A Geneva landmark gets a stylish makeover

Given its proximity to the rest of Europe, its role as a major international finance center and the private thrill of being able to say “I just opened a numbered Swiss bank account,” it’s no secret why Geneva remains one of the world’s premier business destinations. And whether you’re stopping by to set up a deal with Hewlett-Packard, do a bit of personal banking or get your hands on one of those shiny Franck Muller timepieces, staying in a place that matches that city’s pristine and ultra-efficient spirit is practically a requirement.

So it’s a good thing that the five-star Le Richemond recently reopened its doors after a protean 20-month renovation. Purchased by the Rocco Forte Collection in 2004 for $88.8 million after generations of ownership by the Armleder family, the 132-year-old landmark has been updated with a bleeding-edge emphasis on clean lines and bold geometric shapes in keeping with Sir Rocco Forte’s other haute-designed European properties.

It has also received a major technological boost: More than 106 miles of power/data cables have left the old place humming like an enormous marble-keyboard laptop. From the public areas with Wi-Fi to the balconied suites with iPod ports to the commodes hung with plasma TVs and quartz clocks, you need never endure connectivity withdrawal. But the new/old Forte showpiece also places a premium on warmth. “The colors are very Swiss,” points out company design director Olga Polizzi, referring to the sumptuous combinations of deep blues and reds and richly grained wenge and walnut used throughout.

For larger affairs that demand more elegance than e-access, the ballroom allows guests to swirl amid mirrored trompe-l’oeil walls and Murano glass chandeliers. And for the road warrior who wants to celebrate that deal — or new bank account — with just a bracing glass of schnapps, there’s always the terrace of the hotel’s Le Bar, with its views of the city that has brought success to so many.

The File: Le Richemond, Geneva
Rates: from $598 a night
Number of Rooms: 109, 26 of which are suites
Guests have included: Chaplin, Louis Armstrong, RFK, Gorbachev and Tom Cruise
For Reservations: 888-667-9477; reservations.lerichemond@ roccofortecollection.com

FOOTNOTE:
Forte’s hotel empire includes 11 properties, every one in Europe. The London-based 62-year-old was formerly the chief executive of Forte Plc, founded by his father, which had 800 hotels and 1,000 restaurants in 50 countries. Forte Plc was bought by the Grenada Group in a 1996 hostile takeover that netted $6 billion.

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