Luxury class on the Bürgenstock

Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn, Charlie Chaplin and Jimmy Carter have all stayed at Bürgenstock. No wonder, with this beguiling view of the Alps and Lake Lucerne. Even Sean Connery used the scenery in the Bond film "Goldfinger" to whiz down into the depths on the Hammetschwand lift.

More than CHF 500 million invested

The first hotel on the Bürgenstock was opened in 1873. Almost 150 years later, more than 500 million Swiss francs from the Emirate of Qatar are being spent to bring the tourist complex up to scratch. In addition to the listed "Palace", three other hotels with a total of 800 beds and 68 residence suites for the well-heeled are enthroned on the mountain. Of course, there is also a 10,000 m² feel-good wellness facility. On the Bürgenstock, she and he can meet in numerous conference rooms, but also party in the large ballroom. The resort also has two indoor tennis courts, twelve restaurants and bars, a 9-hole golf course, an ice rink, a cinema and shopping facilities. No fewer than 800 employees are expected to do the job.

Comprehensive facility management 

As in 1888, the water from Lake Lucerne is captured and pumped up the mountain: then as a drinking water supply, today as a source of energy. The water is pumped up 500 meters to be used as heating energy in the energy center via heat pumps. According to Siemens, which implemented the project, the lake water provides 70 to 90% of the heat demand and handles all the building cooling at the resort. The water later flows back down the slope, with a turbine recovering electricity.

It's almost a closed water circuit - nothing can go wrong, explains Thomas Guebey, overall manager of Siemens projects on the Bürgenstock. "Safety is no longer guaranteed if a gate valve is defective somewhere, a pipe breaks or excess pressure develops. That's why we are constantly recording data at all important points." If the values are not correct, the system automatically shuts down and reports this to the person in charge. According to Guebey, the building automation system also monitors and controls other areas such as ventilation, sanitary facilities, room automation, etc. The site's security technology, such as video surveillance and fire protection, is also integrated.

Not all security problems solved

When the resort officially opens this late summer, not all the security problems will have been solved, as Roland Wyrsch, head of project management at the Bürgenstock company, put it on record at a trade press event in May. Where illustrious guests stay, the "drone paparazzi" are not far away to catch a whiff of celebrity. How to counter this new phenomenon is not yet known on the Bürgenstock. (rs/pd)