From the outset, the new Grand Hotel was considered a jewel of Lucerne. It was built at the right moment: Midway through the 19th century, tourism was emerging and the town became an attractive travel destination, especially for the French nobility, Russian aristocracy and British upper class.
But their arrival presented the local hospitality sector, unused to such a sophisticated clientele, with a problem. Hoteliers responded by creating an exclusive, discreet world, a microcosm of luxury catering to guests with expectations that were far higher even than what they might expect back home. Brought up in a castle, the renowned commander knew what his distinguished guests wanted. Honored as the "King of Hoteliers" by the Prince of Wales the future British King Edward VII , the grand seigneur of good taste cultivated an elegant culture of hospitality in Lucerne that still serves as an exemplar today.
In another master arrived to boost the renown of the Grand Hotel National. French celebrity chef Auguste Escoffier devotedly pampered the discerning — or fussy — palates of the aristocracy, from senior members of the German imperial family to Indian maharajas — not forgetting Sissy, Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
Over the years and paying close attention to detail, he has subjected the establishment to extensive renovations. Among other things, 22 exclusive residences were created in the west wing for long-term tenants. Today, the Grand Hotel National presents itself as a busy 5-star city hotel with 41 guest rooms and suites.
New cosmopolitan guests enliven the grandiose setting and inject fresh grandeur into the establishment. Once a guest senses the connection between legendary tradition and sophisticated modernity, he or she is hooked! Elisabeth Erculiani Tanner was the strong woman in the background, who watched her husband's back and raised their two sons, Umberto and Raimondo.
