Public Transit

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It would be helpful to know in which direction, or preferably which hotels.

Both Bern and Zürich are honeycombed by trams and buses, and commuter trains.

15 minutes, measured how?

If you are staying in major chains, I can talk about the Accor group by the Bern Expo - they are right at the end, by the turning circle of a couple of tram lines. Excellent service on the trams, every few minutes right into the centre, by the station. I've stayed at 2 of the 3 Accor properties there.

On the other hand maybe you're IHG. The Holiday Inn in Bern is at Bern Westside on a commuter train line and at the end of tram line, and several buses. You are given a pass for the duration of your stay for all local Bern transport, and that includes the train towards Bern (not included towards stops beyond) and the trams and buses towards Bern. It is less than 15 minutes on the train, 4 times an hour. A few minutes longer on the tram. (I've stayed there several times).

Zürich goes off in all directions. I won't try to guess what may be 15 minutes out..

Use this site, https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml
Put in the address of your hotel and where you want to go, date and time and it will tell you exactly how to do it. It will also tell you the cost, assuming you have a Half Fare Card. So double that to get a one-way ticket without one. Then double that again for a day ticket that will not only include the return, but any public transport within that zone for the day.

i am at the Mercure in Zurich and the Holiday Inn west in Bern , the 15minutes was part of the literature supplied by our Travel Agent so im not sure 15 minutes by what , car , buss , train or whatever,

I mentioned the Holiday Inn Westside in my post above

The Mercure Zürich City - if that is the one - is just steps from Altstetten station. A dozen train lines stop there, 2 trams and 2 buses. You should be able to get around.

While Bern gives you a guest card when you stay in a hotel for free local transport, Zurich does not. Altenstten station is within the Zurich center zone (Zone 110), so a one-way ticket is 4.70 CHF without a Half Fare Card, so a day ticket is 9.40 CHF and you can go anywhere in the city center all day for that. SBB gives it as a 6 minute walk from the Mercure Hotel. Since the train tracks are right in front of the hotel, walk out the door and hang a left on the street and walk to the station.

Thank you everyone ! very helpful

Holiday Inn Westside is at the Westside Shopping centre. It is next to Bern Brunnen Westside train station, which has trains 4 times per hour to the city, and there is the Tram, which goes every 6 minutes.

Your guest card is good for both, as public transit is fully integrated in Bern (as anywhere else in Switzerland). To get your hotel just buy a ticket from wherever you are originating from to Bern Brunnen Westside on www.sbb.ch, and you are all set for the trip. The train is probably a bit easier with luggage than the tram.