Contents
Key facts
- The Film Commission Zurich counts over 600 productions a year in the canton and more than 800 companies in the sector.
- These guests book longer, pay more and come back — almost nobody works this group.
- What they need: a desk, wi-fi that holds up, a washing machine, a real kitchen and proper blackout.
- A four-week stay means one clean instead of eight: at CHF 180 per changeover, around CHF 1,260 a month.
How large this demand is
The Film Commission Zurich cites more than 600 productions a year in the canton and over 800 companies in production, post-production and services. On top of that come trade fairs, the Hallenstadion and the universities.
What distinguishes these guests from city tourists: they book for weeks, not for nights. A production with a four-week shoot is looking for accommodation for the crew, not a weekend for two people. And they book early, because the shooting schedule is fixed early.
What we do not claim: that this market will fill your flat. We have no figure for how many of these productions search through booking platforms and how many go through providers with their own stock. Anyone quoting you a share has estimated it.
What these guests need from the flat
Something different from the weekend guest, and consistently more practical.
A real workspace with a table, chair and light — not the kitchen table. Reliable Wi-Fi with the bandwidth for video transfer. A washing machine in the flat: anyone staying four weeks does laundry. A kitchen you can cook in, because four weeks of eating out gets expensive. And blackout blinds, because shooting days start early and the night before is short.
What counts for less: design, the view, a location by a landmark. What counts for more: transport links to the shooting location or the trade fair, and a parking space if equipment comes along.
- A workspace with a table and light, separate from the bed
- Wi-Fi with bandwidth, not merely «available»
- A washing machine in the flat
- A kitchen for cooking, not for making coffee
- Blackout blinds that really make the room dark
- Transport links named in the listing, with journey times
Your figures, not our examples
The calculator takes the number of rooms, the neighbourhood and the fit-out and shows you a range — with the arithmetic beside it, not as a single figure you have to take on trust.
Estimate the returnWhat longer stays mean for the calculation
The nightly rate is usually lower on long stays — platforms offer weekly and monthly discounts, and anyone booking four weeks expects one. Even so, it often works out better.
The reason is the cleaning cost. At CHF 80 to 250 per changeover, a four-week stay means one clean instead of eight across eight weekend bookings. For a three-room flat at CHF 180 per changeover that is CHF 1260 of difference a month — more than a weekly discount costs.
On top of that comes less administration: one arrival instead of eight, one guest conversation instead of eight, one registration instead of eight. And less friction with the neighbours, because fewer people come and go.
How to reach them
Through the settings, not through marketing of your own. Three things work.
First, a minimum stay that excludes short bookings — seven nights filters more sharply than any description. Second, weekly and monthly discounts, because platforms favour listings offering them in searches for long stays. Third, a listing that names the practical features and not only the attractive ones: anyone filtering for a workspace will find you only if it is tagged.
What we do for you if you want to address this guest segment: set the settings accordingly and orient the listing towards these features. What we do not do: approach productions directly. We have no sales channel into that industry, and claiming one would be untrue.
Frequently asked questions
At the same occupancy, usually yes, because of the cleaning costs. A four-week stay means one clean instead of eight — at CHF 180 per changeover that is CHF 1260 a month, more than a customary weekly discount costs.
Add, do not rebuild: a workspace with a table and light, Wi-Fi with bandwidth, a washing machine, blackout blinds. These are purchases that lead to better reviews from other guests too.
No. We have no sales channel into that industry. What we do: set the platform settings and the listing so that you are found in searches for longer stays.
And for your property?
Sources
State of our research: 31 July 2026. Official rules change — check the current position with the competent authority.
