The ongoing investment in the Kulm Hotel was also an important factor in choosing the property as “Hotel of the Year”. Some of the major innovations of the last decade are the 2000 square metre Kulm Spa St. Moritz, which was unveiled in 2012 following a CHF12 million investment.
SWITZERLAND – Gault Millau Switzerland and sponsor Carl F. Bucherer have named the legendary Kulm Hotel St. Moritz “Hotel of the Year 2018”. In an official ceremony held on Monday 28th August, the luxury hotel was awarded the prestigious title by Sascha Moeri, CEO of Carl F. Bucherer, and Urs Heller, chief editor of Gault Millau Switzerland. The Kulm was praised by the judges for its exceptional culinary offerings, outstanding service standards, stunning location with breathtaking views of the Engadine Valley, striking new rooms by Pierre-Yves Rochon and its wide-ranging health and fitness offering, including its spectacular modern spa.
Gault Millau, founded in 1969 by two French restaurant critics, is among the most influential restaurant guides on the international gourmet scene and places great emphasis, therefore, on the cuisine offered by hotels when making its annual award selection. The Kulm Hotel stood out in 2017 for a variety of reasons including the opening in January of the Kulm Country Club, which had an innovative launch concept that saw different Michelin starred chefs from around the world, such as Daniel Humm, Nenad Mlinarevic and Mauro Colagreco, “pop up” to cook in the restaurant.
Planning is already in place for more guest chefs to visit the Kulm in the upcoming winter season, including Germany’s two-starred Michelin chef Tim Raue with his Asian-inspired food who will be at the K – the Kulm’s fine dining restaurant.
The last year also saw the F&B operations at the Kulm Hotel taken over by a new head chef, Mauro Taufer, who came to the property with excellent experience gained at the Hotel Gritti Palace and Hotel Danieli, both in Venice, as well as a warm and welcoming professional style, and an aptitude for hiring the right talent for the right job.
Taufer oversees the Kulm’s varied culinary concept, which includes five restaurants (the half-board Grand Restaurant, the Gourmet Restaurant the K, the Italian Pizzeria, Chesa al Parc serving local Engadine specialities and the Sunny Bar, which plays host to Peruvian chef Claudia Canessa in the evenings), in addition to the newly-opened Kulm Country Club. Furthermore, the Kulm’s “Dine Around” programme operated in conjunction with sister property Grand Hotel Kronenhof (www.kronenhof.com) means that guests have access to another three restaurants. Two of these restaurants, the Grand at the Kulm and the Grand at the Kronenhof, provide half-board meals of an exceptional standard for guests.
The ongoing investment in the Kulm Hotel was also an important factor in choosing the property as “Hotel of the Year”. Some of the major innovations of the last decade are the 2000 square metre Kulm Spa St. Moritz, which was unveiled in 2012 following a CHF12 million investment; the refurbishment of the NeuKulm building with interiors by internationally renowned designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and, of course, the opening of the Kulm Country Club, created from an historic Ice Pavilion that had lain unused since the 1980s.
And last but by no means least, Gault Millau recognised the enormous input, energy and friendly nature of the Kulm team, led by Heinz E. and Jenny Hunkeler, who are the only General Managers ever to pick up the coveted Hotel of the Year award twice. The Hunkelers have been at the helm of the Kulm Hotel since March 2013 and were previously at sister property Grand Hotel Kronenhof, when it was named GaultMillau Hotel of the Year in 2009.
On accepting the award, Heinz E. Hunkeler said, “We are delighted to receive this outstanding award on behalf of the entire team at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, who work tirelessly alongside us to ensure that our guests have an outstanding stay with us. From the moment they arrive to the moment they depart, the concierge desk, the house-keeping team, the kitchen and restaurant staff, and the spa team, do their utmost to look after the guests, a fact that is reflected by the hotel winning the highly respected Gault Millau “Hotel of the Year” title.”
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