The Alpina Gstaad opens doors this month, in the heart of the Bernese Alps, a hotel within a luxury development project with an investment volume of SFR 300million which includes 11 private apartments within the hotel and three within a chalet, and two private chalets.
Located amidst a 20,000 sq m exclusive hill top area in Oberbort, the hotel is five minutes from the center of Gstaad village and overlooks the beautiful Saanenland. A uniquely designed entry and covered driveway on the side of a hill will welcome guests and ensure protection from the weather and that only the sight, sound and smell of nature is experienced in the restaurant terraces, hotel room balconies, garden and swimming pool. A spectacular view of the Bernese Alps can be seen from the balconies of 57 rooms and suites, bar lounge and three restaurants, wine tasting room, cigar room, spa treatment room, ballroom and boardroom. A 2,000 sq m spa will offer holistic treatments, energizing fitness and rejuvenation programs, exercise facilities and a 25 m lap pool.
International guests arriving in airports in Geneva, Zurich and Berne will take 1-3 hours to reach The Alpina Gstaad and a private airport in Saanen is located 10 minutes from the hotel for private planes or helicopters.
“We are building the newest five star hotel in Gstaad in 100 years and the architecture design will be in traditional style inspired by local Swiss alpine culture and the rugged authenticity of the Bernese Oberland. It will be a cozy and luxurious boutique hotel providing an indulgent Swiss mountain experience”, explained hotel owners Marcel Bach and Jean-Claude Mimran.
The hotel owners retained hotel consultancy Rembrandt Management Services GmbH and appointed its managing partner Onno Poortier as Owner’s Representative and Advisor to establish a unique and exceptional luxury hotel. Commenting on his appointment, Onno Poortier said, "I am delighted to be advising the owners of The Alpina Gstaad, and the team. In a world where many claim to offer the perfect luxury experience, The Alpina Gstaad will offer a new level of distinction and authenticity. The hotel will be a blend of local traditions and global contemporary inspiration with the discretion and attention to detail reflecting Swiss luxury standards. The developers, builders and craftsmen comes from the region and designers from Europe and Asia work with lead architects Jaggi & Partner AG for a harmonious integration with the alpine environment."
The Alpina Gstaad is privately owned and managed. The Managing Director is Niklaus Leuenberger, a Swiss national born in the Canton of Bern with over three decades of hotel experience in Asia, USA and the Middle East. Onno Poortier comments,” I personally recommended Niklaus Leuenberger for this exciting and high profile hotel project. He comes from the region and he is a professional hotelier with extensive international work experience with luxury hotels in many continents. He understands our discerning clientele and the challenges of working with diverse cultures. He is a motivating leader and team player, and an excellent operator who will contribute immensely towards making The Alpina Gstaad one of the finest luxury hotels in Switzerland.”
Commenting on his appointment, Niklaus Leuenberger said, “I am delighted to return to Switzerland to open The Alpina Gstaad and lead the hotel team. Together with the support of the owners and the staff, I believe that we will be successful in launching a hotel where luxury is redefined by authenticity and the highest level of warm personalized service, comfort and attention to detail. It is personally exciting for me to return to Gstaad since it was a luxury hotel experience here forty years ago that decided my career choice to be a hotelier and life has now taken me full circle.”