History
When the Gotthard railway, with its famous Gotthard tunnel, was opened on June 1st, 1882, nobody in Central Switzerland even had the slightest clue what an enormous impact this invention would have on the tourism industry.
Even so, the construction of hotels in the tourist destination of Lucerne had been one of the most attractive jobs for architects from the middle of the 19th century onwards. Built in 1909-1910, on the former site of the «Nidlenpalast» (dairy), and designed by the architects Möri & Krebs, in a palatial style, the Art Deco Hotel Montana was one of the last classical style hotels to be built in Lucerne.
In 1910, the Art Deco Hotel Montana, in a unique location on the hillside above the Palace Hotel, was opened by the enterprising hotelier Alfred Schrämli (1867-1932); son-in-law of the then owner of the Palace Hotel, Bucher-Durrer. This, however, took place shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, thus provoking a long and hard depression in the hotel business. At the same time, an electric funicular railway was also built. This, the shortest funicular railway in the world, in fact continues to bring guests from the lakeside promenade to the hotel lobby in just 60 seconds!
The building has been owned by the «Hotel & Gastro Union» (the Swiss Union Association for Hotel & Restaurant Employees) since 1944. Far-sighted members of the association made the courageous decision to reopen the hotel as a first class establishment. At the same time, the association's Swiss School of Hotel Management (SHL) moved into new classrooms in the west wing, and the administration of the «Hotel & Gastro Union» was also proud to take up its new offices on the 1st floor. The new Swiss School of Hotel Management, located on the hillside just below the hotel, was opened in 1987. Since then, the school and the hotel have been separately run.
In order to fulfill the high standards expected of a 4 Star Hotel, the Montana was closed each winter from 1975 to 1993 for construction and renovation purposes. The construction of the «Art Deco Hall» in 1993 revived the original style of the building and saw the former summer season hotel open year round with congress and seminar offers.
In 1996, Fritz Erni became director of the Art Deco Hotel Montana. And the passionate hotelier managed Switzerland’s best four-star city hotel with the very same passion, innovative spirit and flair right up until April 2020.
The final part of the renovation (on the 4th and 5th floor) was completed in 2002. The two towers were transformed into breath taking tower suites. Once this transformation was completed, the next project on the list was the restaurant Scala (this remodeling project was finalized in March 2003). From that moment on the Art Deco Hotel Montana started shining in the art deco style from the hotel entrance to the top of it’s towers.
In spring 2009, renovations and reconstructions were once again realised on the second and third floors; resulting in the redesign of 25 single and double rooms and 6 junior suites all in modern Art Deco style. And, to date, premium 40-inch LCD TVs, exclusive Bose sound systems, ultra modern iPhones and MP3 players, docking stations and connectivity panels for guest laptops permit a totally private multimedia world in the hotel rooms.
The Art Deco Hotel Montana proudly celebrated it’s hundredth anniversary in 2010. A remarkable occasion accompanied and accentuated by numerous events and festivities. The hotel was also able to report that they had converted six former employee lodging facilities into six luxury penthouse spa suites.
2011 saw the terrace of the Scala Restaurant transformed into an «Outdoor Living Room» - where, since this moment in time, the loveliest views over Lake Lucerne, the mountains and the city of Lucerne itself are enjoyed. Additionally, the Art Deco Hotel Montana and the Hotel Seeburg agreed to enter a strategic partnership. And the fact that the Louis Bar was awarded the Swiss Bar Award for the Best Longseller Bar in Switzerland both in 2011 and in 2012 also deserves a mention!
Then in 2012, Fritz Erni and his team launched the sexy and successful Spa and the City Package in the Penthouse Spa Suites - a very special girls’ night out in a league of its own. And with the extension of the Montana Day Spa in 2013, it well and truly became an oasis of wellbeing ensuring even more blissful moments from head to toe.
Yet another milestone in the history of the hotel took place in 2013 with the opening of the new Hemingway Rum Lounge - offering Switzerland’s most exquisite range of rums and a selective choice of precious cigars. In the framework of the SWISS BAR AWARDS, the Hemingway Rum Lounge was honoured with the Best Bar Menue award in 2014.
Also in 2014, the Hotel Montana once again surprised with its keen sense for trends and the opening of the Montana Beach Club. Open during the summer months, here’s the place to live up to that beach feeling, while delighting in delicious drinks and snacks, an outdoor whirlpool and freestanding rainforest shower.
Start-up of the Europe-wide unique Montana KitchenClub concept in 2015 is yet another feature to go down in history; with an experience kitchen inviting guests to immerse in the culinary world of the hotel with all their senses. The seminar facilities were expanded in the same year too.
The Art Deco Hotel Montana was rated Switzerland’s best 4-star city hotel each year from 2012 until 2018 in the «SonntagsZeitung» and «Bilanz» hotel ratings.
For the first time our Montana Beach Club changed to Montana Winter Wonderland over the winter season 2016/2017. The guests enjoy the breathtaking view over wintry Lucerne in the middle of a pine forest and with hot tea warming their hands.
Since Mid of March 2017 the Montana presents its new Penthouse Floor. The new Penthouse rooms feature in-room cooking facilities air-conditioning and each executive room has a state of the art bathtub on the outside terrace. The rooms with connecting doors are the ideal rooms for long-staying guests.
A special year 2018: The Art Deco Hotel Montana has been awarded “Switzerland’s hotel of the year 2018/19”, rated by the national renowned hotel rating of SonntagsZeitung. Since March 2018 all rooms at the hotel are air-conditioned.
In 2020, Miriam Böger, former Vice Director, takes over the management and continues to successfully run the hotel with her experience.
With the new general manager, new ideas and inspiration have occured and therefore the first renovation took place in 2022. The entire fourth floor was redesigned, and the new category of Deluxe Rooms has since been radiating in pastel tones and sophisticated, elegant furnishings.
2023 was an absolute success year in the history of the Art Deco Hotel Montana. Great weather, guests from around the world, and a dedicated team contributed to a record turnover.
In just 10 days in January 2024, the Scala Restaurant, the Louis Bar, the Hemingway Rum Lounge, and the reception were carefully renovated. Since then, the gastronomic spaces have been creating a new 'Wow Effect' in the well known familiar atmosphere.