There’s a general lack of good ski resorts in Europe that can be booked with points. Most notably, there’s the W Verbier, and then Hyatt has some boutique options with its Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership. There’s another property opening in the coming weeks, which I wanted to take a closer look at in this post.
In this post:
Basics of the Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
The Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland, is expected to open on February 1, 2023. The hotel will be located at an altitude of nearly 5,000 feet, on the north side of the Rhone Valley. Crans-Montana is roughly two hours by car from Geneva Airport (GVA) or around three hours by car from Zurich Airport (ZRH).
The resort will feature a total of 78 accommodations, including terrace rooms, and suites with anywhere from one to three bedrooms. The hotel describes its aesthetic as offering “Swiss chalet architecture and Alpine sophistication.”
The property will have three restaurants and bars, including Byakko (a Japanese restaurant), Wild Cabin (an all-day dining brasserie), and Ora Bar & Lounge (a bar intended for apres ski). The property will also feature a 21,500 square foot Six Senses Spa with nine treatment rooms, fitness facilities, a yoga studio, and more. The resort will have a large indoor pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a garden, a hot tub, a plunge pool, and more.
While Crans-Montana is primarily known as a ski destination, the resort will be open year-round, as this part of Switzerland is also gorgeous in the summer. Crans-Montana is known for having 300 days of sunshine per year.
Below you can find some renderings of the property.
I’m a fan of the Six Senses brand in general, and this property in particular looks stunning. As you’d expect, as a gorgeous hotel in an expensive destination, it’s priced accordingly. In ski season, the hotel regularly retails for over $1,500 per night, while in summer rates dip below $1,000 per night.
What frustrates me about IHG & Six Senses
Six Senses is owned by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), so on the surface this is a hotel belonging to a major hotel group with a robust loyalty program.
What’s frustrating is how poorly Six Senses properties have been integrated into the IHG One Rewards loyalty program. Even though IHG’s takeover of Six Senses happened years ago, still only select Six Senses properties are bookable using IHG One Rewards points. Not surprisingly, the Six Senses Crans-Montana isn’t bookable with IHG points.
To me this poor integration is such a missed opportunity for IHG, especially in the luxury sector. I totally get that these individual Six Senses properties might not need IHG One Rewards members to fill rooms. However, for the overall value of the hotel group and loyalty program, offering more redemption opportunities at luxury hotels would make many people much more engaged in the IHG program.
Heck, if all Six Senses properties were part of IHG One Rewards, I’d probably suddenly switch quite a bit of my business to IHG. That’s despite the program’s other shortcomings, like having blackout dates on award stays, limited elite perks when redeeming points, and more.
I’m not sure if IHG’s slow integration of Six Senses into its loyalty program is intentional, or if it just hasn’t been a priority. Regardless, it’s disappointing.
Bottom line
The Six Senses Crans-Montana is opening in February 2023, and looks gorgeous. It’s fantastic to see another nice ski resort belonging to a major hotel group opening soon. Unfortunately from a loyalty perspective, the issue is that as of now you can’t actually redeem points at this Six Senses property (and many others, for that matter).
It sure would be nice if IHG One Rewards got its act together, and actually capitalized on its increasingly impressive luxury portfolio.
What do you make of the Six Senses Crans-Montana?
@lucky “There’s a general lack of good ski resorts in Europe”. Have you researched in Norway? There are 2 very decent Radisson in Trysil (Norway’s largest ski resort; 2,5h drive from OSL); and many other examples (Nordic Choice in Norefjell; Thon/GHA in Skeikampen; another Radisson in Beitostølen just to name a few)
IHG has this problem with other brands and hotels they operate too. Some of them are not even bookable through the IHG website or APP. Agree that IHG is missing out on a lot of the other ends of the spectrum - consider an InterContinental is similar to Marriott or JW Marriott but not a luxury hotel
Am I the only one who thought this was Montana, USA?
I’m still worried I might see dead people at the resort.
I think this is totally of brand for six senses...an ic of kimpton would lake a more Sense....
@Lucky: Even if the hotel were opened up for points bookings, hotel management would likely only make one room available (per IHG's policy allowing capacity controls), and that room would likely be astronomical in price. Other IHG hotels that are integrated into their points redemption do this - try finding availability at IC Thalasso in Bora Bora.
That said, I've noticed surprisingly good value redeeming points for IHG's Mr/Mrs Smith partner properties...which is ironic...
@Lucky: Even if the hotel were opened up for points bookings, hotel management would likely only make one room available (per IHG's policy allowing capacity controls), and that room would likely be astronomical in price. Other IHG hotels that are integrated into their points redemption do this - try finding availability at IC Thalasso in Bora Bora.
That said, I've noticed surprisingly good value redeeming points for IHG's Mr/Mrs Smith partner properties...which is ironic since they don't own or operate them. And some of those properties are stunning beyond stunning - moreso in many instances than Hyatt's SLH partners.
Crans-Montana is not just known as a ski destination. It hosts an annual golf tournament in early September and very much bills itself as a two-season (Winter and Summer) resort, and it is a gorgeous place. Sad to see a chain hotel with bland and uninspiring interiors is opening there, which will no doubt cheapen the place and ruin it with the White Lotus-type guests who will descend on this new property.
Crans-Montana is also a well known golfing destination, hosting one of the most prestigous tournaments in Europe every year at the end of August or in early September.
I have a strong feeling the slow/partial integration is intentional, as you mention. Their properties have been booming, so what need would they possibly have to open up to award stays?
As for this new one, it looks amazing but the skiing in Crans is just okay. Especially when you consider how close to phenomenal skiing in Verbier, Chamonix, Zermatt, etc. it is. Those also offer way more runs and off-piste.
If you want to avoid the last section of narrow twisty road into Crans-Montana, which is probably a bit white knuckle in winter weather conditions, it looks like the funicular between Sierre and Crans-Montana that was under rebuilding in the summer of 2022 is now running again.
Ah!! Crans-Montana! In 1991, my grandfather rented a chalet there for the summer for the whole family to use. I went for 3 weeks - I was 12- and it was my first time in Europe! He probably paid for the summer what you'd pay here for the week for a one bedroom! Regardless, really beautiful place in the summer. I'm sure the skiing is good in the winter. Enjoy!
Huh, there’s a Montana outside the United States. I have a fond association for the state of Montana because I know two smoking hot women with connections to the state. I’ve personally never been there, however.