http://www.forbes.com/sites/neloliviawaga/2015/12/18/legendary-badrutts-palace-st-moritz-celebrates-its-120th-anniversary-with-a-sfr-120-000-package/

This year’s winter season in St. Moritz, Switzerland is about to start. On December 6, the legendary Badrutt’s Palace Hotel opened its doors again for guests from all over the world.

Why is the traditional and luxurious Badrutt’s Palace still the place to be, 120 years after it first opened? One reason might be that the St. Moritz mountain retreat has been a destination for the rich and famous for 12 decades now. Guests today still feel the aura of Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn or Alfred Hitchcock, who all stayed at the Badrutt’s Palace at its iconic Palace Tower. Stars and celebrities today appreciate the hideaway in the Swiss mountains and keep coming back for more – like Hitchcock did for 34 times after spending his honeymoon at the glamorous establishment.

The Badrutt’s Palace has always aimed to leave nothing to be desired for its guests. The first indoor tennis court in Europe in 1913 already demonstrated the vision of the exclusive hotel to never stand still. Today, the tennis court has been transformed into the stylish restaurant “La Coupole” with the successful concept “Matsuhisa @ Badrutt’s Palace”. This winter guests will enjoy the restaurant with an open chef’s kitchen with Japanese and Peruvian influences for the second season in St. Moritz. The most eye-catching cocktail in the hotel’s history is an innovation: the “1.2 Carat Cocktail” containing an 1.2 carat Graff diamond will be served for the very first time on February 14th 2016.

The 120th anniversary is also marked by the occasion to present the “120,000 SFr. Package” which will be made available during winter and summer season of the celebratory year. The $120,000 Package includes a transfer by private jet to and from St. Moritz, either from Zurich or Milan. In addition, guests will reside in the luxurious Beau Rivage suites and can enjoy a 120 minutes helicopter flight over the stunning mountain panorama. The Package is all about luxury and a 12-course gourmet dinner. The above mentioned “1.2 Carat Cocktail” is included as well.

For its outstanding service and friendliness of its staff, the Badrutt’s Palace has been awarded on numerous occasions. For the hotel staff, hospitality means making the guests’ wishes come true – even the most outrageous ones. A famous anecdote is an elephant, which was brought into the hotel lobby to hand over a birthday present for a guest’s wife. Another guest who expressed his particular fondness of a fish dish he had tasted in Paris got the surprise of having the fish brought to St. Moritz via private Jet – from Paris – the same day.

The rich history will be brought back to life for the 120th anniversary. Every month during the celebratory year will be portraying one decade of Badrutt’s Palace history. January 2016 will be focusing on the “Palace Tower” and Caspar Badrutt’s achievements in the hotel’s first years. The changes, developments and constant investments of the hotel can be retraced during the whole year with special events and photographs from former times.

Among the highlights of this season are the “Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz”, “White Turf” – the traditional horse race on the frozen lake and “InConcert @ Badrutt’s Palace” with international acts like Dita von Teese, Ornella Vanoni and Umberto Tozzi.

You would not immediately expect a 120 year-old hotel to host one of the hottest clubs of the whole region – but the “King’s Club” at the Badrutt’s Palace is the place to be for every winter season.

This could be part of the hotel’s success and fascination: it never stops to keep up with the times while staying true to itself and maintaining its class and authenticity.