The Rise and Rise of the Boutique Ski Hotel

How times have changed. When I was a boy we would go to resorts and stay in jumbo chalets, better described as Alpine affordable housing, being treated to ‘rustic’ dishes and the occasional lasagne. These megaliths still exist but not on our books! Fortunately we can now offer an array of chalets and hotels that highlight how much the world of high class ski weekend accommodation has chnaged since the 1980s. The boutique hotel has emerged onto the Alpine scene in the past few years, adding luxury oases to some resorts, taking client entertainment to new levels. One of Mountain Leap’s favourites is Nevai in Verbier (http://www.nevai.ch/), which is adjacent to the famous Farm Club, yet is a stand-alone success due its sleek design, and modern bedrooms. Entering a hotel like Nevai is a completely enchanting experience, which impresses the visitor in a way that, whilst not being old-school Alpine charm, it is modern and comfortable, slick and chic, an experience many expect from business hotels worldwide. Switzerland has embraced this trend in order to capitalise on its reputation as a centre for business and wealth. The resorts of St.Moritz, Davos, Zermatt and Klosters all have their speciality hotels. From The Mirabeau in Zermatt, whose new rooms elicit comparisons with the ‘W’ hotel in Manhattan, to the Carlton Hotel in St.Moritz, which offers its own ski school and butler service, the Swiss have the edge on boutique hotels. At Mountain Leap we appreciate the desire to find your accustomed luxury in the Alps. Many of our customers want swimming pools or private guides, but we admit that butler services are rarely requested… Even so, we like to take comfort in the knowledge that any level of luxury and service is available, and we recommend requesting information on boutique hotels throughout the Alps. They have arrived and, we like to hope, they are here to stay. A welcome addition to the Alpine experience.