Tourism, Belle Époque and pioneers
The Ciani Brothers, Bucher Durrer and A. Disler
Pioneers such as the Swiss César Ritz (1850–1918) created the great hotels and palaces, responding to the needs of a predominantly noble and upper-bourgeois clientele. They developed the most attractive tourist destinations, showcasing the natural environment and transforming them into dreamlike worlds. During the “Belle Époque”, the period of global economic prosperity (1880–1914), hotels experienced rapid expansion.
In 1899, the owner of the Du Parc (later Grand Hotel Palace), Antonio Gabrini (1814–1908), nephew of the Ciani brothers, sold his hotel to Franz Joseph Bucher (1834–1906) of the Bucher Durrer company from Lucerne.
Probably not by chance, the well-known Lucerne hoteliers Anton Disler and Albert Riedweg, owners of the hotels Rütli and Cécile, decided to purchase the adjacent land and open the Hotel International au Lac in 1906.
Bibliography, Sources and Acknowledgements:
- “Il nostro Paese, n. 322, December 2014”, arch. Monique Bosco-von Allmen, Società ticinese per l’Arte e la Natura (STAN)
- “Le soutien à l’hôtellerie suisse: Hérésie politique ou nécessité de promotion économique?” Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Hotelkredit (SGH)
The building at Via Nassa 68, before the transformation
From family home to hotel via the Apostolic Administration
Great-grandfather Anton Disler's hotel concept
"The hotel must be comfortable, without excessive luxury, in light colours
Offer and project by arch. Giuseppe Pagani
The architect and entrepreneur in tourism development and the birth of the hotel in record time
Origin of the name "International au Lac"
Accessibility and location: how they influence hotel names
All Roads lead to Ticino
There are many ways to discover breathtaking scenic routes, from glaciers to palm trees.
The Bel-Etage: the social heart of the hotel since 1906
The noble hall: an atmosphere of bygone times, tradition evolving with the needs of the guests
From the Chamber Pot to Today's Comfort
Initially, the rooms did not have a private bathroom: they were equipped with washbasins with running water
Underground garage in the heart of the historic centre
Courage and foresight: the birth of the hotel's underground garage
Ten years of commitment to air-conditioning 100 venues
The freshness that passes through walls
The Return of the Belle Époque to Room No. 221
One room, two eras: from the founders to today's guests
A new generation thermal system is born
47.5% reduction in CO emissions thanks to the technological leap
Triptych of room renovations
Investing in the future, preserving the past and building the new, safeguarding history
ICOMOS/ UNESCO and NZZ Recognitions
Awarded for the art of combining history and modern comfort by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Words from our customers
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The Hotel International au Lac Today and Tomorrow
A combination of unique services in an unbeatable location plus the fifth generation and pages yet to be written