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Legends aren't born; they're made. "Badrutt's Palace Hotel" in St. Moritz stands as a testament to the notion that reputations are usually the result of hard work, a compelling vision and unwavering courage. Born into a family of hoteliers, the hotel's founder, Caspar Badrutt, was driven by a firm commitment to excellence, and regularly invested in the latest technology to ensure his guests experienced the highest level of luxury and service - a pledge that persists to this day.

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Badrutt's Palace Hotel has been one of the world's top destinations since 1892, although its story begins much earlier. The small community of St. Moritz in Switzerland's Engadin valley was originally a health resort and summer destination for wealthy British vacationers. The fact that St. Moritz is now inextricably linked with winter sports is said to be the result of a wager made by Johannes Badrutt, Caspar's father. In 1864, he told the English guests at his hotel – now the "Kulm Hotel St. Moritz" – that the winters in St. Moritz had plenty of sunshine as well. He even offered to reimburse their travel expenses from London if they returned in the winter but were disappointed with the weather. Far from being dissatisfied, his guests were delighted and became regulars all year round. At least that's how the story goes. What we do know for certain is that the Badrutt family was committed to supporting tourism in their homeland.

Generations of innovation

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As much as he loved being a host, Johannes Badrutt was also fascinated by technology. Inspired by the introduction of the first electric lighting system at the 1878 Paris World Exposition, he immediately commissioned the construction of a power station and, soon afterward, installed Switzerland's first electric arc lamps in his hotel's dining room. The Badrutt was also one of the first hotels to install a telephone booth, flushing toilets, hydraulic lifts and hot air heating. Johannes even built a bobsleigh and skeleton run as well as curling facilities to keep his guests entertained. 

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While Johannes Badrutt's son Robert took over the Kulm Hotel, his second eldest, Caspar, began refurbishing the Hotel Bellevue and reopened it as Badrutt's Palace Hotel in 1896. Shortly afterward, Caspar passed the management of the hotel to his son Hans, who, like his father and grandfather, delighted in surprising his guests by adopting the latest technological innovations. For example, he opened Europe's first indoor tennis facility inside Badrutt's Palace. In 1935, Hans acquired the Chesa Veglia just outside the village and turned the former farmhouse into a temple of recreation, featuring a dance bar, restaurant, bowling alley and live music. Apres-ski was born! In 1969, when "wellness" was still far from fashionable, Badrutt's guests were invited to work out in the gym and swim laps in a 25-meter infinity pool or their heated outdoor pool.

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More recently, Badrutt's Palace became the first Swiss hotel to offer its guests hotel-wide 5G technology and a miniature designer shopping mall. On the culinary front, the Palace has always enjoyed a stellar reputation. Today, guests have no fewer than ten restaurants and three bars to choose from. Among the many fine options available are Nordic haute cuisine by chef Eric Vildgaard and his wife Tina Kragh at the Jordnær (two Michelin stars), Peruvian-Japanese fusion cuisine by chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa at La Coupole and of course traditional Swiss cuisine. And what better way to enjoy a delightful dinner than with a fine glass of wine? The wine list is a journey through the world's finest vineyards. Some of the most expensive, oldest and rarest vintages are on offer, including several bottles of 1982 Chateau Pétrus. Some 60 kilograms of caviar are served throughout the year, washed down on New Year's Eve alone with 2,000 bottles of champagne.

The Allure of glitz and glamor

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This extraordinary hotel naturally attracts an exceptional clientele. One of their first visitors was Princess Mary, grandmother of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The European aristocracy followed suit, as well as numerous celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock, to name just a few. Gunter Sachs loved the place so much that he rented the hotel's tower for several years and had it decorated by Andy Warhol.
Such illustrious guests inevitably arrived with one or two special requests, and many of the stories surrounding them have become part of the hotel's legacy. Around the turn of the century, it was quite common to arrive with 20 to 40 pieces of luggage, or to send them to the hotel in advance. Some guests even brought their own furniture and simply left it behind at the end of their stay. Guests are also permitted to remodel and furnish rooms and suites according to their wishes; this is also why no two rooms are alike.

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A former guest relations manager described this unique philosophy simply as "Palace style." When French automobile entrepreneur Andre Citroën arrived with his pet monkey, no one batted an eyelid. In the 1980s, a guest asked for his wife's birthday gift to be presented by an elephant in the lobby. So, with typical Badrutt flair, the hotel fulfilled his request by offering treats from the pâtisserie to entice the elephant through the main entrance. Regular guests enjoy a host of special privileges, including personalized, embroidered napkins and a storage service for personal belongings such as furniture, Christmas decorations and winter sports equipment.

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When the year draws to a close, non-guests are also invited to take part in the magic of this legendary hotel – at the iconic New Year's Eve party. Half a million Swiss francs are spent on decorations to transform the Palace into a glittering winter wonderland for this extravagant celebration, which continues late into the night. As always, the first and last party of the year marks the start of another chapter in the long and distinguished history of Badrutt's Palace Hotel. 

Badrutt's Palace Hotel
Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 8371000
Web: badruttspalace.com
Price: double room from approx. € 1233,- per night