Switzerland. The name alone conjures up images of soaring snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, flower-filled fields and, simply, a feeling of tranquility. Nestled between Austria, France, Italy and Germany, Switzerland is about the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined. Within those borders are myriad ways to enjoy the country, from cultural experience to adventures of a lifetime, and offers multiple reasons why meeting planners should look to the “Playground of Europe” for their next event. 

Why Switzerland 

Photo Credit: David Hannes Bumann

• Cultural, urban and natural experiences are plentiful, including 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two biospheres. 

• Switzerland has four official languages – French, German, Italian and Romansh 

• High-speed rail and viable public transportation make traveling around the country easy and affordable. 

• More than 25 non-stop flights from North America to two international airports in Switzerland 

What’s New in Switzerland 

• Edelweiss Air and Swiss International Airlines added more flights from North America to Switzerland. 

There are plenty of options when it comes to things to see and do in Switzerland, as well as places to grab a bite to eat, or host a power lunch or dinner. Here are a few spots to pique your interest. 

SEE

Lavaux Vineyards 

Photo Credit: Schweiz Tourismus / Nicola Fuerer

Framed by Lake Geneva and the dramatic stone walls that soar behind it, the Lavaux Vineyards not only produce Switzerland’s Grand Crus wines (thanks in large part to a trifecta of heat sources: the sun, reflection from the lake and heat stored in the stone), but are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stretching more than 18 miles along Lake Geneva, the vineyard terraces date back to the 11th century, though some experts say they may have been planted in Roman times.  

The Matterhorn 

Photo Credit: Zermatt Tourismus/Pascal Gertschen

There is perhaps no greater awe-inspiring sight in Switzerland than the Matterhorn, soaring more than 14,600 feet into the sky. It’s no wonder it’s called the “Mountain of Mountains.” First ascended in 1865, today’s visitors can take a cable car in Zermatt to a mountain station at more than 12,500 feet, the highest cable car station in the Alps, for uninterrupted, stunning views of the behemoth mountain. 

Green Geneva 

Schweiz Tourismus / Hannes Heinzer Fotografie

Not only home to the United Nations and Palais des Nations, the former headquarters of the League of Nations, Geneva is a pioneer in Swiss sustainability. Between renovating an industrial district, developing a city park as a nursery for seedlings and honey production, and supplying clean energy, the city is well on its way to achieving its goal of being 100% renewable by 2050. Take a sustainability tour of the city and see first-hand why it earned the European Gold Label for energy cities.   

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

DO 

Watchmaking 

Photo Credit: geneve.com

There’s not an excuse to be on time for all of your events after your group participates in a watchmaking workshop. Whether you have time for a three-hour introductory course that explains the innerworkings of Swiss watches with a master watchmaker, or the budget to make your own watches over the course of a half-day, the experience is sure to leave your clients spellbound. 

Bobsledding 

Photo Credit: ENGADIN ST. MORITZ / Roger Schaffner

Quench your group’s need for speed with a bobsled ride in St. Moritz-Celerina. Not only is the run the world’s only natural ice bob run, but it’s the oldest still in operation. Put your group’s times up against the best – national and international championships are held on the course annually. The bob run is open in the wintertime and welcomes groups of up to 50. 

Farm Olympics 

Photo Credit: eventerlebnis GmbH

Put your Swiss living – not to mention improvisation, observation and accuracy – skills to the test when your group takes on the Farm Olympics in Engelberg. From sawing tree trunks to blowing alphorns, to shooting a bow or blowgun, to the nail-hitting competition, transporting gold, throwing horseshoes and milking (fake) goats, it’s all to play for. Suitable for groups of up to 300. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

EAT 

Wirtschaft zum Schweizerhaus 

Open for lunch and dinner, Wirtschaft zum Schweizerhaus in Engelberg welcomes groups to enjoy dishes highlighting seasonal produce with traditional Swiss flavors, as well as flavors inspired by destinations around the world. Not to miss – fondue and raclette served in the restaurant’s cheese cave. 

Gasthaus Rose 

In the heart of Kerns, the menu at the award-winning Gasthaus Rose, a traditional Obwalden restaurant, features fresh salads, popular classics and seasonal specialties that will satiate all appetites. Think pork schnitzel with fries; venison in a cream sauce with mushrooms and grapes or red cabbage and chestnuts; and a vegetable platter with cheese. 

Restaurant Piz Nair 10000 Feet 

Come for the stunning views, but definitely stay for the food at Restaurant Piz Nair 10000 Feet in St. Moritz. As its name implies, the restaurant sits at 10,000 feet and affords stunning views of the landscape below. The outdoor terrace is the place to soak up the sun, while groups of 100 will fit comfortably inside year-round. The menu is filled with Grison specialties like güggeli, Swiss German for chicken; schnitzel; gnocchi; and homemade soups like corn foam soup.  

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services 

STAY/MEET 

Just as Switzerland has something for every meeting planner and attendee, so does ALHI. From Kempinski Palace Engelberg in the heart of Switzerland, to Frutt Mountain Resort near Lucerne and Interlaken, and Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz, find the right property for your group with ALHI. 

Kempinski Palace Engelberg  

The first and only five-star resort in central Switzerland, 100 miles from Zurich, welcomes groups with 129 guest rooms and suites, all affording stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Intimate gatherings can be arranged in any of the hotel’s eight meeting rooms, the largest of which is just under 200 square feet. For larger groups, the stunning Kursaal ballroom, which dates to 1902, can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 400 for a cocktail reception, or nearly 200 in a classroom configuration. In the wintertime, treat your guests to fondue or raclette in Chalet Ruinart. 

Frutt Mountain Resort  

Frutt Mountain Resort, a wellness resort near Lucerne and Interlaken, about 65 miles from Zurich, is perfect for small-group workshops, conferences, or seminars. When work is finished for the day, your guests can retreat to their guest room or suite, furnished with natural materials, before going out to enjoy activities in the area. In the summer there’s hiking, biking, fishing, climbing and caving, and in the winter, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, ice fishing and sledging on the longest sledge run in Central Switzerland. Afterwards, recharge in the resort’s two spas. 

Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz 

Housed in a stunning 19th century building, the five-star Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski St. Moritz boasts 164 guest rooms and suites, and four meeting rooms, not to mention public spaces that can be transformed to meet your clients’ needs, including two of the hotel’s restaurants and the lobby. The adjacent Forum Paracelsus can also host meetings and events. St. Moritz has long been popular for its healing and relaxation, so indulging in the spa is a must, from the saunas to the indoor pool and myriad treatments that will melt away any remaining tension. 

For more activities and ideas, ask your ALHI GSO about working with Hosts Global Destination Services