Rotary Lounge at Zurich Airport: Building Friendships and Fighting Polio

It began with an idea: “A lounge for Rotary members at the Zurich Airport.” As a long-time Rotarian and founding member of the Rotary Club Zurich Circle International, with over 59 years of experience with the Zurich Airport in Switzerland, I envisioned providing Rotary members with a comfortable place during transit or before departure—a space where they can wait while experiencing spontaneous Rotary connections.

Our club believes there’s a need for more informal Rotary meeting spots, and airports are places where people often spend a lot of time. Why not use this time to forge new Rotary friendships and do good? The idea sounded far-fetched to some, but the aviation enthusiasts among our members were thrilled.

While the lounge itself would provide the opportunity for new friendships, a portion of each entry fee would go to support Rotary’s polio eradication initiative. With every lounge entry of 30 CHF, 50 children can be vaccinated against polio! This embodies the true Rotary spirit, which is why the lounge is also open to accompanying family members and business.

The Creation of the Lounge

The creation of the lounge was a collaborative effort. The idea first emerged in 2019, shortly after the founding of the Rotary Club Zurich Circle International. In February 2022, with the support of Rotary member Thomas Brodbeck, Aspire Lounges, an independent airport lounge operator, joined us as a partner.

On 1 July 2023, the Aspire Lounges in the Airside Center and Terminal E at Zurich Airport officially welcomed Rotary members. It was memorable moment when we walked through the completed lounge for the first time—it was inspiring to see our idea turned into reality

Achievements and Milestones

Since the opening, we have received numerous positive responses from Rotary members who have used the lounge. To date, the entry fees have helped provide polio vaccines for over 6,000 children.

Future Plans

With our original idea complete, we have turned our attention to a larger vision: “Rotary lounges at airports worldwide.” In the coming years, we aim to expand the lounge offerings for Rotary members. Discussions are already underway for lounges at airports in Basel, France, and Geneva, Switzerland, and if those are successful, additional locations across Europe could follow. These lounges would provide even more meeting spaces for Rotary members on their travels, fostering additional opportunities for exchange in a relaxed airport setting.

How to Access the Rotary Lounge at Zurich Airport

We warmly invite all Rotary members to visit the lounge at Zurich Airport and share the experience with others. Every visit contributes to the fight against polio and supports Rotary’s worldwide commitment to a polio-free future.

Location: Aspire Lounge in the Airside Center and Terminal E
Directions: Follow the signs for “Aspire Lounge” on the 2nd floor in the Airside Center or in Terminal E (Non-Schengen)
Admission: Rotary members and their accompanying guests (family or business partners)
Admission Code: Provide the name of your Rotary club
Entry Fee: 30 CHF per person, with 8 CHF of the fee donated to Rotary’s PolioPlus fund