Le Richemond

Le Richemond is a 109-room luxury hotel located in Geneva, Switzerland.[1] The hotel was established in 1875 by Adolphe-Rodolphe Armleder and after World War II, his grandson, Jean Armleder, transformed the hotel to what it is known for today.[2][3] It was a part of the Rocco Forte Hotels Collection from 2004 until 2011.[4] In August 2011, Le Richemond became the eighth hotel acquired by the Dorchester Collection.[1]

Le Richemond
General information
TypeHotel
Architectural styleArt deco, Eclectic
LocationGeneva, Switzerland
Coordinates46°12′32″N 6°08′58″E
Opening1875
OwnerIndependent
Technical details
Floor count7
Other information
Number of rooms87 guest rooms
Number of suites22 suites
Number of restaurants1
Number of bars1
Website
Official site

The 140-year-old hotel is located in Geneva's business district with views of the Alps and sets on the banks of Lake Geneva.[5][1] The Royal Armleder Suite of the hotel was ranked number nine in Wealth Bulletin's survey of most expensive suites worldwide.[6] The suite measures 230 square meters with two terraces and views across the Alps, Jura Mountains, Lake Geneva and the Old Town.[4] The property includes a meeting center, Le Jardin restaurant, Le Bar cocktail bar, Le spa, and fitness center.[4][7] Famous guests who frequented the hotel include Aga Khan, Clark Gable, Luciano Pavarotti, and Colette, who wrote her last novel at the Richemond and has a suite named in her honor.[8][7]

The hotel has been closed from July 2020 as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Management is hopeful of reopening in 2022/23 (as of September 2020).

History

Adolphe-Rodolphe Armleder,the son of a German maker of oak wine barrels, first opened Riche-mont in 1875 as a guesthouse with 25 rooms.[7][9] The building belonged to Swiss artist François Diday who rented the building.[10] Armleder took a hands on approach when renovating the structure to maintain cost efficiency all while building a client list.[10] The building was transformed from a modest structure to a well known hotel throughout Switzerland.[10] The hotel was passed from father to son for four generations.[10]

Financial difficulties prompted the Armleder family to sell the declining hotel in the 1990s.[10] The Rocco Forte Collection acquired the hotel in 2005 and closed the hotel for renovations until 2007.[4] The renovation project expanded the hotel to 109 rooms with 26 suites, the addition of a seventh floor for the Armleder suite, an Art Deco and eclectic design, and the addition of restaurants, Sapori and Le Cottage Bar and restaurant as well as Le Bar, cocktail bar.[10][4] Meeting rooms, a ballroom, an on site day spa treatment facility and a fitness center were also added.[4]

Le Richemond joined the Dorchester Collection in 2011.[1] Renovations to bring the unique design elements of Dorchester hotels were implemented in the restaurants and bar areas as well as hotel suites.[1]

In March 2015, Le Richemond Hotel was host to the University of Essex's Human Rights Centre's 50th anniversary.[11] The former President of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk, gave the keynote.[11]

Restaurants
  • Le Jardin
  • Le Bar

References
  1. "Geneva's Le Richemond hotel joins Dorchester Collection". Hospitalitynet. June 30, 2011. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  2. "Le Richemond, Geneva Dorchester Collection". Aol. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  3. "Jean Armleder". The Most Famous Hotels in the World. November 25, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  4. Mark Caswell (August 29, 2007). "Rocco Forte's Le Richemond to reopen next month". Business Traveller. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  5. "Dorchester Collection special group offers for 2015". Incentive Travel and Corporate Meetings. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  6. Tara Loader Wilkinson (August 26, 2009). "Diplomats Help Boost Rates at World's Most Expensive Hotels". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  7. Henrik Mansson (Spring 1994). "Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Switzerland". Cigar Aficianado. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  8. Esther Aliénor. "Le Richemond le Magnifique". Entreprendre. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  9. April Hutchinson (June 29, 2011). "Dorchester Collection expands in Europe". TTG Luxury. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  10. Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer. "The Story of a Swiss Hotel: Rocco Forte's Le Richemond". Travel Watch. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  11. Fiolla Korenica (March 18, 2015). "Former Slovenian President praises University's Human Rights Centre". The Rabbit. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
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