Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
Montreux, Switzerland
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
Av. Claude Nobs 2
1820 Montreux – Switzerland
www.fairmont.com/montreux
HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Group
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Shareholders
Broermann Holding
Date of Creation
1906
Hotel General Manager
Michael Smithuis, General Manager since 2003, holds a Diploma in Hotel Management from IHTTI Hotel School Neuchâtel. He has held various management positions in several countries (England, Oman, Netherlands, Indonesia), before he was appointed Managing Director of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. Since 2018, he has taken on the role of Regional Vice President in addition to his current position, overseeing other luxury establishments of the Accor Group in Europe.
Hotel Positioning
5*
Development strategy
Always striving for the highest standards in authentic Swiss Hospitality, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace aims to become the home away from home for all travelers choosing the Lake Geneva region, by the luxurious guestrooms, unique geographical setting, breathtaking views and heartfelt service.
FAIRMONT LE MONTREUX PALACE
History & Story
In 1881, 2 famous Swiss hoteliers from Montreux, Alexandre Emery and Ami Chessex bought the Hotel du Cygne (built in 1837). In 1895 they founded the company “Le Montreux Palace & Cygne”. Swiss architect Eugene Jost built the Palace in a record time of 18 months and the hotel opened on March 19th 1906. The new hotel was joined to the original Hotel du Cygne by the Salon de Musique, the Grand Hall and richly decorated ballrooms. A sports hall was built in 1911 to entertain the guests: The “Pavillon”, which housed a tearoom, a skating rink and a firing range. During World War I, the hotel was used as a hospital to shelter wounded Allied soldiers. In the 1920’s, Montreux regained its former glory with the return of the rich and famous. During World War II tourism receded and the hotel was used as a hospital again. A Fairmont Hotel since 2007, Montreux Palace is the landmark hotel of Lake Geneva area.
Date Renewal
All lakeview rooms and public areas renovated in 2012 by Fiona Thompson in collaboration with Richmond International. Cityview rooms renovated from 2014 to 2018. Presidential Suite and Bellevue Suites renovated in 2018. Penthouse Suite renovated in 2020. Fairmont Spa renovated in 2021.
Date added extensions
• 1907 – Palace Wing
• 1911 – Petit Palais
• 1960 – Petit Palais Conference Center
• 2000 – Fairmont Spa
Main Strengths, Special Touch
Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, with a stunning view of the lake and Alps, Fairmont Le Montreux Palace is a jewel of the Belle Époque architecture. The hotel offers 236 elegantly appointed and luxuriously furnished rooms and suites, five restaurants and bars serving from fine dining to Sunday Brunch, as well as an oasis of wellbeing in the 2000m2 Fairmont Spa and 15 modern and classic meeting rooms.
Location
Only 1 hour drive from Geneva Airport or from famous ski resorts like Gstaad or Verbier, 2 hours from Zurich, 3 hours from Milano and 4 hours from Paris.
The hotel is situated in the center of Montreux a luxury health resort, famous for its climate, Spa hotels, private clinics and boarding schools.
Key sites/activities in the area
• Montreux Jazz Festival in July
• Montreux Christmas Market in December
• Chillon Castle (most visited castle in Switzerland)
• Lavaux Vineyards (UNESCO protected Heritage)
• Lake Geneva (possibility of dinner cruises on steamships, fishing, yachting)
• Town of Gruyère (Cheese factory, Castle)
• Twon of Aigle (Castle, Wine museum, Golf Course)
• Glacier 3000 with its peak walk
• Chaplin’s World (Charlie Chaplin museum)
Fun Facts
The Montreux Palace was built in a record time of 18 months and was considered the most modern hotel of the area in 1906 as it offered heating, electricity and private bathrooms with hot and cold running water. The Petit Palais, our Conference center was built initially as a rink hockey hall in 1911.
Children’s Corner
Kid’s corner available in summer months and school holiday periods, with multilingual staff and fun activities for children from 3 to 12 years old. Please check availability prior to booking.
HOTEL FEATURES
Accommodation
Hotel provides 236 guestrooms and suites in 10 different categories:
• Fairmont Mountain View Room (66 rooms, queen or 2 twin beds, Mountain View)
• Deluxe Mountain View Rooms (18 rooms, king, queen or 2 twin beds, Mountain View)
• Fairmont Lakeview Rooms: (26 rooms king, queen or 2 twin beds, Lakeview)
• Deluxe Lakeview Rooms: (86 rooms, king, queen or 2 twin beds, Lakeview)
• Signature Rooms: (14 rooms king, queen or 2 twin beds, Lakeview)
• Junior Suite: (7 suites with separate living room in 1 airspace, king, queen or 2 twin beds, Lakeview)
• Signature Suite: (15 suites with separate living room closed off by sliding doors, king, queen or 2 twin beds, Lakeview)
• Panorama Suite (2 one-bedroom suites situated on 7th floor with large rooftop terrace, king bed, Lake and Mountain views)
• Quincy Jones Suite (one bedroom suite situated on 7th floor with 2 large rooftop terraces, private elevator, king bed, Lake and Mountain views)
• Penthouse Suite (160 to 220 sqm, with living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, large terrasse and two connecting bedrooms option)
• Presidential Suite (139 to 178 sqm, with living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, lavish bathroom, large terrasse and connecting bedroom option)
Restaurants & Bars
• La Palmeraie: Elevated breakfast buffet with tastes for everybody, open every day of the week with brunch on Sundays.
• Montreux Jazz Café: Enjoy hearty cuisine combined with a selection of the region’s best wines and spirits, directly inspired by the atmosphere of the legendary music festival.
• The Lounge Bar: Unwind with a coffee, glass of champagne or light snacks by the roaring fireplace.
• MP’S: Currently welcomes a pop-up restaurant concept.
• La Terrasse du Petit Palais: Outdoor dining with an unrivalled view of Lake Geneva and the Alps (summer only).
• Funky Claude’s Bar: Live music on weekends and truly masterful cocktails in one of Montreux’s most beloved establishments.
• Pureaty Café: Located in the Fairmont Spa, the Pureaty Café offers healthy snacks with unbelievable views over Lake Geneva, Montreux and the Alps next to the indoor and outdoor pools.
Wellness
The Fairmont Spa, our award-winning wellness oasis, spreads over 2’000 m2 providing both an indoor and an outdoor pool (open in the summer) surrounded by a large garden, ideal for sunbathing. Two separated wet zones for women and men include a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and a luxurious changing rooms and shower facilities. The Fairmont Spa also offers a relaxation room with sauna and infrared beds. With its view over the gardens and the lake, the 300sq meters Fitness offers guests the latest generation in cardiovascular machines (TechnoGym). The adjacent exercise studio is used for Yoga lessons and personal training. Fairmont Spa works with brands such as Biologique Recherche and NIANCE Switzerland to propose a large variety of treatments and massages, in its 7 private cabins.
Corporate & Celebration Events
• Montreux Jazz Festival – July
• Classical Music Festival – September
• Montreux Art Gallery – November
• Montreux Christmas Market – December
• Montreux Comedy Festival – December
2022 Awards
• • Fairmont Spa at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace has been recognized with the title “Luxury Spa of the Year 2022” by LUXlife Magazine’s Leaders in Luxury Awards.
• Fairmont Le Montreux Palace was ranked 7th best city hotel in Switzerland by Karl Wild in Tages-Anzeiger.
• The Fairmont Spa at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace received 3 awards from the Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards 2022 as Best Fitness Spa in the world, Best Signature Treatment in the world, and Best Day Spa in Switzerland.
Number of employees
240