LUCERNE, Switzerland, November 30, 2016 – In one of the world's most stunning settings, in a land renowned for its hospitality, a trendsetting new destination is set to debut next summer. Set on a forested ridge 2,800 feet above spectacular Lake Lucerne with views of the Rigi and Pilatus Mountains, the car-free Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne is spread over 148 acres and will be open year round. Katara Hospitality is investing 500 million Swiss francs in this holistic resort dedicated to healthy living and responsible tourism. Bruno Schöpfer, Managing Director of Katara Hospitality Switzerland Ltd. has shepherded the monumental project for the past several years.
The Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne encompasses 383 rooms in four hotels, 67 residences, 13 restaurants and bars, a 107,000 square-foot spa and wellness center, meeting space for 900 people – not to mention the highest outdoor elevator in Europe – and a funicular that deposits guests directly inside the hotel. A nine-hole golf course, three championship tennis courts, a curling rink, 43 miles of hiking and biking trails and a private lido on the lake for water sports will keep active guests busy and happy. Art and cultural events and the resort's "museums" will appeal to culture lovers.
Facilities include:
- New five-star Superior BĂĽrgenstock Hotel with 102 rooms and suites, restaurant, cigar lounge and meeting facilities will be a Leading Hotel of the World
- Newly-transformed four-star Superior Palace Hotel (108 rooms and suites, restaurant, conference facilities) with its storied history dating back to 190
- Five-star Waldhotel Healthy Living, designed by architect Matteo Thun, featuring 160 rooms, a restaurant serving healthy cuisine, spa services and facilities for medical check-ups, physical therapy, weight management, post-operative convalescence and wellness programs
- Built in 1879, the recently renovated three-star Taverne has 12 cozy guest rooms and a restaurant serving traditional Swiss dishes
The resort's indoor/outdoor BĂĽrgenstock Alpine Spa will boast three pools including a heated outdoor infinity-edge pool with mountain and lake views; 18 treatment rooms; a 24- hour fitness area with state-of-the-art equipment, yoga studio, wet areas with hammam, sauna and whirlpools and hydrotherapy in a Kneipp bath.
Thirteen restaurants, lounges and bars will offer classic French cuisine á la Escoffier and César Ritz, Asian, Middle Eastern, Swiss and regional Alpine cuisines, while the spa will feature a restaurant serving healthy cuisine.
Visitors and guests can stroll the Promenade and follow a sculpture path and walk of Fame, take the Cliffwalk and learn about the history and biodiversity of the region or visit the resort's museum corridor.
The BĂĽrgenstock Resort's location in the birthplace of Switzerland is particularly fitting. Here in 1291, representatives of the three original Swiss cantons took an oath on the RĂĽtli, a meadow above Lake Lucerne where they laid the foundation for the Swiss Confederation. The BĂĽrgenstock's heritage of hospitality traces back to 1873 when two local builders established the Grand Hotel, and later the Palace and Park Hotels on the BĂĽrgenberg renaming it BĂĽrgenstock. Visitors came from around the world to admire the Alpine scenery and technical innovations such as Switzerland's first electric cable funicular in 1888 and the Hammetschwand Lift in 1905. Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren brought Hollywood glamour. Royals, heads of state and presidents, including Queen Ingrid of Denmark, Indira Ghandi, Konrad Adenauer and Jimmy Carter came to relax. Hepburn married Mel Ferrer at the BĂĽrgenstock Resort and Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti lived at the resort for several years.
The resort is CO 2 neutral thanks to its unique energy system which uses lake water operated by 100 percent certified local hydroelectric power. One hundred percent of the resort's cooling and 80 percent of its heating needs are derived from lake water. The resort's 74 acres of forest and meadows also help to offset any carbon emissions.
It is a unique mix of classic Swiss hospitality and innovative planning to define the resort of the 21st century.
For further information go to BĂĽrgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, email info@buergenstock.ch or call 011 41 41 612 9010.
