Hotel Arlberg announces the grand opening of the Arlberg Club House in December 2024, redefining alpine hospitality in Lech, Austria, with a new luxury hub for dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Hotel Arlberg announce the grand opening of the Arlberg Club House, a prestigious new project set to redefine alpine hospitality in the heart of one of the world’s most famous ski villages in Lech, Austria. The project is run by local entrepreneurs Benjamin Schneider and Patrick Krummenacher, part of the region’s renowned Hotel Arlberg family. The grand opening is scheduled for December 2024.
Celebrating the Good Mountain Life
The Arlberg Club House is not just another ski club – it’s a place for families, old and new friends, mountain enthusiasts, après skiers and pleasure hikers to gather and enjoy alpine hospitality at its finest. As a celebration of the “Good Mountain Life”, it features all aspects that make up a great ski trip in addition to the experience of nature: shopping, dining and drinking. The owner-managed club house brings together these three distinct experiences under one roof: The Concept Store with a curated luxury fashion and homewares collection, as well as a bistro & coffee bar and sun balcony; The Restaurant boasting contemporary market-fresh Mediterranean flavours; and finally, Margo’s Bar, a hidden gem for guests to enjoy a memorable evening after an unforgettable day on the slopes.
Soft shapes and rugged mountains
Located in the picturesque mountain setting of Lech, the Arlberg Club House is designed by esteemed Austrian interior design firm and craftman´s business Bernd Gruber in collaboration with Kitzmüller Architecture. It blends travertine, curved shapes and lacquered wood with traditional elements like shingles, coffered ceilings, coarse fabrics and a solid Montafon door to create an authentic mountainous ambiance. Of Italian origin, the natural stone throughout the building in multiple colours and finishes sets the tone for the kitchen and its Mediterranean flair. Every element is of the highest quality, including a range of natural materials, bespoke finishes and joineries, just as in the five-star superior sister property Hotel Arlberg, which lies just across the street.
Each space is full of the charisma and character of the two young hosts Benjamin and husband Patrick. Present is an international club house style with elements that capture the charm of bygone times, while celebrating the unique location and its rich history. All levels are connected by creating flowing transitions and a consistent earthy colour scheme in different nuances.
“We are aiming to create a unique structure with three functions distributed across three levels, progressing from the ground up and ingeniously increasing in brightness of colour with each ascending floor,” says Matthias Raggl, Lead-Designer from Bernd Gruber, Kitzbühel.
Arlberg Club House, rendering
Mediterranean meets the Alps
At the Arlberg Club House, guests can take in the incredible view of the snow-covered Omeshorn while enjoying exquisite Mediterranean cuisine. The Restaurant features a contemporary twist on traditional Austrian Alpine charm, mixed with the hosts’ love for family style meals and those unforgettable dining experiences that get longer and louder as the day wears on. On the menu are Mediterranean classics with an international flair: homemade pasta, lobster rolls, and grilled Grandes-Pièces in surf & turf style to name a few. Anyone coming to the Club House after a day on the piste can enjoy the finest food, expect perfect service and spend time with friends. There is plenty of inspiration for the right dishes: it comes from head chef and award-winning haute cuisine chef Patrick Tober (39), who already skilfully combines Mediterranean and Alpine flavours in the hotel’s three restaurants. ‘I’m looking forward to building up a new team for the Club House and bringing a breath of fresh air to the village centre,’ says Tober. A lively dinner with weekly live music is followed by an unforgettable night in Margo’s Bar & Club, which was named after the hosts’ daughter and is a stylish jewel in the basement of the building.
Room to spoil or be spoiled
In the concept store or ‘Shop Upstairs’, as Krummenacher calls it, guests will find carefully selected luxury fashion by designers from the Paris Fashion Week calendar, as well as young labels from Japan, Belgium, England or the USA and handmade accessories and home essentials from brands backed by ambitious producers. Their focus is on adhering to transparent and fair production methods as well as a high standard of materials and craftsmanship. The selection represents an alternative to fast fashion and the ubiquitous global availability of the hottest labels. The range includes collections by Iris von Arnim, Rianna + Nina and Meta Campania Collective, as well as clothing by Kaptain Sunshine from Japan, fragrances by Parfumer H from London, hats by the Mühlbauer manufactory from Vienna and handcrafted eyewear by HUG from Baden-Württemberg. At the start of the winter season, the largest European collection from the Aspen and New York-based ski brand Aztech Mountain will also be on sale. They are all united by the desire to design timeless pieces that have a special meaning first and foremost for the wearer and not primarily for their surroundings. At the bistro & coffee bar, you can enjoy first-class barista coffee despite the altitude. The specially roasted house blend comes from Andrea Trevisan of Trevo Coffee from the nearby Bregenzerwald. The manufactory was recently honoured by SCA (The Specialty Coffee Association) as the best coffee roaster in Austria and the third best in the world. Guests also have access to a small coworking area and a balcony with outdoor seating, snacks and drinks and the best view of the village promenade. And if you’re looking for a quick bouquet of flowers, you’ll find what you’re looking for in the flower shop.
A second home for the already established Hotel Arlberg family
The legacy of Hotel Arlberg is already deeply rooted in Lech with the family’s legendary five-star superior hotel which marries regional identity with contemporary design. The hotel acts more as an extension of their home, offering warm and genuine hospitality hosted by the Schneider family themselves. The new club house is a further extension of this idea, thus taking up the cudgels in favour of year-round tourism being open for 44 weeks a year. It’s a clear statement by the Schneider family to revive the village centre beyond its famed winter season and inject new life for a tourism-focused town and its locals and guests.
“They are becoming rarer, the places where friends, family, like-minded people come together, interact socially, exchange ideas, celebrate and have a good time,” comments Benjamin Schneider, co-owner of Hotel Arlberg. “Places where friendships and new networks are formed. Where quality, the culinary experience and the best service take centre stage. And increasingly valuable.”
Patrick Krummenacher, co-founder of the Arlberg Club House, adds: “The same applies to retail concepts that are better than the Internet – that have a surprise factor and personality, that present a well-curated selection of desirable objects. Things that are linked to a special place, that are not available everywhere in the world and in the same way.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
