In 2021, plans were announced for a Ritz-Carlton to open in Zermatt, Switzerland. I was very much looking forward to this, given that it would’ve almost certainly been the most luxurious ski resort in Europe that’s bookable with points.
Continue reading: Ritz-Carlton Zermatt, Switzerland, Opening Delayed Indefinitely
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The less Bonvoy the better. There are many, many super nice hotels in Zermatt.
I agree the less bonvoy the better… zermatt is bad enough with the influx from the Ikon pass.
As for the most luxurious European ski resorts bookable with points. Leading hotels of the world, leaders club points… gstaad palace, Badrutts palace, the Chedi, all solid contenders and far superior than any Ritz Carlton in service standards.
Many Swiss mountain hotels are now bookable through points thanks to Mr and Mrs Smith: Le Crans (gorgeous !), Chedi, le Chetzeron, Le Grand Bellevue … also beware of being optimistic about booking the Ritz on points even if it ever opens: many if not most hotels in Zermatt have minimum stays of 1 week in season…
Many Swiss mountain hotels are now bookable through points thanks to Mr and Mrs Smith: Le Crans (gorgeous !), Chedi, le Chetzeron, Le Grand Bellevue … also beware of being optimistic about booking the Ritz on points even if it ever opens: many if not most hotels in Zermatt have minimum stays of 1 week in season…
It was crazy last season how many Americans were in Zermatt. I wish some were a bit more aware of being in a different country & culture - shouting handsfree on your speaker phone about your business deals does not make you look like a big man in Zermatt, quite the opposite, even watched a guy get into an argument at a bar because they wouldn’t accept US dollar cash!
Glad it fell apart. Mr Julen already owns 3 properties in Zermatt that I know and they're all expensive but again everything in Zermatt is expensive. No big hotel please that most of us cannot afford to stay at anyway. Not everybody can afford to collect that many points either. I like charming small boutique hotels especially in Zermatt. Zermatt is my all-time favorite...was just there a few days ago. No chain hotel of any group should be built there. It's a terrible idea.
Have to imagine it’s extremely difficult for a large international chain (even worse, a US one) to build a hotel in a high-end Swiss resort since a significant percentage of locals will not want it there! How the W Verbier ever happened I’m not sure.
There are plenty of international chains in the Swiss Alps that work well with a majority of local visitors.. Six Senses Crans Montana, Chedi Andermatt, W Verbier, Hilton Garden Inn Davos, IHG AlpenGold Davos, Radisson Blu Andermatt, Flims Autograph Collection, The Cambrian Design Hotel, Moxy Sion, Kempinski St Moritz, Kempinski Engelberg.... to name a few
Been thinking about Zermatt all week. As lovely as the renderings were, I prefer the charm of a cozy property. Like fondue, they are comforting and warm.
Points or not this was not a good development for Zermatt. I go often and the hotels are fine and the town should be kept small-ish. Global chain not needed - will just bring in more annoying Americans.