Kulm Hotel St. Moritz To Star In Christmas Special Of “Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby”

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz is to star in a one-off Christmas special of “Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby”, which is to be broadcast on BBC2 on Thursday 13 December at 9pm. Presenters Monica Galetti and Giles Coren travelled to St. Moritz earlier this year to stay at the legendary Kulm Hotel, which was the birthplace of winter tourism more than 150 years’ ago.

Watch the programme to witness Giles dressed up as a bellboy, as he struggles to control a luggage trolley and delivers mail to one of the hotel’s permanent residents. Meanwhile, Monica helps co-director Jenny Hunkeler transform her office into a private dining room for the evening, complete with the hotel’s original dining service dating to the 19th century, and helps guest chef Claudia Canessa make Peruvian ceviche, which is served in the hotel’s historic Sunny Bar, home to the dare-devil Cresta riders.

Out in the resort, Monica gets up close and personal with the piste-bashing machines on the longest flood-lit piste in Switzerland, while Giles joins a group of children for a skiing lesson and finally overcomes his life-long distaste for skiing. Together, they take a cable car to the highest accessible point in the Engadine valley to meet the suppliers of the Kulm’s Swiss whisky who are hoping to open one of the world’s highest distilleries.

Finally, for the ultimate extravagance, Monica joins co-director Heinz E. Hunkeler on a helicopter ride to an isolated mountain peak for a cheese, Champagne and truffle fondue – it’s all very James Bond and a true reflection of the Kulm Hotel’s ability to make anything happen, whatever a guest’s desire!

Kulm Hotel St. Moritz (www.kulm.com) was the first hotel to be built in St. Moritz. The Kulm Hotel opened its doors in 1856 and immediately became popular for summer spa and painting holidays, particularly among the British who comprised around 75% of the hotel guests. The then owner of the Kulm Hotel, Johannes Badrutt, initiated winter holidays to St. Moritz from 1864 and, as a result, the hotel, resort and Switzerland itself celebrated 150 years of winter tourism in the 2014/15 season.

Since the 19th century, the Kulm Hotel has changed considerably through expansion and renovation, but the fabulous location at the heart of St. Moritz with views over the Lake remains the same. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has 164 rooms, five restaurants (including formal dining in the Grand Restaurant, the Italian Pizzeria with 13 Gault Millau points and local Engadine specialities at Chesa al Parc), the extensive  Kulm Spa St. Moritz (with a 20 m indoor pool with underwater music, various saunas and steam room, a Jacuzzi, a fully-equipped gym and treatment rooms, all with stunning views over Lake St. Moritz) and six conference rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 500 people.

Entertainment and summer sports facilities include the 9-hole Kulm Golf Course St. Moritz (the oldest golf course in the country), three tennis courts and the Marmotta Kids’ Club for younger guests.