Unusual Requests from Wealthy Guests at a Swiss Luxury Hotel Revealed
In the opulent realm of luxury hotels, the saying “the customer is always right” takes on peculiar dimensions, especially at the renowned Gstaad Palace Hotel in Switzerland. The director, Andrea Scherz, recently shared some of the most extraordinary requests made by super-rich guests, showcasing the lengths staff go to fulfill their desires.
The Gstaad Palace, a family-owned establishment since 1938, is nestled in the opulence of the Swiss resort of Gstaad, a rival to St. Moritz in terms of lavishness. According to Scherz, the demands from guests have escalated in recent years, with a notable distinction between the expectations of “old money” patrons and those of “new money.”
Aside from the usual demands for prompt service and off-menu food items, the hotel has encountered some truly bizarre requests. Here are a few instances that stood out:
1. Elevated Suite Floors for Mountain Views:
An American guest insisted that the floor of his suite be raised by 30 centimeters to improve his view of the mountains. In an extravagant move, the hotel complied by installing a new raised floor covered in carpet before the guest returned.
2. Champagne-Coated Steaks for a Lap Dog:
Reflecting the high-life tastes of its owner, a guest’s lap dog would only dine on steaks coated with champagne. The chefs diligently prepared this luxurious canine cuisine every night, even spending considerable sums on fine meat and wine. When the dog rejected a cheaper substitute, the chefs reverted to Perrier-Jouët champagne.
3. Grass Carpet in the Shower for a Pet Dog:
Ignoring the chilly climate of Gstaad, a guest requested a grass carpet in the shower so that their dog could comfortably relieve itself indoors. Upon the guest’s return, the room featured a freshly laid carpet of mown grass.
4. Evian Water for Daily Hair Washes:
A peculiar request involved a daily delivery of 25 liters of Evian water to a guest’s room, not for drinking but for washing their hair. The staff accommodated this request without question, ensuring the guest had an ample supply of premium water for their daily grooming ritual.
5. Hotel Transformation for a Celebrity Proposal:
In a romantic and extravagant gesture, Hollywood star John Travolta proposed to his late wife Kelly Preston at the Gstaad Palace in 1990. To make the occasion truly special, Travolta had the hotel’s Salle Baccarat transformed to resemble Preston’s favorite restaurant, resulting in a memorable proposal followed by their marriage a year later.
Despite the eccentricity of these requests, Scherz emphasized that the Gstaad Palace is willing to fulfill them, as long as guests are prepared to cover the considerable expenses associated with such extravagant demands. In this realm of luxury, it seems that even the most unusual requests are met with a nod and a bill.
