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.
I just randomly checked on the progress of this project, and unfortunately there’s some bad news, which happens all too often when hotel projects are announced years in advance. First let’s take a look at what the plans were, and then I’ll share the update.
Basics of the planned Ritz-Carlton Zermatt
In early 2021, Marriott signed an agreement with Mario Julen to open a Ritz-Carlton in Zermatt, Switzerland, at the cost of roughly 250 million CHF. He had spent the past couple of decades buying the land to make this project possible.
This was supposed to be Ritz-Carlton’s first ski resort in Europe, and the brand’s second property in the country, after the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, in Geneva. The 69-room property was supposed to open in 2026.
The intent was for the property to feature unobstructed views of the Matterhorn. Design plans showed that the property would feature two restaurants and two bars, an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining, ski-in ski-out access to slopes, a spa and gym, and both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
The property was supposed be designed by Paris-based firm AW², led by partner architects Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, with the architectural and interior design intended to offer a refined take on the classic mountain chalet.
Below are some renderings of what the Ritz-Carlton Zermatt was supposed to look like, plus a video about the property.
Ritz-Carlton Zermatt project delayed indefinitely
The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt project has been delayed indefinitely. The hotel was supposed to be a partnership between Zermatt local Mario Julen and real estate investment firm ACRON, but the partnership between the two has collapsed, and they now need to start from scratch.
Per a local media report in Switzerland:
“A visionary, locally anchored entrepreneur on the one hand, a close-end mandated investment company on the other. Some build for the long term, others for the exit. In retrospect, you can admit that a lot of time could have been saved on both sides.”
In an interview early this year, Julen said the following with regards to working with ACRON:
“I would rather go bankrupt, and I am constantly bankrupt, than do it badly and give certain people an instrument with which they can make money.”
On top of that — and I don’t know the background here — but Julen apparently threatened people with a knife earlier this year, causing him to be taken into police custody.
So it seems this project is no further along than it was in 2021. It’s of course possible that this is once again developed into a hotel. However, it’s definitely not happening by 2026, and I think it’s far from a sure bet that it will end up being a Ritz-Carlton.
This isn’t the only luxury ski resort in Europe that has been scrapped. The Alila La Gruyère, Switzerland, was supposed to open in 2023, and be part of World of Hyatt. Unfortunately the developer decided not to move forward with that project, so that’s no longer in the cards either.
Bottom line
The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt was announced in 2021, with a planned 2026 opening. Unfortunately cooperation between the developer and investment firm has broken down, so the project is on pause for now.
Between this and the Alila La Gruyere project no longer moving forward, I’m quite bummed, as we were supposed to get two of our best mountain resorts in Europe bookable with points.
What do you make of this Ritz-Carlton Zermatt update?
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