Luxury Travel Advisor - December 2008 - (Page 15) LAKE AND MOUNTAIN vistas abound at Badrutt’s Palace (left). BADRUTT’S DELUXE rooms (this photo) face the lake or the village of St. Moritz. Badrutt’s Palace (www.badrutts palace.com) could be the most famous ski resort in the world. Known as the birthplace of alpine winter tourism in St. Moritz, the property exudes glamour and glitz. This is where après-ski got its start, and the apéritifs flow freely as the afternoon light fades to dusk. (A place that goes through so much bubbly is fittingly endowed with a “Champagne climate,” where the sun sparkles on the snowshrouded mountains for a good 320 days of the year.) A pretty crowd converges on the hotel’s watering hole, the inviting Renaissance Bar, for libations served up by Mario da Como and his team (the Bellini is famous). The international jetsetting elite, along with a share of Russian oligarchs, hobnob at the celeb-hounded Kings Club, just adjacent to the hotel. Calorieladen alpine delights like raclette and fondue can be shunned for chic delicacies by celebrity chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa at the hotel’s own Nobu restaurant. In fact, Badrutt’s Palace makes it easy not to ski, with extravagant facilities including seven restaurants and four bars, a fully equipped gym with personal fitness trainers, glass-enclosed pool, private cinema, an ice rink and the Daniela Steiner Beauty Spa. It’s best to book spa treatments when booking rooms by contacting Spa Manager Katia Luchinetti (dsteiner@badruttspalace. com; 011-41-81-837-2851). The winter season is marked by galas, fashion shows and festivals, including the Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow and White Turf, the international horse race held on the frozen lake. The New Year’s Gala at Badrutt’s Palace is quite the stylish affair; rooms for the winter season are usually booked months in advance. The skiing on these acclaimed peaks is not to be missed, and dedicated ski instructors are on call to assist the faint of heart. Your clients can hit the slopes of Corviglia (the mountain above St. Moritz) or choose an all-Engadin Valley pass to explore the 218 miles of pistes in the surrounding area. Indeed, your clients will be well attended to, starting with a Rolls-Royce transfer from the airport or train station. Head Concierge Guiseppe Pesenti (concierge@ badruttspalace.com) can handle even the most exacting requests, and butler service is offered for all room categories. There is even a resident Bridge Hostess. Your VIP clients will be in good company: The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, George Clooney and Sophia Loren rank among past celebrity clientele. Choose the Hans Badrutt Suite or Helen Badrutt Suite, which can only be booked by direct request through the hotel (reservations@ badruttspalace.com; 011-41-81837-1100). Talk about bragging rights: The three-bedroom Hans Badrutt Suite has a marble lobby, piano, wood-paneled library and a large terrace with breathtaking views over the lake and Swiss Alps. Both the Hans and Helen Badrutt Suites boast Jacuzzis. The St. Moritz Suite category is also very popular and can be booked via the GDS. Your clients will also have lots of envy-inducing stories after a stay at Sir Richard Branson’s Lodge at Verbier (www.thelodge. virgin.com). Part of the billionaire’s Virgin Limited Edition portfolio, The Lodge at Verbier is a swanky, nine-bedroom chalet surrounded by the fairytale scenery of Verbier, one of the largest ski areas in the Alps with five different resorts. The Lodge is ideal for groups as it can house up to 18 adults in nine bedrooms and up to six kids in a bunkroom. During the winter season, rates include afternoon tea, light lunch (for non-skiers who stay at the chalet), dinner, all drinks and Champagne and 24-hour driver service within Verbier so that your clients can take advantage of the legendary après-ski scene. It’s also possible to reserve individual rooms if the chalet has not been booked six weeks prior to your clients’ arrival date. Travel advisors can earn 10 percent commission; contact Katrina Gomez (enquiriesusa@virginlimited edition.com; 877-577-8777) in the U.S. office for bookings. General Managers Paul and www.luxuryta.com December 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 15 http://www.badruttspalace.com http://www.badruttspalace.com http://www.thelodge.virgin.com http://www.thelodge.virgin.com http://www.luxuryta.com
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