by For four days every January, the Alpine city of Davos transforms from a discreet mountain resort favored by Swiss and German skiers to a gathering of the world’s elite. Having hosted the World Economic Forum (WEF) every winter since 1971, Davos has become the namesake of the event, whose bold mission statement announces its commitment to “improving the state of the world.”
Since its inception, the invitation-only forum has hosted an eclectic mix of world leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and celebrities ranging from Donald Trump, Bill Gates and Greta Thunberg to King Charles III, Mick Jagger and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This year’s power summit features 2,800 VIP attendees, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, and OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman.
With so much business to do, WEF attendees don’t ski, even though Davos is in the heart of one of Switzerland’s largest ski areas. Together with neighboring Klosters, the resort boasts 300 kilometers of pistes and unlimited off-piste terrain spanning six magnificent mountains. Keen skiers would be right to deduce that WEF is a great time to go skiing in this sprawling, uncrowded area, but there’s one caveat: accommodations.
Unsurprisingly, when the population of a modest Alpine city nearly triples, packed with heads of state, venture capitalists and billionaires (Bloomberg reported that 116 billionaires registered to attend Davos 2023), the bedrooms turn to dust. gold.
In what is known as “regulated chaos,” hotel prices skyrocket and properties like the majestic Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère Davos, which hosted the inaugural WEF and still plays a prominent role in the event, require reservations a year back. or more in advance. Grab a room the week after WEF (from just £285) and visit the bartender for a Belvédère cocktail and stories of famous bull runs over a drink; you will not regret.
Ordinary Davos locals are also profiting from the chaos, renting out their private homes and spare rooms. A current Airbnb listing, for example, currently offers a double room in a two-bedroom apartment on the Promenade, the central strip of Davos, for £7,818 per night, plus a service fee of £1,324. The hospital has even been known to sell beds to bodyguards who need overnight accommodations.
As Rupert Longsdon, founder of luxury operator The Oxford Ski Company, says: “WEF transforms Davos into an emerging Airbnb at the highest level. “We know that clients pay to have chalets redecorated to their liking, hopefully in a style that the owners also like.”
One of the few catered chalets available in Davos, Tivoli Lodge is a favorite among WEF regulars for its grand architecture, secluded location and impressive wine cellar. For something even more low-key, there’s Chalet Eugenia, a sprawling 11-bedroom property in the secluded village of Wolfgang, near Davos. Known for hosting illustrious guests, including several members of the British royal family, the chalet offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains that are believed to have inspired the then Prince of Wales to paint a watercolor that graced the 1992 winter season pass/ 93 Davos-Klosters.
King Charles III has been a loyal fan of Klosters since he first visited the antidote chocolate box for the Davos metropolitan area in 1978. Klosters, a delicate town accustomed to hosting blue-blooded and silver-screen royalty , is separated from its neighbor by just 5.5 miles as the crow flies, a distance easily covered by train or ski over Parsenn Mountain.
Home to beloved hotels, like the rustic Chesa Grischuna and Hotel Wynegg, and tasteful chalets like Chalet Bear and Haus Alpina, Klosters offers a quiet alternative to the big-name Davos. However, time is money for the “Davos Man” (one in ten WEF 2022 attendees traveled to the event by private jet), and he is invariably deterred by the 25-minute trip between the two resorts.
Just as beds become at a premium during WEF, so do restaurant tables, with many of the city’s most prized venues (Stall Valär, Extrablatt, Gasthaus Höhwald and Golden Dragon) reserved exclusively for events organized for holders of the coveted white all-access badges. Mere mortals can catch up on last night’s gossip at KaffeeKlatsch over Birchermüesli and pancakes or sip on homemade kombucha and a fragrant chickpea masala at Lokal Davos, which has sealed its position as a locals’ favorite by operating a policy of Walk-in access during the forum.
After long days, WEF delegates unwind (read: continue networking) with magnums of Perrier-Jouët at Davos’ top nightclubs, Pöstli Club and Platzhirsch, or at intimate, private concerts headlined by the likes of Sting, Lenny Kravitz and Chris Martin of Coldplay. .
Hotel Europe’s elegant Tonic Piano Bar is the setting for some of the WEF’s most popular meetings, including this year’s wine event. soiree hosted by Skybridge Capital Founder and Chairman Anthony Scaramucci. With previous guests including Matt Damon, Richard Branson and Andrea Bocelli, Scaramucci offers Chateau Latour pauillac 2003 on tap (at £785 a bottle), although the bar’s signature espresso martinis could keep guests going until dawn.
how to visit
The Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Belvédère Davos (0041 81 415 6000; hrewards.com) offers double rooms from CHF267 (£245), including breakfast.
The Oxford Ski Company (01865 817 420; oxfordski.com) offers seven nights at Haus Alpina, Klosters, from £20,234 for up to 12 adults, including chalet catering.
Fly from London airports to Zurich with SWISS (swiss.com) from £128 return and travel to Davos by train in two hours 40 minutes (sbb.ch).
