Media information, Lucerne, 15 May 2014
Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne inaugurates 101
new guest rooms and suites
The Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne has inaugurated
inaugurated its 101 new guest rooms
and suites at a festive gala evening this Wednesday, 14 May 2014. Guests
will have the opportunity to experience a wealth of stories from the past
170 years – stories that play a central role in the venture. Amid the current
spate of spectacular hotel openings in the Lake Lucerne region, the Hotel
Schweizerhof Lucerne stands out
out for its hotel tradition and continuity.
continuity.
First opened in 1845, the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne came into the possession of
the Hauser Family in 1861. The hotel is one of very few in Switzerland to be of
national significance from an art-historical point of view with original architecture
that has survived to the present day.
The Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne has a proud history of welcoming emperors and
empresses, crowned heads, writers, politicians, captains of industry and musicians.
Count Leo Tolstoy wrote a story here; this is also where Richard Wagner
completed his Tristan and Isolde and met with his patron, Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Mark Twain stayed here during his Swiss travels and wrote about them. Modernday guests can sense here a long and rich history, which is at the same time the
history of the Hauser Family.
All 101 guest rooms renovated
The project to refurbish each of the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne's 101 rooms and
suites started in January 2013 and was performed in two stages. The first 52 new
rooms, i.e. the entire east wing of the hotel, came on stream in April of last year.
The remaining 49 rooms and suites in the main building were completed on
schedule in late April this year.
One of the aims of the extensive renovation work was to be able to showcase all
kinds of stories sourced from the past 170 years. Under the project title "Wo
Luzern Geschichte(n) schreibt" (Where Lucerne writes history/stories), every room
and suite has been dedicated to a guest with a special story. They not include
great personalities such as thinkers, artists, politicians, athletes, musicians and
crowned heads, but also unknown guests, whose stories are part of the hotel's
history.
The project involved writing a different story for each of the rooms and suites,
based on research conducted by the Hauser Family, proprietors of the hotel; the
Director, Clemens Hunziker; and a team of authors headed by Fabrizio D’Aloisio
and Alexandra Knetsch from Spot Werbung, St. Moritz. There are stories centred
on world stars such as Anastacia and James Blunt having breakfast together, and
on athletes such as marathon runner Viktor Röthlin cooking pasta in the
Schweizerhof kitchen. There are anecdotes involving the hotel's concierge, Enzo
Baciocchi, who has been with the hotel more than 25 years: one concerns his
sourcing a Bernese Sennenhund puppy for an American guest.
E ach room's design tailored to a story
The last story in the project emerged from a competition run last autumn. Of the
60 unique submissions describing experiences or incidents involving the Hotel
Schweizerhof Lucerne, one stood out: that of 97-year-old Karl Frey, who won the
main prize – a room dedicated in his honour. The story tells of the professional
risk he took when he forecast good weather for a crucial meeting in the Alps
during the Second World War, observing the skies from the roof of the
Schweizerhof. The contributions were examined by a jury.
Each story may be read on the writing desk of its room or suite. One wall in each
room is also prominently inscribed with a quote or piece of graphic design taken
from or inspired by the story. The story experience is further enhanced by details
including special greeting music via the TV and a unique display of objects, many
of them donated by the personalities featured. Various illuminated windows will
be drawing the attention of the outside world to the unique concept.
A further 14 stories giving insights into episodes in the Schweizerhof's past are
featured in the hotel's public areas for the benefit of guests not staying
overnight. The hotel will shortly be publishing a book in two languages
containing every one of the stories.
Investments in three seminar and function rooms
The Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne took advantage of the major refurbishment work
this spring to renovate three seminar and function rooms. Salons 2 and 11 on the
first floor received major upgrades in design and technical infrastructure. The two
Salons are ideal for, e.g. executive seminars lasting several days or small-scale
private banquets. Built in 1887, the Bringolf Hall is again resplendent with its
original parquet floor.
The general contractor for all the works was LIGNO in-Raum AG from Rathausen
(Emmen LU), led by Guido Henzmann. The total value of the investment was in
the order of CHF 10 million.
Further consolidating its position as festival hotel of choice
The Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne is aiming to leverage its new unique room
concept to consolidate its position as Lucerne's festival hotel of choice and to
incorporate the rooms in the overall vision. Large numbers of local residents
come to the Schweizerhof thanks to partnerships forged with the town's many
festivals (e.g. Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival, Fumetto Comix Festival)
and to events organised by the hotel itself, such as the Retro Festival.
The Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne has been in the same family for more than 150
years. That, and the devotion shown to the establishment by Clemens Hunziker,
its Director since 1999, have made it possible for the Schweizerhof to make the
transition to a Lucerne institution that is much frequented and much loved by
locals and visitors alike. Amongst the many spectacular hotel openings currently
taking place in Central Switzerland, the Hotel Schweizerhof Lucerne's unique 101room concept featuring individual stories restores the balance in favour of
tradition and continuity.
The new rooms have been officially inaugurated at a festive gala dinner this
Wednesday. Amongst the many invitees were many guests from Switzerland and
abroad who have a room dedicated to them (i.e. Kim Wilde, Söhne Mannheims
and Bobby Kimball).
For further information please contact the following:
Clemens Hunziker, Director, Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern,
Tel. +41 (0)41 410 0 410, c.hunziker@schweizerhof-luzern.ch
Roman Omlin, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern,
Tel. +41 (0)41 410 0 410, r.omlin@schweizerhof-luzern.ch