1 The interior design at the Dolder Grand Hotel in the 60’s 36 ONCE UPON A TIME Zurich’s shortage of hotel beds A historical view of the Dolder Resort: the ’50s and ’60s. he Dolder Grand Ho- tended into the mid-fifties and tel came through the was led by the railways, which Second World War were the main means of transport relatively well – despite for tourists. At the same time, the Tits distance to the train station number of cars also exploded, and the lack of fuel at the time. with the call for motorways fol- It celebrated its fiftieth anniver- lowing close behind. Zurich sary in 1949 and by then had Kloten Airport began operation already become a key feature of at the end of the ’40s and was the Zurich hotel landscape. The continually expanded from then anniversary also ushered in the on. This was a key development booming ’50s and ’60s, which for the Dolder Grand Hotel was accompanied by a dramatic because, from as early as 1959, increase in tourism. The first a large proportion of its guests major expansion of tourism ex- were arriving in Zurich by plane. 37 1 Increasing number of overnight meetings and conferences during Sir Henry stays these years. The Swiss-South The Dolder Grand Hotel came Once the war had ended, the Africa Association (SSAA) was to stand for Zurich society life. number of guests at the Dolder founded in its famous La Rotonde It owed its international reputa- Grand Hotel started to increase. restaurant in 1956. In 1959, the tion as one of the finest and This was particularly true of those talks between the premiers of most modern hotels to G. Henry from other European countries – Greece and Turkey on the Cyprus Kraehenbuehl, who had been a luxury was back in demand. The question were held at the Dolder. director since 1925 and was hotel flourished, especially in the And in 1961, the Austrian Ambas- known for his strong business summer months. Thomas Mann sador Dr Kurt Waldheim met skills and professional expertise. was among the guests in 1950. his Italian counterpart Umberto He also had a large circle of With good sales figures, the hotel Grazzi at the Grand Hotel, to find friends and was very well con- invested more in refurbishments, a solution to the conflict in nected, both in Switzerland and renovations and furniture, and South Tyrol. internationally – particularly in the last of the rooms and apart- While guests from the enter- the United States. In these ments were equipped with pri- tainment and film industry had circles, he was known to everyone vate bathrooms in 1959. previously come to the Dolder as “Sir Henry”. At the Grand The Dolder Grand Hotel from Europe, the ’60s saw an in- Hotel, he was a noble host and was regularly the scene of inter- crease in guests from the show a perfect gentleman of inter- nationally important political business industry in the USA. national calibre. 38 RUBRIK 2 2 1 The Dolder Grand Hotel with the new extension from the ’60s 2 Weddings, banquets, celebrations – 2 the Grand Hotel was a meeting place for Zurich society. 39 w 1 2 In 1952, under his watch, the new Eve celebration and dinner cost not be fully covered by the hos- bar and dance floor at the Grand 26 Swiss francs at the time. When pitality industry. In 1963, the Hotel was inaugurated in the style G. Henry Kraehenbuehl died un- Dolder Grand Hotel began work of Louis XV. He had a first-class expectedly in early 1957 it was a on its modern extension. As the sound system installed, which great shock. With his death after labour market was very tight – was connected to the orchestra, 30 years of service, an important workers were generally hard to a record player and a broadcast era for the Dolder Grand Hotel find at the time – construction system. Another function room, came to an end. work was delayed. the Hall of Mirrors, followed in The extension was carried the same style in 1954, as the Modern extension out in stages from June 1964. hotel was hosting so many private There was a significant shortage The number of beds was in- events and wedding parties that of hotel beds in Zurich in the ear- creased by 50 per cent, so the a new venue had to be created. An ly ’60s. The increase in tourism Dolder Grand Hotel then had entry ticket for the New Year’s during the summer months could 200 rooms with 300 guest beds. 40 w RUBRIK To begin with, the extension was shorter stays was also noted at the 1 1955 Christmas card from Mr and Mrs Kraehenbuehl (directors) only open during the summer Dolder Grand Hotel, where and management months, but it was set up so that it guests had previously booked for 2 The “new” bar boasted a could be used in winter at any four days or more on average. At state-of-the-art sound system. time. For years, the extension that time, the largest group of hosted a special guest who, with guests at the Dolder came from his entourage, occupied an entire the United States, at 25 per cent. floor: the Shah of Persia. The hotel premises were fre- The end of the ’60s saw a sig- quently also used for social or nificant change in the hotel business events and purposes. industry: first-class hotels were The Dolder Grand Hotel was a increasingly housing business venue for glittering balls and travellers who only stayed for a weddings and a meeting place for short time. The trend towards Zurich society. 41.