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A new generation thermal system is born

47.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions thanks to a technological leap

During the winter of 2017–2018, the hotel completely renovated its heating plant, taking a decisive step toward energy efficiency and sustainability.

The new system is based on three large thermal storage tanks of 1,600 litres each, allowing heat to be managed far more intelligently than with traditional boilers. These tanks operate in “layers”: each works at a different temperature, optimising the recovery of available energy. The hottest tank is powered by the boilers; the second uses heat recovered from the air-conditioning units; the third uses heat from the compressors of the kitchen’s cold rooms. In this way, no heat is wasted and every degree of energy is reused.

This solution significantly lowered operating temperatures, improved efficiency, and reduced consumption, resulting in a 47.5% decrease in CO₂ emissions.

Statue of Alfred with steam train and historic railway tunnel in the background

Opening of the Saint Gotthard Railway

The early days of tourism in Lugano

Vintage illustration of the Lugano Monte San Salvatore funicular with landscape and lake

Belle Époque, tourism and pioneers

The Ciani brothers, Bucher Durrer and Anton Disler

Historic view of Piazza Guglielmo Tell in Lugano with tram, people and horse-drawn carriage

From Guglielmo Tell to 'LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura'

Bernardino Luini Square

Historic street with shops, people and children in period clothing in Lugano

From fishermen's arcades to high-end shopping

The Via Nassa

Historic view of the Lugano lakeside with statue, people and mountains in the background

The building at Via Nassa 68

From family home to hotel via the Apostolic Administration

Square with historic multi-storey building and church in black and white

Great-grandfather Anton Disler's hotel concept

"The hotel should be comfortable, without excessive luxury, in light colours.."

Architectural drawing of a large historic hotel with flags and decorative details

Offer and project by arch. Giuseppe Pagani

The architect and entrepreneur in tourism development and the birth of the hotel in record time

Header with name and contacts of Hotel International au Lac in Lugano

Origin of the name "International au Lac"

How accessibility and location influence hotel names

Official public licence document issued in Lugano in 1908

Documents from our historical archive

Letters, documents and invoices

Yellow carriage pulled by four horses on a mountain road with passengers

All Roads lead to Ticino

There are many ways to discover amazing scenic routes, from glaciers to palm trees

Illustration of a house with vineyard and advertising text for Julius Schmid in Lucerne

Lucerne Families

The Disler, Helfenstein & Schmid families

Four people in an elegant room with antique furniture and golden decorations

Five generations at a glance

From great-great-grandfather Anton Disler (1880–1935) to the youngest Aurelia (5th generation)

Interior of an entrance hall with chairs, tables and classic decorations

The Bel-Etage: the social heart of the hotel since 1906

The noble hall: an atmosphere of times gone by

People walking on a street in front of a building with an International sign and vintage cars parked

Entrance Hall and Reception

The reception over time

Bedroom with double bed, bench and two sinks with mirrors

From the Chamber Pot to Today's Comfort

The evolution of room comfort

Red vintage car with people around at an outdoor event

Underground garage in the heart of the historic centre

Courage and foresight: the birth of the hotel's underground garage

Three workers install a large suspended device in a room with concrete walls

Ten years of commitment to air-conditioning 100 venues

Modern comfort, hidden within the walls

Vintage bedroom with decorated bed, armchair, bear skin rug and chandelier

The Return of the Belle Époque to Room No. 221

One room, two eras: from the founders to today's guests

Facade of a hotel with scaffolding and a lift platform in use

Restoration of the dome

From copper to zinc, as in grand Palaces

Technical room with boilers and metal pipes on ceiling and walls

A new generation thermal system is born

47.5% reduction in CO₂ emissions thanks to the latest technology

Two workers at work in a room under renovation with a mural of a historic building

Triptych of room renovations

Investing in the future, preserving the past and building the new, safeguarding history

Two men on ladders working on the facade of a hotel with red shutters

Conservation restoration of the facade

When colours tell stories

Stone sculpture of a cherub head hanging on a wall above a wooden frame

Art and Antiques: the Soul of the Hotel

Art preserved and its stories told in the hotel

Rectangular cake decorated with lit candles to celebrate 100 years from 1906 to 2006

Centenary Celebrations

The 'golden brick'

Museum room with antique furniture, books, telephones and period objects on display

Museum of the hotel's history, on the 1st floor

A journey through the hotel's history

Two men in formal attire exchanging a certificate in an elegant room

ICOMOS-UNESCO and NZZ Awards

Recognition for the symbiosis of history and modern comfort

Group of people in formal attire and uniforms holding glasses in an elegant room

People Who Make the Difference

The care and dedication of hotel staff

Page with handwritten notes, signatures and a drawing of a tower

Words from our guests

Based on hundreds of reviews from travellers around the world, we assure you that choosing to stay with us was the right decision.

Path with stream among green hills and bright sun behind the mountain

Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainable action on the path to the future

Room with panoramic view

The Hotel International au Lac Today and Tomorrow

A combination of unique services in an unbeatable location - the fifth generation and pages yet to be written