Destination-Report Davos: Meet like Bill Clinton, John Kerry & Mark Zuckerberg at the World Economic Forum: {Reader's Travel Tip}

In Davos, Switzerland, 1560 m. Such as Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as high-ranking economists such as Mark Zuckerberg or Google Chairman Eric Schmidt.

World Economic Forum in Davos: Angela Merkel and Leonardo DiCaprio

Every year in January, the small town of Davos in the Swiss Alps, with a population of 13.000, comes into the focus of the global public: That is when the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place, at which the economic and political elite meet for a week to discuss over to advise world events. But the special secret of Davos lies in its relaxed atmosphere.

2017, for example, visited Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping Davos. Also David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Bill Gates or Sheryl Sandberg had to be in Davos in the past years. Finally, Hollywood stars like Kevin Spacey, Leonardo DiCaprio and Goldie Hawn have been invited to Davos.

Research facilities with tradition

But Davos is much more than the location of the World Economic Forum: the site is home to several renowned research stations such as the National Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research, the Global Risk Forum or the Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research. In addition, there are numerous specialized clinics and medical facilities - surrounded by fantastic nature with numerous opportunities for activities such as hiking or skiing. There is also a UNESCO World Heritage site here.

The roots of the congress in Davos extend to 19. Since 1865, the place has gained international renown, clinics and research facilities during the healing of tuberculosis.

From Albert Einstein to Zauberberg

In 1923 Davos doctors organized the first international congress, in 1925 the physical-meteorological observatory followed, and in 1928 Albert Einstein opened the first “Davos University Courses”.

This epoch was also immortalized in literature: the 1900 m above sea level. M. located Schatzalp, a sanatorium built in Art Nouveau style, served as Thomas Mann's Vorlage for his novel “Der Zauberberg”, scenes from the film “Die Ms. in the moon ”shot in 2016. Today the Schatzalp is a hotel and can also be used as an event location.

The beginnings of the WEF

1969 was built in Davos the convention center. As a result, 1971 invited Klaus Schwab, who had often visited the city privately and back then Professor for corporate policy at the University Geneva was, 444 Executives western european Companys to the first “European Management Symposium” in Davos.

Over time, the annual meeting broadened its focus to include economic and social issues, changing its name to the World Economic Forum in 1987 Objective, become a platform for the Solution developing international conflicts.

Davos as a convention center

The congress location Davos has practically grown with it during this time. The congress center alone has been renovated three times, most recently in 2010, and can now accommodate up to 5.000 people, including up to 1.800 in the plenary hall. It has a total of 34 conference rooms on 12.000m2. The three autonomous parts of the house can be connected, and the furniture is not fixed either, but can be adapted to customer requirements. In addition, there are 13 seminar hotels and 26.000 guest beds of all categories in Davos. Davos generates around 61 million francs annually Turnover through congresses. And sports cities in Davos are also often converted for events.

A big advantage of Davos is its manageability. Many participants in the World Economic Forum estimate that they can meet important personalities here in just five days and in a very small space at around 200 events Economy and politics, for which they would otherwise have to fly around the world for months.

When John Kerry walks

The ways are so short that many of them can also be covered on foot, which former US Secretary of State John Kerry did to the chagrin of his bodyguards when his limousine got stuck in traffic. In addition, an excellently developed bus system is also available until late in the evening.

Right next to the congress center is the excellent Extrablatt restaurant, which is also responsible for catering for the World Economic Forum. No wonder that not only the annual World Economic Forum with 3.000 participants takes place here, but also regular medical congresses such as the pulmonary or Swiss Society for surgery take place here. But the telecommunications company Swisscom and the JapAniManga Night have also chosen Davos as their venue.

Rent a whole city

The prices are basically a matter of negotiation. After all, you can rent almost the entire city from 1.000 convention participants. For congresses from 300 persons, Davos offers the rooms in the congress center free of charge - if the event takes place between May and November and at least 300 single rooms are booked in the designated partner hotels via Davos Congress.

The offer includes free use of a plenary room for twelve hours, depending on the size of the group, including the foyer and six group rooms, initial setup, room lighting, heating, ventilation and standard cleaning, standard technical equipment (1 projector in the plenary room, 1 technician per part of the house for the Technology of the conference center). The offer also includes free WiFi and free travel on local transport and mountain railways for all participants, as well as free activities. Additional technical equipment, catering or other special needs however, will be charged additionally.

World Economic Forum: The residents of Davos are moving with them

In 2014 I visited Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the run-up to the G7 summit, this year Davos, which has hosted the World Economic Forum since 1971. And could see big differences:

While in Garmisch Partenkirchen - and again in Hamburg in the run-up to the G20 summit - the population is not involved in the events and the local shops fear economic losses due to high security measures, the inhabitants of Davos could slowly in almost 50 years to the get used to the great effort that the World Economic Forum and many other conferences mean.

Safety measures

While there are security measures and in one place with 13.000 residents, large conferences with 3.000 participants are simply important. Nevertheless, of course, the bus transport, the school enterprise and the business life in Davos, for example, continue during the Worldeconomicforum. However, the access routes are of course strictly controlled which is quite simple because of the special situation:

Davos lies on over 1560 m ü. M., it has an access road and a train line, which can be reached in about two hours Zurich. The population is therefore sensitized to the congress business and partly lives on it: about 650 full-time jobs in the city depend directly or indirectly on the congress location Davos.

In the suite by John Kerry and Bill Clinton

The Steigenberger Grandhotel Belvedere alone employs three Employees for the World Economic Forum. The US delegation also lives here every year, such as ex-Secretary of State John Kerry, who regularly stayed in the presidential suite, or Bill Clinton during his only WEF visit in 2001. This is also different from the G7 summit - an interview with his host: Animations in the room allocation can not afford, the place is simply limited. How did Donald Trump like it?

The Grandhotel Belvedere still has 96 rooms, 30 suites and 8 meeting rooms, some of which can also be combined so that the largest to hold 250 people. During the World Economic Forum, the water in the pool is also drained and used for events. In addition, the hotel has its own chalet, the Dischmahütte, which can be booked for up to 40 persons eg for Swiss evenings. Highly recommended is also the gourmet food in the restaurant Belvedere.

With Schimon Peres into the 13. century

In contrast to the Belvedere, the Hotel Seehof, although also a five-star hotel, is extremely down-to-earth. It has 100 rooms and suites as well as two meeting rooms for up to 80 Persone, as well as the Arvenholz-Stuben or the Panorama-Restaurant for events up to 250 persons. During the World Economic Forum, the former Israeli President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shimon Peres, was a frequent guest.

But the history of the house dates back to the 13th century, which is still clearly visible today in the vaulted cellar and in the rustic, cozy Chesa restaurant. The cuisine here is correspondingly down-to-earth and also very good, which includes Wiener schnitzel or burgers in addition to Swiss specialties. Because the Seehof wants to be away from the congress business as a sports hotel for private customers and especially families focus.

The third five-star hotel in Davos, the futuristic InterContinental, is an entirely different story. It is an ideal James Bond location in the form of a golden egg. With its 216 rooms, it is designed entirely for conference guests, which is why it does not have an official 5-star classification. The helipad is located just below the hotel.

Celebrities on the ski slope?

Is it possible to find the many celebrities who come to the World Economic Forum in Davos on the ski slopes? The answer is no; Although the ski slopes are open this week and hardly traveled. Many of the visiting personalities simply have no time for such activities, only one or the other wife may take the opportunity to take private lessons on the comparatively lonely ski slope.

That's a pity, because the environment of Davos has literally invites you to relax and linger from stressful conferences: Even the journey by Rhaetian Railway over Landquart up to Davos is a feast for the eyes. If you continue from Davos Platz on the Rhaetian Railway to Filisur, you cross Landwasser Viaduct, a 65 meter high and 136 meter long railway bridge that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008 and at the same time the landmark of the railway company. Closer to Davos lies the Wiesner Viaduct, 89 m high and 210 m long - below in the photo.

Hiking like Prince Charles

On the way from Zurich to Davos you can also get to Klosters by the 12 KM, where the English heir to Charles regularly visited the family hotel Walserhof. Klosters is, in contrast to the urban Davos, a quiet village with 3.800 inhabitants, in which one can also walk excellently away from traffic, while the 400 m. higher Davos is more known for its ski slopes.

In fact, the ski slopes on the 2850 m.ü.M. high Parsenn with 102 slopes kilometers and the 2590 m.ü.M. high Jakobshorn with 12 tracks and ski lifts still in operation and the snow-capped mountains together with the otherwise springy weather offer an imposing backdrop.

But other sports such as mountain and e-biking, climbing, tennis, golf, rafting, stand-up paddling can also be done excellently in Davos, and there is also a wakeboard club on the lake. system . And even in winter you can take very nice hikes on specially signposted winter hiking trails, for example from the Ischalp, the middle station of the Jakobshorn down to Clavadel and further back to Davos - unfortunately they cross the ski slope in some places, which makes hiking a bit uncomfortable can.

Almost untouched nature

Here, at Clavadel, is also the picturesque Sertigtal valley, a side valley of the Landwasser valley, through which leads a narrow traffic-poor street, which can be used also by the Postbus (year-round) or horse sled (in winter). A cross-country ski trail leads through the valley.

In Sertig Dörfli there is a listed Reformed Church, two restaurants, and the Walserhuus, a modern mid-range hotel, which is also suitable for a little more secluded events. From there you can hike in a northerly direction to a waterfall at the foot of the Sertig Pass or to undertake challenging mountain hikes, such as the 2739 m.ü.M. high pass to Engadin.

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