Hilton Worldwide today announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Davos, the award-winning mid-market brand’s first property in Switzerland, surrounded by the stunning mountain landscape of the Swiss Alps. The hotel boasts a unique location, steeped in natural beauty, yet also directly opposite Davos Congress Centre, a thriving conference venue famous for hosting the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum.  Its business-friendly features make it an ideal base for Forum delegates looking for easy access to the centre, whilst several energy efficiency measures are in place designed to reduce the hotel’s impact on the environment.

Features which outline the hotel’s outstanding green credentials include a solar panel system located on the roof, and a wood chip heating system designed to minimize CO2 emissions.  The hotel also engages in the practice of recycling its warm air through a mechanical ventilation process in order to conserve energy by reducing the need for heating and cooling.

Simon Vincent, area president, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said, “Having had a presence in Switzerland for more than 40 years, we are delighted to be launching the country’s first Hilton Garden Inn. Amidst stunning scenery, Hilton Garden Inn Davos will play host to key figures from the business, political and academic world who congregate each year for the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, in addition to the large number of leisure travelers to this beautiful region.” 

Contemporary in design and featuring 146 guestrooms Hilton Garden Inn Davos offers all of the brand’s signature features, including the Garden Sleep System; ergonomic Orange Box chair, and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi internet access.  Its restaurant, The Grill, will offer guests all-day dining with a menu of hearty dishes, while light bites are available on the go from the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry.  The hotel also boasts a business centre, and a fitness complex which includes a sauna and steam room, ideal respite after a day spent either at meetings or on the ski slopes.

Davos boasts one of the country’s largest ski resorts, making it a hugely popular holiday destination during the winter season.  Its vast network of ski slopes covers up to 320 km of trails including both downhill slopes and cross country routes to cater for professional skiers and enthusiastic beginners alike. Sports fans visiting the city can also indulge in nostalgia at the Winter Sports Museum which houses a highly acclaimed collection of memorabilia.

Adrian Kurre, Global Head, Hilton Garden Inn, said, “It is fantastic to see Hilton Garden Inn not only breaking in to another new European market, but in particular, this spectacular location surrounded by the Swiss Alps.  Our mid-market brand is tailored towards providing the signature features and services that resonate with value conscious travelers who are always on the move.  We are particularly proud of this hotel’s sustainability efforts, which really set Hilton Garden Inn apart from other hotels.”

From its location on Promenade 103, Hilton Garden Inn Davos’ guests can walk into the bustling town with its diversity of amenities.  Davos itself is easily accessible thanks to a strong transport network:  Zurich-Kloten Airport is approximately two hour’s drive from the hotel with buses running frequently from the airport to Davos during the ski season.  A regular direct rail link connects the city to Zurich, with a journey time of two hours.

Hilton Garden Inn achieved first place in the most recent JD Power & Associates’ European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study (2011) for first time in the brand’s five-year history in Europe.  This marked the first time the brand had a sufficient sample size to rank in the European study, coming in 57 points higher than the segment average.

Switzerland becomes the second European market where Hilton Garden Inn has launched this year, following the opening of its first Dutch hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Leiden, in August.  This new opening means the brand now has a presence in eight European countries with a total of 60 hotels trading or in the pipeline.