The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt: Local man becomes manager

Mario Julen signs contract with Marriott International

It has been a long journey for Zermatt visionary Mario Julen. After all, the Swiss man began working on this project 13 years ago. The contract with Marriott International has now been signed and his resort with 69 exclusive rooms and suites under The Ritz-Carlton brand is set to open in the picturesque, car-free mountain village in 2026.


The first of its kind

The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt will be the first hotel of an international brand in the village, the brand's first ski resort in Europe and only its second hotel in Switzerland after The Ritz-Carlton Geneva. As a native of Zermatt and owner of the hotel, Mario Julen is justifiably proud: "This is a very emotional project that has kept me busy for 13 years. It is a declaration of love to my home town of Zermatt, but also to the top hotel industry in general." This love has been with the alpinist, certified mountain guide and helicopter pilot for a long time. With his real estate development company Matterhorn Peak AG, Julen is no stranger to success. He has already developed successful real estate projects in the luxury segment, such as the "7 heavens" and "Hotel Mama", which is managed by his daughter Sandrine.
Thanks to his close ties to his homeland and strong roots in the region, Julen's vision for the hotel was very clear from the outset and ideally matched the ideas of Marriott International, as Satya Anand, President Marriott International Europe, Middle East and Africa, emphasized. This includes the choice of location. This allows a direct view of the Matterhorn from all rooms and suites as well as the two restaurants and bars. An outdoor terrace and a private dining room are complemented by a luxurious spa with indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness room. Rooms are also available for conferences and events. In winter, a ski-in/ski-out chalet provides direct access to the slopes.


Nature indoors and outdoors

Although Zermatt is mainly known as a winter sports resort thanks to its 200 kilometers of slopes and access to a further 160 kilometers of slopes in Cervinia/Italy, the mountain village actually offers exciting opportunities to spend an unforgettable vacation all year round. In addition to skiing, heli-skiing, cross-country skiing and ski touring, you can play golf at Club Matterhorn in the warmer months, there is a wide range of hiking and mountain biking options, and climbers and mountaineers also get their money's worth.

To ensure that guests don't lose this connection to nature indoors, the architecture firm AW2 has focused on texture, light and color. With its combination of local wood and stone, the contemporary interior conveys the warm feel-good character of a mountain chalet on the one hand, while the ambience is luxurious, timeless and elegant on the other. "The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt will be a place where authenticity and the essence of nature can be felt. And surrounded by mountains whose presence will make it easy to slow down and reflect," emphasize Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux, the owners of AW2.