Elite Traveler Summer 2021

139 etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021

CARLTON HOTEL

ST MORITZ

Surrounded by undulating snow-carpeted mountains, overlooking the cerulean waters of Lake St Moritz, the Carlton Hotel is in a coveted spot in the ultra-glam resort town. It was first built in 1913 and, while it has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation, it still maintains that fanciful, Swiss fairy-tale magic. It is part of the Tschuggen Hotel Group, and the group’s hotels around the world have been climate-neutral since 2019, and any unavoidable emissions are offset by financing climate protection projects in Switzerland and Rwanda. Guests are also encouraged to get involved, too, with the ‘Cause We Care’ initiative: You can offset your own emissions that have been generated by your journey. As après-ski is perhaps one of the best parts of skiing, you’ll likely visit one of Carlton Hotel’s impeccable bars. Cozy up next to a roaring fire at the grand Carlton Bar, or wrap up and enjoy afternoon tea on the sun terrace. The views of the Alps and the lake are sublime, and if you visit during the Snow Polo (usually in January), you’ll have top views of the action on the frozen lake. Da Vittorio has two Michelin stars and 18 GaultMillau points — expect “high-class yet hearty, extremely Italian gourmet cuisine” care of chef-brothers Enrico and Roberto Cerea. Kitchen waste is provided to producers of biogas fuel and food is sustainably sourced, using mostly local Swiss producers and suppliers. Contact Philippe Clarinval, general manager, info@ carlton-stmoritz.ch, +41 818 367 000, carlton-stmoritz.ch

SVART HOTEL

NORWAY

Set to open in 2022, Svart Hotel in Norway will be the world’s first energy-positive hotel — it will produce more energy than it uses. Found in Norway’s Arctic Circle, at the base of the awe-inspiring Svartisen glacier, the hotel’s spheric design means that most of its guest rooms will have spectacular views of the surrounding fjord and, if you’re lucky, the Northern Lights. Designed by award- winning architects Snøhetta, the solar- powered circular hotel appears to float above the ice blue waters (‘Svart’ means ‘black’ in Norwegian; a tribute to the deep ice found in the Svartisen glacier) and sits atop the water on stilts made of natural, locally sourced wood. The structure leaves little footprint on its epic surroundings and truly blends into the environment. The Svart Spa Health and Wellness Clinic will be an indoor/outdoor spa built over two floors with three zones, with each zone following a theme. Choose from ‘active,’ ‘wet’ or ‘quiet’ for your own wellness journey. The treatments blend traditional Nordic remedies with modern innovation, and products used in the spa are sourced from local communities using local herbs and marine sources. Depending on when you visit, there’s a number of activities to pursue, too. In summer, when the days seem to be never-ending, you can sail through the atmospheric fjords, go deep-sea fishing or witness the midnight sun as it reflects over the shimmering glacier lake. Hikers of all abilities can trek through the lush green Svartisen mountains. Come winter, you can brave a spot of ice water swimming (a Nordic tradition) or go ice-climbing on the Svartisen. The team behind the hotel has ambitious plans to be completely self-sustained within five years of opening, and be entirely off-grid and with zero waste. Contact post@svart.no, svart.no

Photos Gian Andri Giovanoli