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Vip Tours | 1 | 2 | 3
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| Lake Geneva, Switzerland |
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Society |
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| September - 2010 |
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6
Stars & 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| “The location of the Le Mirador Geneva is
magical”, I said to my wife as our driver chauffeured the resort’s
silver Rolls Royce slowly through old vineyards high up the green slopes of
Mont Pèlerin. Our driver had welcomed us with gracious ‘Swiss
hospitality’ at Geneva International. The sky bedecked in precious blue
was reflected in the intense color of Lake Geneva, created through a glacier in
the form of a crescent. ‘Lake Geneva’ or ‘Lake
Léman’, bordered by Switzerland and France, is one of the largest
and best-known lakes in Western Europe. The Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva
offers besides some of the most spectacular views in the world one of finest
destination spas, the Givenchy Spa Le Mirador. Newly renovated, we knew we were
in for a treat, but nothing prepared us for the breathtaking views through
these new huge panoramic glass walls when we entered the
arrival
lobby (CLICK HERE for a closer look). |
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| Le
Mirador - Kempinski - Arrival - Paolo Sanavia & Thorsten
Buehrmann |
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| Majestic Alpine mountains, the blue lake, idyllic
vineyards, valleys and villages, displayed from a height of over ten thousand
feet, were reaching right into our core, demanding to leave stress and tension
behind
(CLICK
HERE for a closer look).The Le Mirador Kempinski, was founded in 1904 as
‘Etablissement Medical de Mon Repos’, was then a ‘Kur
Center’ or ‘Spa’ dedicated to relaxation and recovery. Its close
proximity to Montreux and Vevey, the exceptional location, the microclimate and
the healing mountain air made it a favorite among wealthy Europeans. Check-in
was pleasant, charming and quick. We reached our accommodations, located
relatively close to the impressive arrival hall, quickly. Our ‘Royal
Suite’ was a celebration of uncomplicated-cozy sophistication and luxury;
its views are ‘signature moments’ that we will cherish for a long
time. |
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| Le
Mirador Kempinski - In Room Dining |
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| After ten months of renovation: “All suites,
including the new and spacious Junior Suites, are designed to pamper the most
discerning travelers around the world, who are used to a luxurious lifestyle.
Entering the suites, one is welcomed by the warm colors and the fine selected
interior that perfectly reflects the regions nature and purity. The new Junior
Suites
new
Junior Suites (CLICK HERE for a closer look), feature a terrace of 20
square meters, for relaxation in total privacy, Full HD, LCD TV screens with
integrated Entertainment and Information system, Logitech Dream FI, portable
phone and the latest Nespresso coffee machine called CitiZ.” |
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| The next morning we found our terrace enveloped in
clouds, we had slept royally, one amazing experience that transcended the blue
lake below for a little while into heaven. During a sumptuous breakfast on our
private terrace, while the clouds slowly descended, SOLAR IMPULSE, a small
solar powered plane, ‘visited’ briefly. It is the first aircraft that
can collect and store enough energy from the sun during the day to stay aloft
for 24 hours. The experience was surreal, as if we were part of a movie. The Le
Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva has been recognized for implementing unobtrusive
solar cells and reducing the carbon footprint of the resort, pool and spa
dramatically. |
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| Soon we were on the way
to our
excursion
(PHOTO TOUR - CLICK HERE) to visit the town of Vevey. Just steps
from the resort at the stop of the funicular railway and hidden behind a
traditional Swiss façade we found the Au Chalet
(CLICK
HERE for a closer look), an original restaurant with rustic wooden tables
where they serve an authentic Zuericher Geschnezeltes, a type of veal and
mushroom stew. Don’t miss it. Finally we hopped on the Goldenpass of Mont
Pélerin. Within fifteen minutes, on our 4th stop, we reached Vevey,
famous for its museums, castles, churches and little shops. Vevey is also the
site of the global headquarters of the food giant Nestlé, founded here
in 1867. The Nestlé foundation created the Alimentarium Museum here in
1985, which features permanent exhibitions of everything that has to do with
food, of course with the emphasis on the history of Nestlé. By the way,
Daniel Peter invented milk chocolate here in Vevey in 1857. |
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| It was such a beautiful day that we decided to walk
along the lake and discovered a big vertical, fun dinner fork sculpture
sticking into the water. We continued with our nice walk through the historic
district. Interestingly St. Martin's Church contains the graves of Edmund
Ludlow who escaped to Vevey after the death of Oliver Cromwell and those of
others who condemned King Charles I of England to death. Relatively close by is
the Grande Place, dominated by the granary La Grenette of 1803 and behind that
is the restaurant La Clef, in which Jean-Jacques Rousseau used to eat. The
table where the famous philosopher sat is still to be seen in the restaurant.
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| Alex Ohlenschläger - Throsten Buehrmann |
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The Givenchy Spa le
Mirador at The Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva is by no means just a beauty
spa; this center of wellbeing includes the Mirador Medical center and even an
in-house dentistry. The head of this amazing facility is Dr. Ohlenschläger
who blends conventional with alternative medicine. “The location of Le
Mirador Medical Center at Le Mont Pèlerin is no coincidence as the area
has been acclaimed for decades for its positive flows of telluric currents, the
absence of pollution and perfect blend with nature, which all largely
contribute to your well being,” he says. Dr. Ohlenschläger credits
his extensive medical expertise and his use of latest technologies the
combination of which has led to unique bimolecular cures. After an extensive
international career, Dr. Ohlenschläger had decided to join a medical
centre where he could make use of all the fundamental principles of biological
medicine he has been practicing and lecturing on during his various clinical
assignments. |
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| He has been teaching and working with electromagnetic
field therapy as well as orthomolecular medicine. In addition he was deeply
engaged with the research work of Professor Popp, the famous German Physician,
who conducted remarkable studies with bio-photons on the regulation and
regeneration of living cells. Using bio-photon filters for some specific
treatments, he has written several publications about the effectiveness of his
therapy in energy storage and immune defense stimulation. The center offers a
global weight loss solution also, founded on a micro nutrition concept of which
it is adapted to ones own goal. Guest may choose between a few days, a week or
several weeks for a complete health and beauty overhaul and / or weightloss
program. |
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The Givenchy SPA offers a private spa suite,
sauna, steam bath, relaxation area, the indoor and outdoor
pool
(CLICK HERE for a closer look) with Jacuzzi and a unique Hammam experience.
We had a date for a ‘Rendez-vous’ in the
Spa
Suite (CLICK HERE for a closer look) (50min), a couples massage, which we
highly recommend for a romantic weekend and also for a mother-daughter or
girlfriends retreat. I thoroughly enjoyed the signature Givenchy Facial
‘Givenchyman’ while my wife went for the ‘Hydra-Sparkling
Facial’. Both facials included a deep cleansing, peeling, extractions, a
mask and finally a highly skilled face massage. |
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| We had a special dinner planned on the rooftop of the
building, a helicopter landing port, for that evening. But first I took my wife
for pre-dinner drinks to the stunning lake view terrace. My wife had a
strawberry colada while I thoroughly enjoyed a Bloody Mary with a hint of
truffle that I would order anytime again. By the way the two people that
you
see in the photo standing (CLICK HERE for a closer look) at the rail
are especially fascinated by the views, they don’t ever move, they are
solid statues. Here protected from the sun, surrounded by small potted
palm trees, we lounged on comfortable rattan patio furniture. We were
practically sitting above the clouds and the lake, a cocktail in hand. We
watched sailboats and our cares in the gentle breeze float away. |
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| Sounds like the
ultimate vacation. Soon we were guided to an elevator that would bring us to
the top. The resort has two helicopter landing places, one on the main building
and one more apart from the complex, to protect the other guests from landing
noise at night. A single table for two, pretty in white, was expecting our
arrival. Executive Chef Philip Zemour had prepared a special menu for us
for the evening. Brittany Langoustine and Aquitaine caviar, cooked in three
different ways: as a tartar with sweet lemon, roasted with fleur de sel,
jellified with Aquitaine caviar.
Please take a closer look at our Le Trianon cuisine review (CLICK HERE) to get all the details. Dining on this rooftop, watching the sun set over the lake through the clouds was incomprehensibly beautiful and indefinitely romantic. |
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| Another excursion that we thoroughly enjoyed and was
just five minutes from the resort came highly recommended by Rade Ruleski, the
Chef Concierge of the The Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva. Mr. Ruleski, a
‘Membre des clefs d'or de Suisse’ is of old school hospitality.
“The Concierge code: Ask for whatever you want, just don’t ask how
they get it done. They just do! Opening night Montreux Jazz festival tickets,
Size 6 white ski boots, stain on your suit and only twenty minutes until your
limo….our concierge was born to fulfill these requests.” We agree!
Mr. Ruleski is very efficient, besides he has the gift of reading the
guest’s mind and in our case recommended a visit at the Cellier de la
Pierraz of Jean-Paul Forestier. |
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| Our visit at the small (fifteen acre) historic winery,
located on the Route du Vignoble, between the charming villages of Chardonne
and St. Saphorin, in the heart of Lavaux, was worthwhile. We thoroughly enjoyed
tasting some of the full grape wines in the historic 15th century medieval
cellar setting. Later our driver stopped the Rolls Royce in the vineyard’s
terraces and had us taste the grapes right from the vine and their sweetness
was divine. We can imagine that the time of the actual harvest of the many
vineyards sloping down and overlooking the lake must be an experience. In each
village there are wine cellars offering their traditional warm welcome and the
chance to taste the regions finest. The terraces, cared for by human hands for
centuries, have been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Wine
Excursion (PHOTO TOUR - CLICK HERE) |
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| Mr. Ruleski also suggested a to discover Lake Geneva
with the resorts private yacht, which we experienced a few years ago and highly
recommend.
(PHOTO
TOUR - CLICK HERE). General Manager Paolo Sanavia has certainly put his
signature on Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva. Italian born Paolo Sanavia
joined the Kempinski Group in 2006 as General Manager of the
Hotel
Giardino di Costanza in Sicily, another Seven Stars and Stripes award
recipient. He has been working in the hospitality industry for over thirty-five
years and was educated at the Hotel school in Abano Terme Italy, and in 1988 he
earned a Masters degree in Hotel Enterprise with the
‘Société Suisse des Hôteliers’ in Switzerland;
‘le diplôme donne droit au titre d’Hôtelier-restaurateur
diplomé SSH’. Multi lingual Sanavia is a visionary who also studied
at Cornell University in the US and recently earned an MBA in China. His
appearance is flawless and so is
his
team (CLICK HERE for a closer look), trained to please and working well
together. Congratulations! |
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by Simone & Thorsten Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2010 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes,
Inc. |
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