Katara Hospitality, a leading global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar, has unveiled the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne in Switzerland at a grand opening ceremony.
The occasion marked the resort’s official opening after nine years of construction work and an eventful opening year. The Bürgenstock Resort, with its four hotels, “shines out like a beacon over Lake Lucerne in all its new splendour”, Katara Hospitality has said in a statement.
Under the patronage of Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani, chairman of Katara Hospitality, the Bürgenstock Resort hosted more than 1,000 guests, graced by the presence of Johann Schneider-Ammann, Swiss federal councillor; Hamad Abdullah al-Mulla, CEO of Katara Hospitality; Bruno Schöpfer, managing director of Katara Hospitality Switzerland AG; state counsellors and officials from Switzerland.
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Officials and dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held to mark the grand opening of the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne
On the occasion, Sheikh Nawaf said: “We are honoured to witness the grand opening ceremony of the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, as it revives the property’s prestigious past while marking a new step forward in the region’s long tradition of hospitality. Katara Hospitality is globally renowned for creating landmark hospitality gems that enhance the tourism landscape in the markets we operate, and such a momentous occasion further illustrates our continued success within the global luxury tourism sector.”
Schneider-Ammann praised the spirit of the two Bürgenstock founders, Bucher and Durrer, who in the 19th century built a hotel complex to welcome guests from around the world high above Lake Lucerne, a feat that was well before its time and which required great entrepreneurial spirit. They then equipped it with the first electric funicular railway in Switzerland.
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Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani with Johann Schneider-Ammann
“It gives me great pleasure to see how this pioneering spirit lives on and how the Bürgenstock Resort is now equipped to welcome guests from all over the world once more to the heart of Switzerland with this incomparable view,” he said.
Al-Mulla added: “The legendary Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne epitomises the opulence and impeccable service standards characteristic of Swiss hospitality. It is Katara Hospitality’s distinguished pleasure to unveil a beautifully restored historical building and luxury resort, which adds to the charm of the city of Lucerne, while appealing to the tastes of our esteemed guests,” he added.
In line with Katara Hospitality’s mission to preserve the heritage of iconic hotels around the world, the Bürgenstock Resort has entirely reinvented itself, building on a long-standing tradition of attracting the world's elites, the statement notes. Overlooking Lake Lucerne, it recently “underwent a multimillion dollar extensive yet masterful redesign”.
The iconic resort is the third project to open under The Bürgenstock Selection, a collection of luxurious hotels in Switzerland owned by Katara Hospitality. The portfolio consists of the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, the Hotel Schweizerhof Bern & THE SPA (99 rooms) and the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa Lausanne (196 rooms).
Welcoming to Lucerne a “supreme splendor reminiscent of the reigning spirit and elegance of Swiss hospitality”, the resort comprises four hotels with a category of three- to five-star Superior, with 383 rooms and suites, a health and medical centre, eight restaurants and bars, 67 residence suites, a 10,000sq m alpine spa, as well as a host of facilities and services to “enchant the most discerning of contemporary tastes”, the statement adds.
Robert P Herr, general manager of the Bürgenstock Resort, said: “The 145-year history of the Bürgenstock Resort makes us need to exceed the expectations of our hotel guests every day. I would like to extend a big thank you to the more than 700 members of staff who, with their daily work, have ensured that the resort has made an excellent start during its first 365 days. After a demanding opening year, I am looking forward to successfully taking the Bürgenstock Resort into the future, together with my team.”