Life AG holding the remainder. Total cost: $1 billion (1 billion Swiss francs).
According to International Airport Review, “The Circle is a project of strategic significance to [Zurich Airport]. Opportunities for commerce and flight operations are finite, but to generate value, the company needs to grow. When, in 20 years’ time, aviation capacity has reached its l
