Engadine, Switzerland, 1 July 2020 : Keen to travel overseas this summer? Put Switzerland – which has already relaxed border restrictions to UK travellers – at the top of your list of places to go. In addition to its stunning pristine landscapes and wide open spaces, it is also a driveable destination, enabling visitors to maintain a socially distanced bubble on their travels.

And where better to head than the sparsely-populated Engadine? There's a reason that St. Moritz, which lies at the heart of the Engadine, became popular among the British in 19th century summers: the crisp, fresh mountain air and glorious sunshine provided welcome days of R&R, with a chance to take the waters of the Saint Mauritius spring, recognised for their therapeutic qualities since the 15th century. Today, the wide open valley with its hiking routes, bike paths and numerous lakes provide plenty of space for tourists to explore without bumping into one another.

The Kulm Hotel St. Moritz (www.kulm.com) and Grand Hotel Kronenhof (www.kronenhof.com) open their doors on Friday 3 July and are well positioned to welcome back guests to the new normal. All necessary practical precautions have been taken to handle the Covid-19 situation and staff have been fully trained on how to operate safely under strict government guidelines. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, these two grand hotels are fortunate to have plenty of space for guests to enjoy their holidays at a distance from others.

For example, both are set in extensive private grounds. The Kulm Hotel even has its own 9-hole golf course meandering up and down hills, in between wooded areas, while Grand Hotel Kronenhof has built socially distanced spa platforms overlooking the Flaz river with the beautiful Staz forest beyond where complimentary yoga and Pilates classes are held.

Indoors, both of these grand old hotels have multiple public areas in which to relax, as well as a selection of seven restaurants (between them) from which to choose to dine and large spas extending over 2000 square metres, with additional relaxation areas out in the private gardens, ensuring that guests can always find a quiet, secluded corner somewhere.

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has a “Scintillating Mountain Summer” offer with rates starting from CHF1140 (approx. £970) for two people sharing a double room for two nights on a half-board basis, including unlimited access to the Kulm Spa, Kulm Golf and a 25-minute partial body massage per person, book online at www.kulm.com or call +41 81 836 8000.

Grand Hotel Kronenhof has summer rates starting from CHF455 (approx. £390) for two people sharing a double room on a half-board basis or a “Suite Summer Deal” from CHF599 (approx. £515) for two people sharing a Suite on a B&B basis; both rates include unlimited access to the Kronenhof Spa, Kulm Golf and Kulm tennis courts, as well as unlimited use of all the mountain railways in the Engadine and St Moritz area. Book online at www.kronenhof.com or call +41 81 830 3030.

The Kulm Hotel St. Moritz will close on 6 September 2020, while Grand Hotel Kronenhof will stay open through the Autumn until 18 October 2020.

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Notes to editors

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz (www.kulm.com) was the first hotel to be built in St. Moritz. The Kulm Hotel opened its doors in 1856 and immediately became popular for summer spa and painting holidays, particularly among the British who comprised around 75% of the hotel guests. The then owner of the Kulm Hotel, Johannes Badrutt, initiated winter holidays to St. Moritz from 1864 and, as a result, the hotel, resort and Switzerland itself celebrated 150 years of winter tourism in the 2014/15 season.

Since the 19th century, the Kulm Hotel has changed considerably through expansion and renovation, but the fabulous location at the heart of St. Moritz with views over the Lake remains the same. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has 164 rooms, five restaurants (including formal dining in the Grand Restaurant, the k by Tim Raue with one Michelin star, the Italian Pizzeria with 14 Gault Millau points and local Engadine specialities at Chesa al Parc), the extensive  Kulm Spa St. Moritz (with a 20m indoor pool with underwater music, various saunas and steam room, a Jacuzzi, a fully-equipped gym and treatment rooms, all with stunning views over Lake St. Moritz) and six conference rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 500 people.

Entertainment and summer sports facilities include the 9-hole Kulm Golf Course St. Moritz (the oldest golf course in the country), three tennis courts and the Marmotta Kids' Club for younger guests.

Recent awards for the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz include:

2019       A Michelin star for “the k by Tim Raue” & 17 GaultMillau points
Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards – 4th in the Top 20 Hotels in Central Europe category
Connoisseur Circle – Best Hospitality Grand Hotel
TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award, Hall of Fame and Certificate of Excellence
Forbes Travel Guide Award

2018      GaultMillau Hotel of the Year
Bilanz Chef of the Year – Claudia Canessa
TrustYou: Award of Excellence
Top rating in the hotel rankings of SonntagsZeitung, the renowned Swiss newspaper
Trivago National Award
Private Luxury Hotel of the Year at The World Luxury Hotel Awards
Weltwochen Ranking No.2

2017       One of the top ten most welcoming luxury hotels in Switzerland at the PRIX BIENVENU awards

Additionally, TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Awards for five years in a row (2014-2018 inclusive)

In May 2016, Jenny and Heinz E. Hunkeler of the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz were named “Hoteliers of the Year 2016” by leading Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung, which publishes annual Hotel Rating Awards, the only honours sanctioned by Switzerland Tourism, the national tourist office.

Grand Hotel Kronenhof (www.kronenhof.com), located in Pontresina, six miles from St. Moritz, offers the best of both worlds: the chance to enjoy the glitz of St. Moritz, while staying in a peaceful mountain village. 

Grand Hotel Kronenhof has a rich and interesting history, having first opened its doors in the first half of the 19th century as a guesthouse. However, the main part of the current building, which is a registered historical landmark, was built at the very end of the 19th century in Neo-Baroque style. The latest wing, completed in November 2007 and costing CHF 35 million (approximately £24 million), consists of 28 new guest rooms and a stunning spa complex covering more than 2000 square metres. More recently, the internationally-renowned interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon has been renovating a few guest rooms per year, in his own inimitable style, along with the creation of an elegant cigar lounge and adjoining billiards room.

The spa is certainly one of the hotel's highlights and has been named “the best Alpine spa” (according to Tyler Brule writing in the FT, November 2009). Facilities include a 20m indoor infinity pool with counter-current system, a flotation pool with underwater music, a wide range of saunas and steam rooms, a luxurious private suite for couples to enjoy wraps and massages together, and – for the perfect final touch – a crackling log fire in the relaxation room.

Gourmet cuisine is also a specialty at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof. Awarded the title of GaultMillau Hotel of the Year in 2009, it has three restaurants (the formal Grand Restaurant in an elegant Neo-Baroque vaulted room, Gourmet Restaurant Kronenstübli serving Italian-Mediterranean cuisine with 16 GaultMillau points and the informal Le Pavillon for light lunches). In addition, the hotel features a 19th-century original bowling alley where Swiss raclette is served.

Finally, Grand Hotel Kronenhof is renowned for its extensive children's activities and facilities (a kids' playroom and Rondelle, a restaurant just for younger members of the family).

Recent awards for the Grand Hotel Kronenhof include:

2019       TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award (five years in a row) & TripAdvisor Certificate of
Excellence
Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards: 3rd in the Top 20 Hotels in Central Europe category, 10th in the Top 20 Hotels in Europe category & 25th in the Best Hotels in the World category
Swiss business magazine Bilanz named one of ten best holiday hotels in Switzerland

2018      André Soares named Executive Housekeeper of the Year by Bilanz
PRIX BIENVENU awards, one of the top ten best luxury hotels in Switzerland
Trivago, best 5-star hotel in Switzerland

2017       World Luxury Spa Awards winner
                Second place in NZZ's Swiss Hotel Ratings, named among the most beautiful holiday hotels

Both the Grand Hotel Kronenhof and its sister property Kulm Hotel St. Moritz are owned by the Niarchos family.

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For more information, hi res images & to organise a review visit, please contact:
Sue Heady
Director
Heady Communications
T: 01608 651 692
M: 078 5595 0705
E: sue@headycommunications.com