The world of hotel design is changing. And that includes age old luxury hotels like the Gstaad Palace. The Gstaad Palace has always kept pace with the times: it was once the only residence in the Saanenland region to feature hot running water in each guest room, while later the same can be said of telephone connections and spa baths. Today, the factor of space is more important than ever before for holidaymakers, with guests desiring more space for their wellbeing. From this summer season, the luxury hotel has built five new Double Superior Rooms – according to the motto of turn two into one. Both the rooms – which are furnished in a discreet Alpine Chic design - and the spacious bathrooms are in perfect keeping with the spirit of the times. One even features its own Hammam steam bath.
31.07.2018
From this summer onwards, the Gstaad Palace has been on the market with 90 rooms. That’s five rooms fewer than before. The reduction has clearly added value, however: ten former rooms have been combined to create five Superior Double Rooms, with the styling having been overseen by the English interior designer, Marina Nickels. In this way, the Gstaad Palace has strengthened its resort feeling. After all, the guest surveys are clear: staying in the hotel is one thing, while residing, relaxing and meeting friends in one's room is another. In the Palace in particular, guests tend to book their rooms for longer stays and travel with their whole family, often including adult children. «The new rooms are a direct response to Airbnb and co.,» explains Andrea Scherz, the third generation owner and General Manager of the Gstaad Palace. «A consistent focus was placed on comfort and wellbeing when designing the rooms. The guests ultimately want to be able to use the room in all of its dimensions. That is the new form of luxury.» Quality of life rather than straightforward functionality was the approach for both the summer and the winter in the rooms, which are an average of 48 square metres in size.
Country house style for high quality comfort
The results are plain to see: the elegant oak cladding in the bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the use of gentle shades of red and brown radiate a sense of English elegance which is further supported by the time-proven elements of a classic and modern Alpine chic. All of the rooms feature a king size bed, a large dressing area as well as a spacious bathroom with a bath and shower – and in addition to the classic bathing facilities with a view of the tower, the room on the sixth floor has its own Hammam spa. The comfortable sofa bed or the reclining chair is the ideal place in which to relax after an action-packed day of sightseeing in the Gstaad summer wonderland. Were it not for the stunning views of the Wildhorn or Eggli mountains or the permanent ice of Les Diablerets, one might almost be at home.
«We have already achieved our goal: our newest category of room, of which the hotel now has 15, has become the most popular. We are therefore in perfect keeping with the spirit of the times,» says Andrea Scherz with contentment, who invested some 1.5 million Swiss Francs in converting the new rooms. All of the work has been completed by local specialists, further demonstrating a commitment to the quality of the resident builders. And the efforts to reposition the best hotel at its location are paying dividends: in the ranking of hotels published last week by Swiss publication BILANZ, the Gstaad Palace climbed two places to take 2nd place in the best holiday hotels in Switzerland. The classic Swiss holiday hotel continues to enthuse today –just as it did more than 100 years ago – with «contemporary perfection», as the reviewers call it.
Out of the Palace and into the great outdoors: with the new guide «Nature»
As attractive as the new rooms may be, the summertime scenery around the Gstaad is equally as stunning. And the ideal way of exploring it is on foot. To prevent the guests from setting out into the blue and green of the scenery without any sense of orientation however, the Gstaad Palace has created the perfect companion in the shape of its hiking guide «Nature». This handy companion fits into every rucksack and contains insider tips as well as excellent recommendations for hikes and walks in the local region. The new routes have been specifically oriented to the varying requirements and expectations of the hotel guests: whether it is a challenging high-altitude walk on the Rinderberg, a hiking trip with an overnight stay at the Walig mountain inn, a glacier adventure on Glacier 3000 or a stroll in the local area suitable for children and a pushchair, the guide includes something for every taste and fitness level. The brochure also provides insights into the local specialities, activities and tourist sights. In this way, guests are provided with the possibility to discover their favourite places around the Gstaad Palace.
A first-rate summer in the mountains: culture and sports at the Palace in all of its varieties
Whoever said the summer was too quiet could not have been more wrong: In addition to excellent days of hiking, this year’s guests at the Gstaad Palace can once again look forward to enjoying a variety of cultural and sporting highlights. In addition to classics such as the «Country Night Gstaad» (7 until 9 September 2018) or the traditional brunch which takes place every Sunday in July and August, this year, particular enjoyment beckons for fans of sports cars and golden oldies. And there’s a particular treat in store for those who like traditional German «Schlager» pop music: on 9 September 2018, Beatrice Egli as well as Hansi Hinterseer & Tiroler Echo are performing at the festival tent in Gstaad.
The «Gstaad Palace Challenge» weekend rally promises breathtaking views and fast cars (31 August until 2 September 2018), while at the second «BERGKÖNIG» Swiss Vintage Cycling Festival (25 and 26 August 2018), friends of the bicycle can enjoy themselves and admire old bicycles.
Another stand-out event is the Chill out Pool Party on 11 August 2018 at the Gstaad Palace Olympic swimming pool, which is celebrating its 90th birthday this year. Built in 1928 by the then architect and pioneer of sports constructions Beda Hefti, the pool remains a piece of architectural beauty to this day.
For details of all the events, visit: https://www.palace.ch/freizeit-region/sommer-events/
