How Kulm’s Christmas Decoration Came to Life
By
David Minoretti
From hot-air balloons and vintage travel motifs to a festively decorated Fiat 500 in front of the entrance: the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz’s Christmas decoration is a world of its own. Head Florist Megan Polke shares insights into the year-long planning process, the collaborative spirit behind the scenes and the many details that make this year’s festive concept so special.
Megan, your team and you have been incredibly busy over the past few days setting up the Christmas decorations. Can you tell us about this year’s theme?
This year, we took Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” as the underlying theme for our Christmas decoration. It’s about colour, movement and discovery. There are more props than ever, and many of the motifs evoke a strong sense of travel.
You’ll find hot-air balloons, trains, books, signposts – and even planes at the entrance of the Kulm Country Club. Inspiration came from everywhere. We really wanted to create a journey for our guests, where each space reveals something new waiting to be discovered.
How many people were involved in bringing the decoration to life?
That’s what makes the Kulm so special – we have an incredible team in-house. We worked very closely with Leo, our Head Technician, and collaborated across departments, including Tapestry, Marketing and Food & Beverage.
I absolutely loved the collaborative spirit. No idea was too crazy for what we called the Christmas Committee. It truly was a collective effort.
“I absolutely loved the collaborative spirit. No idea was too crazy for what we called the Christmas Committee.”
How long did the planning and preparation take?
We started planning back in January 2025, so almost a full year. We travelled to Frankfurt to visit the largest Christmas exhibition, which was a great source of inspiration.
One of the biggest challenges was finding the right tone of light for the Christmas illuminations – something that sounds simple, yet it’s actually incredibly difficult to get just right.
Is there an especially meaningful detail that might be overlooked by guests?
For me, the fireplace in the lobby is one of the most festive and special elements. But I would also encourage guests to look under the Christmas trees, where so many little details are hidden. For example, we used the same wallpaper from the Lobby Lounge as wrapping paper for some of the gifts. And of course, there are the teddy bears. What’s funny is that every year, a few of them mysteriously go missing.
An eyecatcher is the little red car at the hotel entrance. How did that idea come about?
We’ve always wanted to decorate a car. Cars are synonymous with St. Moritz. The Fiat 500, in particular, has such a strong history and is full of character. One of my team members managed to scout the perfect one in Livigno, in exactly the right shade of red. It was then driven all the way to the hotel.
About Megan Polke
She is in her fifth season at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz and now leads the hotel’s floristry team as Head Florist. She grew up in London, where the Christmas decorations in shops, department stores and hotels are famously elaborate and wonderfully over the top.