Over 165 years of innovation

1856

First Hotel in St. Moritz

In 1856, Johannes Badrutt and his wife Maria Berry rented the Pension Faller – today’s Kulm Hotel St. Moritz – with 12 rooms for CHF 2,000 per year. From then on, he called the house "Engadiner Kulm." Just two years later, in 1858, Johannes Badrutt purchased the Engadiner Kulm. The purchase price of 28,500 francs was a significant financial risk. It was the first hotel in St. Moritz and later became the birthplace of winter tourism. One year later, the hotel was expanded by two floors, and the addition of turrets and towers gave the building a palace-like appearance. Over the following years, the hotel was continuously expanded.

1864

The Legendary Bet

In 1864, Johannes Badrutt made a legendary bet that established St. Moritz as the cradle of winter tourism. He invited four of his English summer guests to return to St. Moritz in December, and if the men failed to appreciate the merits of the Engadin in winter, he promised to reimburse them. The Englishmen accepted the offer and remained until Easter.

1878

Electric Light in the Grand Restaurant

The first electric light illuminated the Dining Room of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. In 1878, Badrutt and his son visited the world exhibition in Paris, where the first arc lamps were presented. Immediately after his return, he built a hydroelectric power plant to light the house for Christmas 1878.

1883

St. Moritz Curling Club

The St. Moritz Curling Club was founded on the premises of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz.

1884

Sunny Bar - the Oldest Sports Bar in the Alps

Construction of the legendary Cresta Run on the premises of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz – a natural ice channel for skeleton. The oldest sports bar in the Alps, the Sunny Bar, opened its doors and is still home to the Cresta riders today.

1886

Introducing the Hotel Lobby

The west wing was built in collaboration with architect Nicolaus Hartmann, and the concept of a hotel lobby was introduced, which cannot be omitted in any hotel. Toilets, hydraulic elevators, as well as heating and electric ventilation, were also installed.

1887

Establishment of the St. Moritz Tobogganing Club

The St. Moritz Tobogganing Club, which was associated with the Cresta Run, was founded.

1889

The Hot Wire

Johannes Badrutt's last pioneering act: The first public telephone network with 24 local connections in Switzerland was installed in Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. After the death of the hotel pioneer, his son Peter Robert Badrutt founded Badrutt and Cie, which was renamed to AG Grand Hotels Engadiner Kulm in 1905.

1896

The Highest Golf Course in the Alps

In the year 1896, the hotel’s 9-hole Kulm Executive Golf Course was built - the highest golf course in the Alps. In the winter of 1903/04 the construction of the Olympic Bob Run begins, opening its doors in January 1904. The Olympic Bob Run is a natural ice channel and venue of World Cups and Olympic Games until today.

1912

Opening of the East Wing

The east wing, known as Neukulm, was opened.

1928

Olympic Games in the Kulm Park

The first Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz. The opening ceremonies, as well as figure skating and ice hockey competitions, took place in the Kulm Park.

1935

During the Second World war

Anton Robert Badrutt took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and re-opened the Neukulm during the Second World War.

1948

Olympic Games in the Kulm Park

The second Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz. The opening ceremonies and various sports events took place in the Kulm Park.

1956

New Hotel Management

Albert Ernst-von-Pfyffer purchased Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, and Fred Herrling took over the management of the hotel until 1972. In 1968, another change of ownership took place: Stavros Niarchos bought Kulm Hotel St. Moritz when Club Mediterannée signalled purchase interest.

1972

Expansion of the Kulm Hotel

Heinz Hunkeler took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. He initiated the construction the Chesa Al Parc in 1986 with the sports field, consisting of 3 tennis courts and the ice rink in winter, as well as Residence I in 1988, consisting of 14 luxury apartments, conference rooms, and the parking garage.

1993

The Entrance Receives a Face Lift

Renovation of the hotel entrance and lobby. Decoration in "Trompe l'oeil" style by Renzo Mongiardino. At the same time a new ski room and sport boutique are built.

1997

New Sparkle for Kulm Spa

With saunas, steam bath, brine grotto, whirlpool, fitness room, and treatment rooms, including renovation of the swimming pool.

2000

New Lustre for Kulm Golf

Redesign for the hotel's 9-hole Kulm Executive Golf Course.

2002

Renovations and Extensions

In 2003, the construction of Residence II, with 21 luxury apartments begins and the Sunny Bar is redesigned and renovated. Furthermore, 26 rooms were remodelled in local Engadin style by 2005, and in 2009 the Kulm’s main kitchen was completely renovated. Furthermore, new windows and elevators were installed throughout the hotel. In 2012, the Kulm Spa was redesigned, renovated, and extended to 2'000 m

2013

The Hunkelers Take Over

Heinz E. Hunkeler, son of Heinz Hunkeler and his wife Jenny Hunkeler took over the management of Kulm Hotel St. Moritz. Soon thereafter they establish a new food concept, turning the restaurant „Rotisserie des Chevaliers” into the gourmet restaurant the K.

2015

Renovation of the Neukulm Building

In summer 2015, the hotel takes on the full refurbishment of the Neukulm building with 26 rooms and suites in cooperation with star architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, finished in December. The end-result is newly created rooms providing a synergy of grand hotel style with modern Alpine living, incorporating a light blue palette, Swiss stone pine wood ceilings and floor to ceiling lacquered walls.

2016

Hoteliers of the Year

In May 2016, Jenny and Heinz E. Hunkeler receive the prestigious “Hoteliers of the Year 2016” Award by Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung in its annual Hotel Rating, the only honours sanctioned by Switzerland Tourism, the national tourist office.

2017

Virtuous Times

The preceding summer season sees the complete CHF 12 million refurbishment of the historic Kulm Country Club, dating back to 1905, to once again become a hotspot in St. Moritz as Restaurant and Bar starting from January, and with its new stage a public event location in the Engadin. In its first season, the restaurant operated on a pop-up concept with a rotating selection of internationally famous chefs, such as Daniel Humm from New York’s Eleven Madison Square restaurant. In December, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz is accepted into Virtuoso®’s selective portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprised of more than 1,700 preferred suppliers in over 100 countries. A great accomplishment for the hotel, as it is the most significant player in luxury travel, with its agencies selling more than (U.S.) $21.2 billion annually.

2019

A Star and More New Rooms

Tim Raue’s Swiss gourmet restaurant “the K by Tim Raue” is awarded a star by the Guide Michelin in January. The modern Asian compositions and the young, fresh and creative ideas behind the concept make dining in „the K“ a remarkable experience, leading to the award now accompanying the 17 GaultMillau points the restaurant held before. January 2019 also sees the completion of the largest room remodel in its long history - Kulm Hotel St. Moritz proudly announces 40 new rooms and suites that have been redesigned by acclaimed French architect and interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. This time, colors are stronger resulting in a deeper blue and a Bordeaux red, giving the rooms a warm and comfortable feel.

2020

Renovations Throughout the Hotel

By 2024, almost all of the hotel's rooms are completely renovated, partly from scratch, partly as part of a "soft renovation" that both take into account the style of Pierre-Yves Rochon. The most historically valuable rooms will retain their striking features such as pine paneled ceilings and can still be booked as an "alpine variant".

2024

Culinary Dreams

In winter 2023-24 and summer 2024, the culinary offering is restructured: with the Argentinian star chef Mauro Colagreco in the Kulm Country Club, Claudia Canessa in the Amaru (formerly the K) designed by star designer Luke Edward Hall and the British upcomer Tom Booton in the Sunny Bar, a variety of styles are available, from mountain terroir to Peruvian creations to British comfort food. The offering complements the Italian specialties in the Pizzeria and daily gourmet menus under the direction of Executive Chef Mauro Taufer. For the first time, additional options are also available in summer with Amaru.

The enchanting winter idyll of St. Moritz

A history of pioneering spirit

Distinctly original. Strikingly sophisticated. This is the living room of St. Moritz. Of all the hotels in the region, Kulm will always be the original Grand Dame. Founded by renowned hotelier, Johannes Badrutt, a man who liked to intrigue guests with new innovations, no idea was too ambitious.

Badrutt’s bet paved the way for a legacy of continual innovation. In 1878, he introduced Switzerland’s first electric lights to Kulm Hotel’s Grand Restaurant. Over the course of the decade, he installed a public telephone network, as well as pioneering the concept of the hotel lobby.

The birth of modern winter sports

During the 1890s, a number of enterprising winter guests were eager to develop new sports using ice tracks, resulting in the birth of skibobbing, skeleton bobsled, and a Cresta run emerging.

Before long, Kulm Park became the prime location for competitions in all these sports. The venue even hosted the inaugural Winter Olympic Games of 1928 and 1948.

Discover more about our history

You can download our anniversary book here

Discover tales from the Engadin View Kulm Journal