Page 103 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2023 SPECIAL CRUISE EDTION

one of the owners of this stylish quartet of
Swiss-based hotels (the Tschuggen Grand and
the Valsana in Arosa, the Carlton in St. Moritz,
and Eden Roc in Ascona), the initiative is sup-
ported by five pillars: move, play, nourish, rest,
and give.
“Move” includes activities like skiing, hiking,
and yoga, while “Play” features “curated adven-
tures,” like ice fishing and jewelry making.
“Nourish” translates as plant-based menu op-
tions. “Rest” is supported by lush spas in every
property, and “Give” refers to the family-
owned, climate neutral hotel group’s commit-
ment to environmental initiatives and local
communities.
According to Alida O’Connor, a yogi and the
wife of Dr. Bechtolsheimer, “Moving Moun-
tains” was inspired, in part, by the Covid-19
pandemic. The couple were at the Tschuggen
Grand, a five-star property with a spectacular,
54,000-square-foot spa, when the first lock-
down began in March 2020. There they chose
to stay, alone in the Alps above Arosa, for the
next three months.
“It was the safest, nicest space…being around
mountains and trees,” O’Connor says in her soft
Irish lilt. The seed of solace which she and her
husband found in nature grew into “Moving
Mountains,” and the program is proving popular
with guests.
“Vegans are now specifically booking because
of the (menu) choice,” says O’Connor. “You can

Top: Tschuggen Grand hotel room: Southern
facing rooms at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in
Arosa, Switzerland feature views of the Alps.

Middle: Tschuggen Grand Hotel bar: With its
Inlaid wood details and sky mural, the bar at
the Tschuggen Grand in Arosa, Switzerland is a
focal point of the hotel.

Bottom: Vegan beetroot horseradish tarragon:
Michelin-starred chef Marco Campanella
creates vegan meals that taste as good as they
look.

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