The St. Peter’s Island and the monastery hotel are a popular tourist destination and are known far beyond the Lake Biel region. The Burgergemeinde Bern will hand over operations at this location to Swiss Design Collection AG starting next year, as it announced on Tuesday.
The Bern-based company impressed with its ideas, which are intended to enable year-round operation at the historic location. The high-quality offer is aimed equally at discerning hotel guests and day-trippers.
Preserve historical character, but add more comfort
At the monastery hotel on St. Peter’s Island, the managing owners of Swiss Design Collection AG, Patrik Scherrer and Luzius Kuchen, are relying on a combination of historical flair and modern luxury. “We want to build on the rich history of the monastery hotel and preserve its historical character, while at the same time integrating modern comfort,” says Patrik Scherrer.
The owner-managed Swiss Design Collection AG specializes in the development, construction, market positioning and operation of hotels and innovative forms of accommodation. Under the “Swiss Design Hotels” brand, the company currently runs the traditional Hotel Pinte, the multi-award-winning 4-star superior Alpine Design Resort Bergwelt Grindelwald and, until 2023, the Hotel Bristol in Bern.
Number of rooms will be increased to 30
At the heart of the new project is authentic gastronomy that highlights regional and seasonal products, complemented by an attractive offer for day guests. “Our goal is to transform this historic hotel into a romantic jewel and boutique hotel. We want to offer hotel, restaurant and event guests a comprehensive experience,” says Luzius Kuchen.
A gentle and sustainable renovation is planned, with particular attention to preserving the authentic ambience. By converting staff rooms, the number of rooms will be increased to 30 historic guest rooms.
Popular for weddings and seminars
The monastery hotel and the public restaurants have made a name for themselves over the last few decades, particularly as a venue for weddings and seminars. The search for new operators was initiated because the current operators’ contracts are expiring at the end of the year.
(pd/mj)
