echo - Sunstar Hotels

guest magazine | edition No. 30
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“echo
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Editorial / News
Editorial
News
Welcome to the Sunstar world of holidays
Sunstar Boutique Hotel Albeina Klosters
Beat Hess
Welcome to the 30th edition of our magazine for guests
Thirty editions means 15 years of steady continuity: a quality that has become all too rare
in our fast-moving times. And yet, I believe that people need some kind of continuity, despite all our technical and social developments. We are simply not made for high-speed
living, rapid change and multitasking!
That's what we have always believed at Sunstar: especially when we are on holiday, many
of us have the desire to rest, switch off, let go, slow down, concentrate on what's really
important and take pleasure again in what is unspoilt, authentic, peaceful and natural –
in Nature, in fact.
We have been trying for well over 15 years to make sure our guests always have wonderful and sustainable holiday experiences. We offer excellent facilities and experiences,
all at a reasonable price. Above all, we have employees who like to serve and pamper
our guests. And these, of course, are values that we see increasingly rarely in our times.
The results from the over 4000 questionnaires that we have received (see page 5)
confirm that our guests rate the “Friendliness and Service” in our hotels as outstanding.
And have done for many years.
I would like to thank you for having chosen to stay in one of our Sunstar hotels and, on
behalf of all our employees, I hope you have a relaxing – albeit busy and interesting – and
enjoyable time with us!
10th anniversary
The Hotel Albeina Klosters, which was
built in 1984 in traditional Graubünden
style, was taken over by Sunstar Hotels in
2004. After some preparatory work, the
Sunstar Hotel Klosters was officially opened for the 2004/2005 winter season. Since
then, this Boutique Hotel, with its romantic
chalet atmosphere and warm hospitality,
has developed into a popular 4-star hotel.
On 12 th December 2014, hosts Anja and
Edgar Seger will open their doors for the
winter season and mark the start of their
10 th anniversary celebrations. Guests are
invited to join in with some special events
and attractions during the coming winter
and summer seasons.
ï Read more about the anniversary offers
in Klosters in our “Activities” brochures or
at www.sunstar.ch.
Stylish living in
“Superior plus” double room
Following the refurbishment of all the
Superior rooms at the Sunstar Boutique
Hotel Albeina Klosters with lovely new
bathrooms last season, now the rooms
themselves are also being refitted. Highquality materials make for a fresh, modern look but the much-loved “Sunstar
alpine style” is being retained that a
homely, cosy feeling is guaranteed.
ï The fully renovated rooms are available for booking in the category “Superior
plus” double room from winter 2014/15.
Investing for you
With warmest regards,
Beat Hess, Sunstar Managing Director
Publishing information
Published by Sunstar Hotels, Galmsstrasse 5, 4410 Liestal/Switzerland
Phone +41 (0)61 925 70 70, Fax +41 (0)61 921 19 42, info@sunstar.ch, www.sunstar.ch
Editing/Text ­Gillian Müller, Beat Hess, Myrthe de Roo, Cornelia Würger
Photos Sunstar Hotels
Title picture Winter wonderland Davos
Typesetting Rahel Gerber, Carina Georgy
Printer Kaufmann Druck-Kultur GmbH
Print run 37’500 copies in German, 5’100 copies in English
Publication The Sunstar guest magazine “echo” is published semi-annually
2
During the autumn closed season, we will
again be carrying out some building work.
For example, at our 4-star hotel in Davos,
in the spring all the doors throughout the
hotel were fitted with a new keycard locking system, and we will now be refurbishing the lobby area. In Wengen, we are
just completing the major renovation of
the restaurant so that from winter 2014/15
we will be able to serve our culinary treats
in a new setting. In Grindelwald, some of
the Superior rooms will have a new look
for the 2014/15 winter season. Other highlights include the new wine cellar and
smoking area in Brissago which will open
in spring 2015.
News
Time to say Goodbye
Two of our long-standing hosts, Sonja
Amstutz in Zermatt and Jago Leyssens in
Flims, are leaving Sunstar Hotels at the
end of summer 2014. While Sonja Amstutz
has reached retirement age but will continue to work for Sunstar part-time in Sales,
Jago Leyssens is leaving the Group to take
on a new challenge. We would like to thank
Flexible prices
As we announced you in the previous issue
of the “echo”, since the summer season
all Sunstar hotels have been operating a
flexible pricing system for accommodation. Prices are regularly recalculated, depending on the demand. If you book a long
time in advance, you will generally benefit
from lower prices. Information about the
current daily rates can be found in our
price lists. These are divided into seven
different pricing periods and are available
for this season, the next season and the
one after that.
ï You can find our price lists at
www.sunstar.ch/rates
Sonja Amstutz
them both for their many years of hard
work and wish them all the best.
Annual report 2013/14
Jago Leyssens with his family
ï You can read more about the new hosts
taking over from Sonja Amstutz and Jago
Leyssens on page 10.
In 2013/14, its 46th year of trading, the
Sunstar Hotel Group improved its overall result by CHF 0.4 million and therefore halved the group's losses to barely
CHF -0.5 million. This positive development is mainly due to an increase in the
number of overnight stays (summer 2013
+24%, winter 2013/14 +2.9%) and the associated increase in turnover (summer 2013
+23%, winter 2013/14 +3%).
This year for the first time, the two former
Privilège Hotels in Ticino and Piedmont
are included in the results. Read more in
the 2013/14 annual report.
ï Download from www.sunstar.ch,
“Investor Relations” section
ï Order the annual report by emailing
kommunikation@sunstar.ch
Subject line: “Annual report 2013/14”.
Success in CO2 off-setting
Something that is becoming more and
more of a hot topic for politicians has been
the order of the day at Sunstar for years:
it was on 1st May 2008 that we became the
first hotel group in the world to offset all
the CO2 emissions from our hotels by supporting selected myclimate projects. And
it has been very successful; in the 2013/14
financial year, we reduced CO2 emissions
by 7.8 %, from 21 kg to 19.3 kg per overnight stay, compared with the previous
year. Overall, greenhouse gas emissions
have been reduced by 34% since the project began, despite the fact that three new
hotels have been added to the portfolio.
You can find detailed information about our
commitment to sustainability in the latest
annual report for 2013/14 on page 34.
And by the way, for you as a guest, this
service is entirely free of charge. If you
wish, you can also offset your journey to
and from the hotel by car or plane, on a
voluntary basis.
What's new in the “SUNSTAR Selection”
Are you one of the fans of the “SUNSTAR
Selection”? Then we have some delicious
new products for you. For the start of the
winter season, we are expanding the “SUNSTAR Selection” with some premium-quality spirits from the Sunstar regions.
Why not savour the Piedmontese grappa
“Castello di Villa”, try the Valais apricot
liqueur “Vieil Abricot barrique” or treat
yourself to a Grisons “Röteli” liqueur?
If you like drinking Kirsch, you'll enjoy a
glass of “Baselbieter Mühle” – a top-quality product from the region around the
Sunstar headquarters. And did you know
that Switzerland also makes some exquisite whiskies? “Old Deer” from the Bernese Oberland rounds off this selection of
strong spirits wonderfully.
Double room “Superior plus” in Klosters
3
news
Sunstar Premium Selection
Another innovation is the Premium Selection which has recently been chosen. One
typical, particularly high-quality speciality
wine has been selected from each of the
four regions where our Boutique Hotels
are located (Grisons, Valais, Ticino and
Piedmont). The Premium Wines are made
from the leading grape varieties Humagne
Rouge, Merlot, Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir and
are currently maturing in barrels made of
agave, chestnut, larch or oak wood. From
the middle of 2015, this exclusive range
of wines will be available for tasting and
drinking at all Sunstar hotels or ordering
via our wine shop for you to enjoy at home.
Of course, our fine collection of red and
white wines will continue to be part of the
“SUNSTAR Selection”, as will our firstclass cold-pressed Greek olive oil.
Prizes for the “Sunstar Selection”
The red wines in the “SUNSTAR Selection” have already achieved their first
successes. At the world's biggest official
wine competition, the AWC Vienna, all the
red wines in the selection won a silver
medal.
ï All the products are available at our
hotels or from the wine shops of the
“Schuler St. JakobsKellerei”.
Privilège Vacation Club belongs fully
to Sunstar again
As of 1st May 2014, Sunstar Holding AG
has taken over the remaining 55% of the
share capital in the Ferienclub Privilège
AG (FCP) and is therefore the owner of the
company, as it was from 1998 to 2009. With
last year's integration of the two Privilège
Hotels and now the complete takeover of
the Vacation Club, the major strategic project to simplify Sunstar's structures and
concentrate on its core business has been
completed as planned.
Following the takeover of all the FCP shares by Sunstar, the former FCP Board
members Rolf Buser and Beat Hess stepped down. While Rolf Buser is beginning
a well-earned retirement, Beat Hess will
be remaining with FCP as Managing Director. The established Management Board of
Sunstar Holding AG will also serve as the
new Management Board for the Vacation
Club, as it does for all the other subsidiary
companies.
The Privilège Vacation Club will concentrate in future mainly on marketing holiday timeshare products – through both the
popular Maxima II Preference Voucher for
Sunstar regular guests and also a brandnew product, the PRIVILÈGE HOLIDAY ACCOUNT for frequent travellers and globetrotters going beyond the Sunstar world.
To mark this new development, and its 15th
anniversary, the Privilège logo has also
been redesigned. This is how our newest
subsidiary will present itself in future:
The PRIVILÈGE HOLIDAY ACCOUNT
The new PRIVILÈGE HOLIDAY ACCOUNT
will give you exclusive access to an unlimited, global range of holidays for a period of
five years. A one-off payment will give you
a generous allowance of valuable Privilège
holiday points – your easy-to-use, global
travel currency for over 4500 exclusive hotels and holiday facilities in more than 100
countries around the world.
This unique concept is based on a partnership between the Privilège Vacation Club
and the US-based Resort Condominium
International (RCI), a subsidiary of the
Wyndham Worldwide Group, which manages over 110,000 holiday properties.
Open your personal PRIVILÈGE HOLIDAY
ACCOUNT now and you will soon be fulfilling all your foreign holiday wishes. You can
benefit from RCI's uniquely extensive and
varied holiday world for years, at unheardof prices (overnight accommodation from
less than CHF 10.– per person/night).
ï Visit our website
www.ferienkonto.ch to order our new
colour brochure or arrange a consultancy
session with an FCP representative, with
absolutely no obligation:
Privilège Vacation Club, Galmsstrasse 5,
4410 Liestal, Tel. 061 921 21 01,
info@ferienkonto.ch
4
pinwall
Hearing the “echo” from our guests
Extracts from the anonymous guest questionnaires
about Sunstar Hotels
“The Villa Caesar in
Brissago is a super
hotel, we are always
entirely satisfied and
are alread y looking
forward to our next stay
in this fantastic hotel! ”
“I think Sunsta
r is su per
and my family
and I
have always fe
lt very
comfortable, es
pecially
in Lenzer heide,
but al so
in Gr indelw ald,
where
we used to en joy
family
holid ays when
we were
child ren! ”
“The break fast
buffet and evening
meal in Davos are
excellent, and the
dessert buffet in
particular is a glory
to behold.”
“The Sunstar publications are great and also
very good for ideas about
where to go on holiday!”
Your personal feedback for the “echo” pinwall
Send us your opinion, your feedback or your special Sunstar memories.
We will be happy to publish your message in the next edition of the “echo”.
Write by post to Sunstar Hotels, Kommunikation, Galmsstrasse 5, CH-4410 Liestal,
by email to kommunikation@sunstar.ch or directly on the Sunstar Facebook page.
What our guests think of Sunstar
We are delighted that in the 2013/14 winter season all the Sunstar hotels were given top
marks. When we study the 4235 questionnaires that we received during the last winter
season, what we see is the enormous commitment of Sunstar staff. In particular, the
high level of satisfaction with the overall impression, the rooms and cleanliness and our
friendliness and service shows that our continuous staff training pays off. 91% of those
questioned would like to come again. Just 1% would not consider another stay with Sunstar and 8% are undecided. We are very grateful for these good assessments and ask
you to continue giving us your feedback, so that we can continue to improve our services.
6
Overall impression
Rooms andcleanness
Friendliness and service
5
Gastronomy
Activities and entertainment
Price-performance ratio
4


3
2
Arosa
Davos***
Davos
Flims
Lenzerheide
Grindelwald
Wengen
5
Zermatt
Klosters
Saas-Fee
Assessment scale
mark 6
mark 2
from the destinations
Off to Valais!
Sun-soaked and celebrating
Welcome to Valais, Switzerland's third largest canton. In 2015, this German- and
French-speaking region celebrates the 200th anniversary of its membership of the
Swiss Federation and it will be marking the occasion with a wide range of anniversary events. The Valais region is also the home of the popular Sunstar destinations,
Saas-Fee and Zermatt. Here, visitors from all over the world delight in the wonderful
mountain scenery, enjoy all the exciting sport and leisure activities and are keen to
find out all about the distinctive features of Valais culture.
A journey back in time
Following the conquest by the Romans of the “Vallis Poenina” in about 57 BC, in around
888 the Roman province became part of the Kingdom of Burgundy. In 999, King Rudolf
III of Burgundy handed over the dukedom of Valais with all rights and privileges to the
Bishop of Sion. From the second half of the 15th century until 1798, Valais was divided
into seven “Zehnden” (tithings) and was known by the name “Republic of seven tithings”.
In the 16th century, the Republic declared its independence from the Bishops of Sion. In
1802, Napoleon I called the region the independent “Republic of Valais” and in 1810 it
became the French “Département du Simplon”. In 1815, Valais became the 22nd canton
of the Swiss Federation. The constitution that is still in force today was passed in 1907,
although some passages have been changed in the meantime by people's referendums.
Breathtaking view from Saas-Fee of the “Fee Glacier”
Valais 2015 – Engraved in my heart
In the year 2015, the sun-soaked canton of Valais will be celebrating 200 years of being
part of Switzerland. Under the slogan “Engraved in my heart”, there will be countless
events, concerts, performances and exhibitions to attract visitors from all over the world
to join in the celebrations. The common themes for all the events are hospitality, sharing,
innovation and discovery.
One of the events in the 2014/15 winter season will take guests to the Rhone region: on
cloudless nights there, little beacons will be lit on no fewer than 13 peaks to illuminate
the outline of the idyllic mountains on either side of the water. The Valais Festival will
not only be about art and innovation but will also take a fresh look at the canton's history. For example, migration from rural areas to the cities continues to be an important
issue for industry in Valais. It is a constant battle to keep highly skilled workers in their
home villages. With the immigration of foreign workers and the emigration of the young
generation from the mountain valleys, the image of a bridge symbolises the relationship
between those who leave and those who return to their canton.
6
Magical Saas-Fee
“Welcome to the Free Holiday Republic of
Saas-Fee!” says a big welcome sign at the
end of the twisting Saas Valley. It also directs visitors who have arrived by car into
the car park at the entrance to the village.
Because Saas-Fee is car-free! The Free
Holiday Republic gives its visitors a very
special feeling of freedom that you can sense all over the Saas Valley. Every holidaymaker has their own “Citizen's passport”,
allowing them to benefit from many special
offers. Lots of wonderful rights but no obligations – you don't get that with any other
kind of citizenship. In the four original alpine villages of Valais, the citizens of the Free
Holiday Republic enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year and 42 weeks of fun in the snow.
The old Saas families and their descendants
still maintain and keep alive the Valais traditions today. As a holiday visitor, you can find
out all about the customs and legends as
you go around the villages, and also see how
tourism has developed in modern times.
During your visit, observe how the houses
in the Saas Valley are built: there is a rule
book which says that every house must be
constructed of at least 40% timber and that
not more than 50% of the surface area of the
front of each chalet can consist of windows.
These guidelines bring uniformity and authenticity to the appearance of the villages
in the municipalities of the Saas Valley.
Saas-Fee is also highly rated for its fantastic ski slopes for both beginners and
advanced skiers. When you go to the “Allalinhorn” skiing area, you can experience
no fewer than three world records. One
is the highest underground railway in the
world, the “Metro Alpin”. Another is the
breathtaking, luxurious and really cool
highest revolving restaurant in the world,
the “Threes!xty”. The third sensation is the
biggest ice pavilion in the world, which gives an insight into the mysterious interior
of the centuries-old Fee Glacier. This is a
stunning experience and one that is also
educational. Questions such as “Is there
life inside permanent ice?” and “Just how
deep are the crevasses in the glacier?” are
answered in the most exciting and creative
way. Thanks to the Fee Glacier, the winter
season in Saas-Fee extends well into the
spring and snow conditions are phenomenal right up to April/May.
ï www.saasfee.sunstar.ch
from the destinations
Sunstar skiing fun
Fantastic ski slopes in Zermatt
Zermatt, under the spell of the Matterhorn
The world-famous holiday resort of Zermatt is surrounded by 38 4000-metre peaks. It
boasts countless hotels, restaurants and cafés offering a cosy atmosphere and delicious food. Its special claim to fame is the wide-open view it offers of the Matterhorn
and of Switzerland's highest peak, the Dufourspitze, which towers up at 4634 metre
above sea level. The “Matterhorn Ski Paradise” offers winter sports fans an outstanding
experience on over 350 km of perfectly prepared slopes, with guaranteed snow. Ambitious skiers and snowboarders can even test their skills and endurance on the Matterhorn Ski Safari. On this Safari, you cover a difference in altitude of between 10,000
and 12,500 metres in a day, without ever using the same lift or skiing on the same slope twice. For more leisurely skiers or absolute beginners, there are specially marked
“slow slopes” where everyone has to ski in a slow and controlled manner and at an
appropriate pace. Early risers can also benefit from the “First Tracks” offer: before the
official timetable starts, “early-morning athletes” can enjoy the first rays of sunshine
with exclusive use of the pristine pistes. They can build up their strength for it with a
lavish breakfast buffet in the restaurant “Les Marmottes” on the Furi. As an additional
highlight, in Zermatt you can visit the snow-making facilities. Access is free of charge,
but please arrange in advance.
ï www.zermatt.sunstar.ch
Valais invites you to join the celebrations
In 2015, Valais will be celebrating 200 years of being part of the Swiss Federation. This
will be a huge celebration, with amazing anniversary events right across the canton,
in true Valais style. Read more at www.valais.ch.
DAYS OF SKIING AND RELAXATION
IN SAAS-FEE
Would you to like to acquire temporary
and commitment-free citizenship of
the Free Holiday Republic of Saas-Fee,
and the right to enjoy ski holidays where relaxation is writ large? Then stay
as a guest in our pretty Boutique Hotel
Beau-Site in the centre of Saas-Fee
and have some fun skiing on glaciers
and more than 145 km of slopes. When
it comes to much-needed relaxation,
the hotel has its own spa centre and
offers excellent food, including many
regional specialities. The special offer is for 7 nights in a Comfort double room, incl. the Gourmet Specials
menu and a 6-day ski pass for the
Saas-Fee region.
Price I per person/stay
Various services included
7 nights
from CHF 1’274.–
in a double room Comfort
Bookings:
+41 (0)27 958 15 60, saasfee@sunstar.ch
WINTER ADVENTURE IN THE
SUNSTAR STYLE HOTEL ZERMATT
Really get to know the winter sports
area of Zermatt: when you stay in the
Style Hotel Zermatt, you can enjoy an
unusual Sunstar experience. Your days
will begin in this pretty hotel at the foot
of the Matterhorn, with amazing views
of the world famous peak. The winter adventure can be booked for 5 or 7
nights incl. breakfast, and includes an
international ski pass for 4 or 6 days.
Price I per person/stay
Various services included
5 nights
from CHF 975.–
in a double room Compact north 7 nightsfrom CHF 1’330.–
in a double room Compact north
Bookings:
+41 (0)27 966 56 66, zermatt@sunstar.ch
7
from the destinations
Relaxation, adventure, a real treat
A report on the “Indulgence Express” by two Sunstar guests
When we were planning our 2014 holiday, we wondered what it would be like to travel
without the car. We would just enjoy ourselves: no stress, no traffic jams, no irritating other road users. We could, for example, pedal away and explore Switzerland
by bike – but how exhausting! Then, luckily, we found out about Sunstar's “Indulgence Express” offer: an 8-day round trip, from one Boutique Hotel to another - from
Klosters via Saas-Fee to Brissago. It didn't take much planning, we just packed our
cases, found a train to our first destination and already we were ready to start our
self-indulgent trip.
Glacier Express
From Klosters to Saas-Fee
On 17th June we headed out from home for Klosters. When we arrived in Grisons, we
spent two days exploring the beautiful mountain scenery of the Davos-Klosters region,
allowing ourselves to unwind in the flower-filled meadows. After this lovely start, on the
third day we travelled on into Valais; we took the Glacier bus to Chur and from there the
Glacier Express to Visp. Then there was a short ride by post bus to Saas-Fee, where the
idyllic Saas Valley with its amazing scenery and refreshing mountain air awaited us. Our
stay in “ fairyland” was crowned by a very special experience: an excursion to the realm
of the ibex. That was so exciting and worthwhile.
On into Switzerland's sunniest corner
On the 5th day we travelled into Ticino, famous for being Switzerland's sunniest corner.
First we went by post bus to Visp, then through the Simplon Tunnel and on the Centovalli railway via Domodossola to Locarno and from there by post bus to our destination
in Brissago. The beautiful summer scenery here and the distinctive vegetation were a
wonder to behold. We took the opportunity to go on a trip to the Brissago islands and
from there to the Jazz Festival in Ascona.
A complete success
After such a busy time, the trip ended on the 8th day with a relaxing final evening followed
by our journey home. We have very fond memories of the Indulgence Express; for us,
this kind of holiday was a complete success. The service and facilities at all the Sunstar
hotels were once again outstanding. We spent the nights in perfectly equipped rooms,
and the food was, as we like to say in Bern, “obedüre” (out of this world). We were really
well looked after and would like to thank all the employees of the Sunstar hotels for their
hard work and warm hospitality.
Trip report by Anna and Markus Habegger from Heimiswil
8
“echo” readers' Tour
A wonderful railway experience
From a winter wonderland to Switzerland's sunniest corner
Enjoy a unique journey from Klosters via Zermatt to Brissago
and give yourself a culinary treat
You begin your gourmet tour in our Boutique Hotel Albeina in Klosters, where you will
be welcomed by hosts Anja and Edgar Seger with pre-dinner drinks and a typical Swiss
evening with national and regional specialities. Get the Grisons winter's morning off to
a good start with a gentle walk or a leisurely horse-drawn carriage ride to the Alp Garfiun. When you return to the cosy lounge, a buffet of coffee and cakes will be waiting for
you. The evening meal is served as a “high tea”, with the main focus on cheese and wine
tasting. On the third day of your trip, you will be waved off for your ride on the Glacier
Express via Chur and the Oberalp Pass to Zermatt. Take this opportunity to meet our new
host, Marie-Madeleine Julen, enjoy the wonderful views from the Sunstar Style Hotel of
the world-famous Matterhorn and go on an excursion up the Gornergrat to marvel at the
glaciers all around Zermatt. On the fifth day of your trip, you leave this sparkling snowy
landscape and travel from Valais through the Simplon and on the Centovalli railway to
Brissago in Ticino. You can really feel the Mediterranean atmosphere in the Villa Caesar,
and our host Rainer Theisen will look after you very well to round off the trip perfectly.
On Good Friday, you will explore the Verzasca Valley and enjoy a delicious “Ticino Platter”
for your lunch. The “echo” Readers' Tour officially ends on Easter Saturday when you can
make your own way home.
However, if you would like to continue the Easter holiday with another excursion and an
Easter egg hunt in Switzerland's sunniest corner, then you can book one or two extra
nights and extend your stay until Easter Monday.
Hotels and transfers
All this is included:
2 nights at the Sunstar Boutique
Hotel Albeina Klosters
2 nights at the Sunstar Style Hotel
Zermatt
2 nights at the Sunstar Boutique
Hotel Villa Caesar Brissago
Breakfast buffet and 4-course
Culinarium menu in the evening,
and themed evenings
Drinks with your host and tasting
sessions
Hike and lunch at the Alp Garfiun
near Klosters
Excursion to the Verzasca Valley
with Ticino Platter for lunch
Rail ticket from Chur to Locarno
(Glacier Express, Simplon, Centovalli)
Transfer from Locarno railway
station to Brissago and back
The following are not included:
+Optional excursions in Klosters,
Zermatt and Brissago
+Drinks and personal expenses
+Extra night CHF 170.– per person/
night. Supplement for single rooms
on request.
Price I per person/stay
Idyllic holidays in Brissago
Supplement: Single room CHF 260.–
Date | 29 March to 4 April 2015 – 7 days
Reduction: Comfort category CHF 150.–
Your itinerary
1st day
2 day
nd
3rd day
4th day
Make your own way to Klosters
Accommodation incl. welcome drink and Swiss menu for dinner
Programme of activities: Hike to the Alp Garfiun incl. lunch
For connoisseurs: Cheese and wine tasting in the Sunstar Boutique Hotel Albeina Klosters
Farewell Prosecco in the lobby, transfer by Glacier Bus to Chur and continue on the Glacier Express Zermatt, evening meal including traditional
Alpine fare
Enjoy this free day exactly as you please: excursion to the Gornergrat / shopping / skiing on the Matterhorn / wellness treatments in the Sunstar Style Hotel
5th day
Travel by train from Zermatt through the Centovalli to Locarno / Transfer by
hotel bus to Brissago. Welcome drinks and Mediterranean-style evening meal
6 day
Programme of activities: Excursion to the Verzasca Valley with Ticino Platter /
fine mixed grill in the evening
Make your own way home from Brissago or extend your trip over Easter
th
7th day
6 nights
from CHF 1’380.–
In a double room Superior/Junior-Suite
Superior
We look forward to receiving your booking!
9
Terms and conditions | FCP members/
shareholders
Privilège Cheques
Shareholder vouchers
CHF 150.–
CHF 120.–
Prices are based on the half-fare
season ticket
Minimum number of participants: 20
Bookings to be made no later than
28.02.2015:
Phone + 41 (0)61 925 70 70
reservation@sunstar.ch
from the sunstar world
Daily life in the hotels
We pay tribute
At the 12th Sunstar Party Week which took place in the middle of July this year in Lenzerheide, we paid tribute to some of our most loyal regular guests. Mrs Rose Coster
is the only individual traveller to have passed the milestone of 850 overnight stays.
Liselotte and Ernst Gass-Mangold have together spent a total of 1000 nights with
Sunstar.
Thank you very much!
Managing Director Beat Hess took the opportunity during his visit to the Party Week to
pay tribute to these guests from the very early days, Mrs Coster and the Gass-Mangolds,
for their many years of loyalty to Sunstar. As regular guests, FCP members and shareholders, they also benefit from excellent prices and exclusive services. For Liselotte and
Ernst Gass-Mangold, the whole story of their lives is bound up with Sunstar hotels. We
sat down with them and asked them about it. The “Sunstar Fairytale” began in the mid1970s, when Ernst Gass-Mangold and his charming wife holidayed with Sunstar for the
first time thanks to a special promotion for employees of the Kantonalbank.
“Out of season – closed”
It was probably partly because of the rather unusual circumstances that Sunstar made
such a lasting impression: the holiday accommodation they had chosen was the Sunstar
hotel in Davos, and this had been confirmed to the couple in advance. Little knowing that
the hotel was in fact closed between seasons, the pair made their way there. So when
Mr and Mrs Gass-Mangold arrived, they were initially left standing outside the closed
building. Luckily not for long, because the obliging Sunstar hosts soon opened their
doors for their “surprise guests”. In the days that followed, the two holidaymakers had a
wonderful time with every wish catered for - they were even treated to breakfast in bed!
It was the start of something
Their love of the Sunstar Davos hotel has endured to this day. The couple even celebrate
big birthdays there with their family and “simply feel at home”. Of course, they have now
visited all the Sunstar hotels, appreciating the individual features of each different one,
and they can no longer even imagine holidaying “without Sunstar”. What makes Sunstar
special for them is the family atmosphere, the friendliness of the staff and the excellent
food. Not to mention seeing old faces again whom they know so well after their many
years with Sunstar.
Mrs Coster (left) and Mr and Mrs Gass-Mangold
(right) – Sunstar guests since the 1970s.
We warmly welcome
Marie-Madeleine Julen as host of the Sunstar Style Hotel in Zermatt
and Jens Grossmann as host of the Sunstar Alpine Hotel Flims
Marie-Madeleine Julen was born and bred in Valais and knows every last village and
valley of her homeland. She describes herself as very friendly and talkative and approaches the role of host with humour and high standards. Marie-Madeleine Julen has
advanced up the career ladder at high speed: having initially worked as a ski instructor
on the ski slopes of Zermatt, she worked her way up to the top of the local catering and
hotel industry and her last job was as manageress of the Hotel Walliserhof in Täsch. The
main secrets of her success are that she does all she can to meet her guests' needs and
spread her good humour around the whole hotel.
When Jens Grossmann finished catering college in Leipzig, he was lucky enough to get
his first experience as an assistant manager with a foreign branch of the Robinson Group
in Tunisia. Jens Grossmann remained loyal to the Robinson company and in 2003 was
recruited as Team Coordinator and Deputy Club Director for the Robinson Club Piz Buin
hotel in Klosters. Jens Grossmann is an entertainer who is known mainly for his planning
skills and his good relationship with guests.
We look forward to working together and wish a good and memorable start in the
Sunstar family.
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Marie-Madeleine Julen
Jens Grossmann
“last but not least”
We say goodbye and thank you
“echo”-Quiz
Now that the Privilège Vacation Club has been re-integrated in the Sunstar Group,
one long-standing Sunstar member is finally beginning his well-earned retirement.
When the founding Buser family sold its shares in Sunstar to today's majority shareholder Dr. Peter Grogg in 2009, the company founder Fritz and his son Rolf Buser left the
Sunstar Management Board. However, from 2009 to 2014, Rolf Buser remained closely
connected with the Sunstar Hotel Group as a Privilège shareholder and Chairman of the
Board.
When asked about his personal highlight
from the decades he has spent with Sunstar/Privilège, he mentioned the introduction and development of the sustainability
strategy which made Sunstar Hotels a pioneer on the world stage. He was also enthusiastic about the expansion of the hotel
portfolio with the addition of the Boutique
Hotels and about the very special ethos of
the Sunstar family which he experienced
during his regular participation in meeRolf Buser
tings of the directors and senior management. He described the reintegration of the Privilège Vacation Club in the Sunstar Group
as a big boon: “Everything is back together again as it should be.” Despite his retirement,
he still feels very close to the company. Even if he is no longer responsible for it, he will
still share its joys and sorrows. However, he feels closest of all to the people who were
at his side as part of the Sunstar family. One thing is certain: Rolf Buser will remain a
shareholder and guest of Sunstar Hotels. When asked about his favourite hotel, he neatly
avoids the question: “Each hotel in the group has its own special features. I have always
been convinced that it is regular loyal employees who are most likely to attract regular,
loyal guests.”
We would like to take this opportunity to thank him once again most sincerely for his
many years of valuable work and we look forward to continuing to welcome him and his
family at Sunstar.
We congratulate
Barbara Ryser on her anniversary:
30 years at Sunstar Wengen
After training in hotel management, Barbara Ryser travelled elsewhere to be a
governess in Lenk and to do a language
course in England, but then she returned
to her familiar roots in Wengen. At the
Sunstar Hotel Wengen, she is known as
the good “room fairy” who, alongside her
main work in the laundry and inspecting
rooms, also enjoys doing small repairs
Barbara Ryser
herself. Because of her nimble fingers,
she is also responsible for looking after the machines in the spa centre. Barbara Ryser
really blossoms when she talks to the guests or helps apprentices with their training.
That's why for her, the best moments are when her apprentices pass their final examinations or when guests meet her with a satisfied smile.
Read through this copy of “echo”
carefully and answer the following
questions. All correct answers will be
entered in the prize draw.
1.Which of the Sunstar Hotels is
preparing to celebrate its 10th
anniversary?
a.Davos
b.Lenzerheide
c.Klosters
2. In which two Sunstar hotels are we
welcoming new hosts for the start
of the 2014/15 winter season?
a. Brissago and Piemont
b.Flims and Zermatt
c. Zermatt and Saas-Fee
3.At which special Sunstar event did
we pay tribute to our most loyal
regular guests?
a. Dance Days in Arosa
b.Party Week in Lenzerheide
c. Valais Wine-lovers' Tour in Saas-Fee
PRIZES
1st prize
2 nights for 2 people incl. HB at a Sunstar
hotel of your choice
2nd prize
1 night for 2 people incl. HB at a Sunstar
hotel of your choice
3rd prize
1 night for 2 people incl. breakfast at a
Sunstar Hotel of your choice
4th – 10th prize
3 bottles of wine from the
“SUNSTAR Selection”
Please send your answers on a postcard, by email or fax to:
ÝSunstar Hotels, Kommunikation
4410 Liestal/Switzerland
kommunikation@sunstar.ch or
Fax +41 (0)61 921 19 42
Closing date: 31st March 2015
Ý Please only submit your answers once
Sunstar CONGRATULATES
We congratulate the following winners of the last “echo” prize draw!
1st place: Alfred Frei, Linthal
2nd place: Eliane Riedo, Gurmels
3rd place: Peter Beyer, Zurich
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