The Interview with Daniel F. Lauber,
the host of the CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort
Zermatt is one of the most popular resorts in Switzerland. This small Alpine village offers a rich variety of mountain romance the whole year round. The car-free village of Zermatt, which is also a Walser village with houses dating back more than 500 years, enraptures even experienced tourists.
Despite the fact that Zermatt seems to be typical Alpine village, it still pulses with life.
You can find here everything you need: shops, cafes, bars and luxurious hotels. Everything within a walk – romantic streets of the old village as well as silent corners. And all paths lead directly to the still and wild mountain world at the foot of the Matterhorn. And this peaceful place is well-known to Daniel F. Lauber, who tells us about the resort in detail.
Could you tell a little about location and history of the resort, its sights and natural peculiarities?
The resort town of Zermatt is located in the south of Switzerland right on the border to Italy.
Originally famous as a mountaineering town after the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The first skilifts were built in the 1940ies and soon turned Zermatt into an important winter resort.
The most famous sight of Zermatt is of course the beautiful Matterhorn.
What are the peculiarities of skiing at the resort?
Zermatt itself has a vast skiable area divided into the 3 different sections of Sunnegga/Rothorn, Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn/Schwarzsee which are linked among each other but also with the ski areas of Cervinia and Valtournenche on the Italian side.
These provides the visitor of Zermatt with a very broad experience.
Are there general or off-piste skiing areas?
Zermatt provides many kilometers of very well prepared slopes. For more experienced skiers the area also offers many «yellow slopes», these are marked but unprepared slopes. Being located in such a great high alpine environment there are of course many options for off-piste skiing (including heliskiing) with local mountain guides.
Are there facilities for snowboarders and free riders?
On the Swiss and on the Italian side there are parks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders with jumps, obstacles, cross tracks and a half-pipe.
How large and modern are accommodation facilities?
With 126 hotels and around 2700 apartments Zermatt offers a wide variety of accommodation from very modern to more traditional.
What are the most popular hotels/ residences/ chalet at the resort?
Zermatt has a very lively hotel industry. It is our goal with the CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort to provide the guests with a hotel and restaurant with high quality service.
The restaurant and bar I lounge at the CERVO are open to public work very well as a melting pot of inhouse guests and people coming in from the outside. We are proud to be one the Apres-Ski hotspots.
What basic skills and new trends can your ski schools teach children and adults?
The ski schools of Zermatt (www.skischulezermatt.ch, www.stoked.сh, www.pratoborni.ch) offer lessons in all disciplines form skiing, snowboarding and telemarking to special lessons for freestyle or off-piste riding.
What does the resort offer for young people?
Besides the big ski area in winter and facilities for downhill bikers in summer time Zermatt has also a great night life.
What does the resort offer for families?
Zermatt has invested a lot in new skiing facilities for kids (Wolli park) during the past years which made the resort much more attractive for families. In summer time we have a lot of playgrounds in town as well as up in the mountains.
How long does the ski season last?
As a ski resort with very high altitude (up to 3800 meters above sea level, average skiing between 2000 and 3500 meters above sea level) Zermatt has a very long season (official winter season: from beginning of November to end of April). But you can also ski in summer, in fact you can ski in Zermatt 365 days a year.
Is the weather stable?
As in any alpine area weather can change quickly in Zermatt. Typically we have a lot of sun though.
Which countries do your tourists usually come from?
Zermatt is appreciated as a destination by the Swiss as well as an international crowd.
What popular social and sports events and festivals are held at the resort?
There are many different events in town from curling tournaments to free-ride competitions. In summer 2015 Zermatt will celebrate the 150 years anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn.
What are the best means of transportation to reach the resort from main airports and railway stations?
Since Zermatt is a car-free town the most comfortable access is to get here by train or train to Visp and then a taxi ride to Zermatt.
What can the resort offer as apres-ski?
The resort offers various locations for Apres-Ski. Among others the CERVO Mountain Boutique Resorts is a great spot for sophisticated Apres-Ski with live music.
Does the resort have special offers for Ski-pass purchase for different categories of tourists?
There are different specials at certain times.
What innovations and surprises can be expected from lift stations?
We love the heated seats of the Findeln Chairlift.
Pictures were taken from www.cervo.ch and www.zermatt.ch