News | Trends | Specials | Nr. 44 Spring 2014 | Page 1

HOLIDAY NEWS News to make your holiday in even better

Editorial

D ear Belvedere Guest

In a referendum to be held in October, Grindelwald voters will have the oppor- tunity to decide whether or not to go ahead with the large-scale «V Project» for the Jungfrau Railways and the Männlichen Gon- dola Cableway. There are pros and cons on both sides of the argument, and it is very difficult to deter- mine what the conse- quences will be for Grin- delwald either way. What's certain is that in places like Zermatt, a great deal of tries. When it comes to making major beds. In addition, there are plans to money is being invested and the hotel investments such as the new gondola build a new five-star hotel in the ren- industry is enjoying a highly positive lift up to the glacier, the Jung- ovated village centre. And below the trend, while in Grindelwald the entire frau Railways is perfectly entitled to Männlichen Gondola Cableway, industry is stagnating or even under- think first and foremost of its main where the new BOB railway station is going a recession. Investments in in- attraction, the . to be built as part of the V project, a frastructure, particularly in projects new luxury hotel is planned on the to enhance the attractiveness of win- In Grindelwald an investment drive grounds of the Motel Alfa. So Grin- ter tourism, are therefore extremely is under way. For many years, Grin- delwald will soon boast between important and necessary. The Jung- delwald had only one 5-star hotel to three and five luxury hotels. This is frau region can be thankful that offer; but that is now changing. The bound to enhance the shopping and Jungfrau Railways have the neces- Romantic Hotel Schweizerhof is restaurant facilities in the village. sary financial resources to make changing its category to five stars in Anyone who has been coming to these investments. In , May 2014, and following a two-year Grindelwald for some time only has tourist resorts cannot count on assis- period of renovations, the Grand Ho- to think back 15-20 years and remem- tance from the State, as is sometimes tel Regina is to be turned into a five- ber the types of businesses the village the case in our neighbouring coun- star superior hotel with 50% more had to offer back then. Only one or

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two of those businesses are still in existence, and over the In the spring of last year she decided to leave the Belve- next five years the picture will change yet again. dere to take up a new job. The Hauser family are very sor- ry to lose Susy but wish her every success and satisfaction This dynamism plus our children's decision to carry on in her new position. the family tradition and continue running the hotel have

prompted us to take another look at our plans for extend- ing and renovating the Belvedere. But we need to consid- er how our guest profiles are developing, and incorporate these trends in the plans. Whatever the outcome, we will A family addition for our employee from Spain keep you informed about the status quo. Belén Barcia Bello has a son We are now looking forward to a fantastic summer sea- Max was born on 2 September 2013 in Interla- son from May to October. As in the past two years, our ken Hospital hotel will also remain open throughout spring and au- tumn. We look forward to your visit. Belén has worked for the Belvedere since December 2009. During this time she has worked in various de- Until then, best regards partments. Until her maternity leave she worked in Urs-B. Hauser, family and co-hosts service as well as deputy floor manager.

New challenge after many years of serving the Belvedere Sincerest thanks to Susy Niederberger Bohren 14 years with us

When Susy Niederberger knocked on the Belvedere's doors in 1999, there were no jobs available. But the Hauser family spontaneously adjusted its organisation in order to create a job for her.

S usy Niederberger Belén Barcio Bello with her son Max worked as Assistant Man- ager in another 4-star hotel. After many years she de- cided to seek a new chal- W hen Belén joined the Belvedere team in December lenge and applied for an 2009, no-one could have guessed she could have turned administrative position at her hand to so many different tasks. But she showed keen the Belvedere. Since Mr interest in everything and was soon able to be entrusted and Mrs Hauser were with tasks in various departments around the hotel. aware of Susy's qualities, they decided on the spot to Two years ago she decided to start a family, and adjust their organisation changed her working hours accordingly. Son Max was Susy Niederberger Bohren and engage her as a new born on 2 September 2013 and since December Belén has member of staff. For the first been working part-time again at the hotel. On days when few years she worked as Assistant Manager. Later, despite the floor manager Persa Josavac is free or on vacation, family obligations, she remained loyal to the hotel, reduc- Belén is responsible for checking the rooms and laundry. ing her working hours and limiting her tasks to account- ing.

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The Hauser family is delighted that Grindelwald has the opportunity to welcome such a famous musician. And for guests this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some beauti- ful music against a splendid backdrop. Even more excit- ing, a get-together for audience and musicians is planned. The concerts will be held from 6 to 8 June 2014.

World-famous musicians perform at the Belvedere Star violinist Jack Liebeck visits Grindelwald If you are a classical music buff, a visit to the Belvedere in early June is a must The chapel on First, in the background the Eiger Some of Europe's best musicians will be staging two chamber music concerts against the breathtaking backdrop of Grindelwald. The programme is top- The Programme: notch: Two concerts of chamber music, featuring award-winning violinist Jack Liebeck, violinist Victo- Friday 6 June 2014 ria Sayles, viola player Meghan Cassidy, cellist Jamie 18:30 / 6.30 pm Aperitif Walton and pianist Katya Apekisheva. Artistic direc- 19:15 / 7.15 pm Music Dinner: fine dining accompanied tor: Jack Liebeck by classical music, followed by Meet & Greet with the musicians.

Sunday 8 June 2014 14:00 / 2 pm Afternoon concert in the chapel on First, followed by light refreshments

The next concert, highly recommended by the Hauser family, will be held in the week before Christmas. More information will be provided later since the musicians ac- companying Jack Liebeck and Victoria Sayles have still to be finalised. But please reserve the date of 16 December 2014 now.

Jack Liebeck Victoria Sayles

E ven as a child Jack Liebeck was a regular visitor to Grindelwald for ski holidays, accompanied by his parents, siblings and grandparents. His uncles, aunts and cousins also came along and spent the New Year week and the first week of January at the Hotel Belvedere. This tradi- tion was kept up for years until the day when not everyone could manage the trip due to professional commitments. After a break of several years, Jack's family found their way back to the Belvedere and, on the spur of the mo- ment, he decided he would like to hold some concerts in Grindelwald. Jack Liebeck, Victoria Sayles and Pianist Bogdan Sobkowiak staged a first concert at the Belvedere in December 2013.

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Grindelwald's centre is rapidly changing The large-scale construction behind the Hotel Grindel- walderhof, near the minigolf, will be built in small stages. Update on renovations to The first three blocks are already almost completed, and the fourth block is currently under way. The editor was village centre unable to find out from the project manager exactly when Rapid progress thanks to mild weather the five-star hotel is to be built.

Hard to believe, but the construction work near the sports centre was completed in the space of a single summer and winter. Progress is well ahead of sched- ule, to everyone's delight. The car park in front of the sports centre will go into operation as soon as late summer this year. Work on the surrounding area, planned for spring 2015 has already begun.

R esidents of Grindelwald had reckoned with at least two years of construction. So there is general delight that

the structural work has now been completed within the Project Bergwelt complex © Bergwelt Grindelwald space of a year. From the forthcoming winter season, the new COOP shopping centre will be housed in this com- plex. The chemist as well as other shops will also move to this new building.

Current status first building stage © Webcam Bergwelt Grindelwald The previous village centre © Jungfrauzeitung

Current status of the construction work © Webcam community Grindelwald View from Pfingstegg onto the Grindelwald village

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The Grand Hotel Regina today The Restaurant Rendez-vous gives way to a new building © Jungfrauzeitung

The Grand Hotel Regina will be starting renovation and Beside the sports centre, where a butcher's shop and construction work in the autumn of this year. The work is shoe shop used to stand, a large new chalet now stands, scheduled to last two years, following which the hotel will and a few steps further on, where the Restaurant Rendez- boast at least 300 beds and a five-star superior rating. vous used to be, a huge hole has opened up. This is the planned site for attractive new buildings.

Project Grand Hotel Regina: after the renovation... © Grand Hotel Regina

Next to the Sports centre: so far… © Griwaplan

...and with all the appendant new buildings © Grand Hotel Regina ...and today © Griwaplan

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Grindelwald is well worth a visit, particularly in summer Events, summer 2014 Variety is the spice of life

As in previous summers, Grindelwald and the entire Jungfrau region offer a wide range of sporting and cultural events for the summer of 2014. For more in- formation, visit the sites www.grindelwald.ch and www.berneroberland.ch

B oth websites provide all the information you need about interesting events being held in Grindelwald and Validity of the Jungfrau Railway pass, new including the lakes Thun & Brienz! neighbouring regions. Take a look, it's well worth it.

Free travel pass for railways, lifts and buses in the region Summer paradise weeks 2014 – free tickets if you book now Discover the entire region with a single pass

Jungfrau Railways are once more offering the tradi- tional, popular Jungfrau Railways pass in the summer of 2014. This pass allows guests to discover the entire region without having to buy a new ticket for every trip. Visitors who use the railways often can save lots of money. Landart Festival 2013: team Italy's sculpture © Simon Wälti

Here are just a few of the planned events: A pass for almost all railways and buses makes every- thing simpler, more practical, and saves money. For the  Boulder Happening www.boulderhappening.ch summer of 2014 the Belvedere is once more offering spe- 11 & 12 May and 17 & 18 May 2014, cial summer weekly packages that include breakfast and  Classical concert with world-famous violinist Jack the Jungfrau Railways pass. Liebeck, 6 to 8 June 2014 www.belvedere-grindelwald.ch  Crime Scene Jungfrau www.tatortjungfrau.ch from 7 to 8 June 2014  14th Landart Festival www.myswitzerland.com Attention: Guests who make a firm booking before organic artwork in the great outdoors mid of May will receive the Jungfrau Railways pass from 16 to 21 June 2014 free of charge.  EigerUltraTrail www.eigerultratrail.ch 19 & 20 July 2014, the incredible race over 101 km and 6'700 meters altitude The Jungfrau Railways pass is a personal general pass  Jungfrau Marathon www.jungfraumarathon.ch valid for travel on six consecutive days. It entitles the 14 September 2014 holder to unlimited travel in the designated region. The pass is valid from 1 May to 26 October. You can purchase The following events, among others, will be held on the the connecting ticket to the Jungfraujoch from Ei- Männlichen www.maennlichen.ch gergletscher station at a 50% discount.  Alpine spring festival on 29 June 2014  Major folk lore festival on 27 July 2014

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Grindelwald in the summer offers a great deal for families with young children Family arrangement Summer 2014 Once more, children can stay free at the Belve- dere this summer, breakfast inclusive

Children up to age 16 can share their parents' room or a family suite free of charge, breakfast inclusive. Din- ners (children's platter or 3 courses) are calculated as follows: Up to age 5 free, 6 to 12 years old CHF 30.- per day, and 13 to 16 years old CHF 40.-. This family arrangement is valid throughout the summer for two adults occupying a room or suite. As usual, we regret it Summer programme Grindelwald4Kids: is not possible to accumulate rebates. The holiday program for children aged 10 to 16 years of- fers fund and adventures during their holiday. The chil- dren will experience unforgettable and exciting moments S ummer holidays in Grindelwald are especially attrac- and will have stories to tell about their adventures. Dura- tive for families with children. There's loads to do in Grin- tion of the program: July to mid August. delwald Valley and the Jungfrau region, and there are also special kids' activities the children will love.  Mountain bike: With a mountain-bike guide we under- take an easy tour through the Grindelwald valley to the A few examples: lake of Brienz. The equipment is placed at your dispos- al. Bring your own barbecue lunch.  The highly popular «First Flyer», exhilarating zip line www.jungfrau.ch  Climbing: Entertaining climbing lessons on easy rocks.  Summer sled run on Pfingstegg, www.pfingstegg.ch On rainy days: exercises in the boulder room.  Felix themed trail on Männlichen, www.felixweg.ch  Trottibike from Bort www.jungfrau.ch  Indoor rope park in the Grindelwald sports centre www.indoorseilpark.ch, or Jungfraupark Interlaken www.jungfraupark.ch (a good rainy-day option)  Minigolf and golf (driving range and nine-hole practice course) www.golf-grindelwald.ch  The 700 m2 Bort children's playground, next to the middle station and Bort mountain restaurant, offers a wide range of activities for all children from 1 to 99. Balancing courses, slides, sandboxes, water play and lots more.

Indoor rope park in the Grindelwald sports centre

 Rope park: Negotiate the Indoor Rope Park in Grindel- wald. Minimum size: 140cm

 Alpine playground: The playground at Station Bort is suited to the mountain culture of the Jungfrau Region with equipment such as see-saws, swings, a climbing and balancing area, a small mountain stream and much more.

The Bort children's playground

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A very special dialect Grindelwalddiitsch – our language Grindelwald Deutsch – is it really German?

Following the article in the Spring 2012 News, we pro- vide here another insight into the language of Grindel- wald. The following information was taken from the book «Weischt was seischd?» («Do you know what you're saying?») by Samuel Brawand.

Swiss tradition in Grindelwald at the foot of the Eiger I s Swiss-German a language in its own right, or merely a dialect such as those to be found in Germany? Does Two special dinners some-one who speaks Grindelwald-ese and correct High German speak one or two languages? Judge for yourself. Midsummer's Night party Here is a selection of some typical Grindelwald expres- sions (followed by the High German equivalent and Eng- and Swiss National Day lish translation): Dinner served outside in the hotel garden

On 21 June (Midsummer's Night) and 1 August (Swiss National Day), the Belvedere team will be serving din- ner in the hotel garden. These events are highly popu- lar with our guests.

The Grindelwald valley and the Wetterhorn

«Liuwen»: ausruhen / rest «es Murggi Brood»: ein grosses Stück Brot a big slice of bread «Pandeesch» Prügel, Schläge / fight, brawl Cosy dinner in the Belvedere garden on 1st August «gly» bald / soon «Nnydla» Rahm / cream «wäffellen» keifen / to bicker «schabab» eifersüchtig / jealous «grännen» weinen / to cry, weep O n both the above dates dinner will be served al fres- «e Storeta» ein Haufen / a heap, lots co, in front of the hotel entrance: weather permitting, nat- «ehnder» früher / earlier urally. Reserve a table now if you want to dine at the Bel- «Timpfa» eine Beule, Delle / bump, bruise vedere on one of these dates. The evening promises to be «vergyden» verschwenden / to waste highly enjoyable. «Derru git’s wolepppa schier gheiner meh». Solche gibt es wohl kaum mehr welche / You don't find

things like that any more.

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On a personal note Choice of table for breakfast and dinner The new system with free choice of table at breakfast has Information, Hotel Belvedere proved highly successful. Now almost all guests can Something that's sure to interest our guests breakfast at the window, since our serving staff lay the tables several times in the morning. Tables can continue All guest questionnaires are read, evaluated and also to be reserved for the evening meal. answered personally by myself. These questionnaires repeatedly show that there are some things of which guests remain unaware. In personal conversations with guests, questions repeatedly crop up regarding the future of the hotel. Here are a few answers and ex- planations.

K ITCHEN & RESTAURANT

Vegan and vegetarian cuisine The kitchen now also offers vegan menus. However, guests who wish to have vegan meals at the Belvedere must inform the hotel 48 hours in advance so that the chef can order the ingredients in good time.

Vegetarians are also catered for at the Belvedere. But Sleep well: spacious, light-flooded rooms with balcony it's a known fact that not all vegetarians are the same, and their needs vary widely. We therefore recommend that ROOMS & SUITES vegetarians arrange a small meeting with the chef or his deputy, if possible on the day of their arrival, because due Smoking to lack of demand the menu does not contain a large selec- Smoking is not permitted in the rooms. Nor is it permitted tion of vegetarian meals. on the balconies since very often the smoke finds its way indoors, whether into the neighbouring room or the guest's own room through the open window, so that the result is almost as if someone had been smoking inside. This is particularly annoying for non-smoking neighbours.

Two beds or a double bed, hard or soft mattress Guests who prefer large, wide beds with a single mattress must inform the hotel before their arrival. The hotel has special thin mattress strips which can be affixed between the two mattresses, as well as thin 2 x 2m mattresses which are then positioned over the entire bed surface.

Guests who find our mattresses too hard must inform us immediately. We have extra-soft mattress covers which can solve the problem.

Soap, conditioner, etc. Guests who prefer a bar of soap to liquid soap, or who want conditioner or have forgotten their toothbrush or ra- zor need only request them from reception.

Breakfast with views of the Eiger

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PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

As mentioned in the Editorial, the plans for a hotel exten- sion are under way. The plan is to extend the existing building in order to increase the number of rooms from 56 to around 80, and to build an additional apartment block on the site of the chalet next to the hotel. Needless to say, the indoor pool area will also be enlarged and made more attractive. Since the guest structure has changed some- what over the past two to three years, the plans have to be revised yet again. The project will then be presented to the and to Grindelwald Municipal Council, both of which must approve the project before voters in Grindelwald vote on the project.

Some of you may remember the earlier project which was approved by Grindelwald Municipal Council but re- jected by the canton of Bern, and the next project which Designed in Ticino was favoured by Bern but not by Grindelwald. So no-one can estimate how long the planning will take this time Hoxell, a new computer pro- round. Keep your fingers crossed that everything will work out this time round for the Hauser family! gramme for guests The Hotel Belvedere will soon be able to acti- vate the program

A hotel operator in the canton of Ticino has designed a revolutionary new computer program that allows ho- tels to improve and personalise their quality of service.

W hen Dr Carlo Fontana, presented his invention for the first time at the Annual General Meeting of Swiss Quality Hotel in 2012, everyone present was sold on the idea. And guests of Dr Fontana's hotels in Lugano and Milan were just as delighted with the program.

First it has to be translated into various languages be- fore other hotels can use it. Besides making communica- tions simpler when booking a room, the system improves, The Belvedere: Your holiday hotel in Grindelwald! facilitates and accelerates communications among hotel staff. Even the chambermaids use modern computer tech- nology in the form of iPads. Sauna & steam bath The Finnish sauna and steam bath are in need of an up- With a little luck the new program will also soon be in- grade. The redesign was actually planned at the same time stalled at the Hotel Belvedere and put into operation in the as the enlargement of the indoor pool area, but since the course of the summer. The Hauser family and the entire new build may take some time, the sauna and steam bath Belvedere team are looking forward to seeing the new will be renovated this summer. How and what will be ren- program in action at the Belvedere. ovated has not yet been decided: for more details, please read the Autumn News.

Hotel Belvedere | Dorfstrasse 53 | CH- 3818 Grindelwald Tel +41 33 888 99 99 | Fax +41 33 888 99 90 Email: [email protected] www.belvedere-grindelwald.ch