World Leaders and diplomacy took center stage at Switzerland’s Burgenstock Resort
Photo by: KEYSTONE/EDA/POOL/Michael Buholzer
When world leaders emerge from their capitol buildings and palaces to meet each other, they tend to gather in gorgeous settings. Recall, in 1986, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev attempting to defrost the Cold War in Iceland, of all places, at Hofoi, a historic waterfront mansion formerly the British Embassy-turned-French consulate.
Three years later new President George H.W. Bush and “Gorbie” declared the Cold War over in wintry, choppy December seas off the island of Malta aboard the Maksim Gorkiy, a Soviet cruise ship.
The weather in June of 2024 was better-suited for the parachute display watched by the G-7 economic leaders, including President Joe Biden, when Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed them to Borgo Egnazia, a medieval-style luxury resort in Puglia, her home region.
A week later, Meloni and a larger contingent of 52 heads-of-state, including Vice-President Kamla Harris, gathered at Burgenstock Resort, founded in 1873, in Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne, for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine. Harris got the stunning, top-floor, 3,300-square-foot Katara Presidential Suite, with sweeping views from all sides overlooking Lake Lucerne and the Swiss Alps.
“Burgenstock has a great tradition of hosting VIP events, United Nations gatherings and international summits,” said Chris Franzen, Burgenstock Resort’s managing director, who pointed out there were 97 delegations on property to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “We had over 4,000 army personnel securing the mountain, and another 1,500 police officers from all 26 states of Switzerland, plus the U.S. Secret Service securing the hotel.”
Franzen said neither Harris, nor French president Emmanuel Macron, or any of the potentates, amidst the resort’s many luxury trappings, had special demands. “When you host politicians, there are hardly any special requests because they know the media is around and they would pick up on it. So having politicians and head of state around is actually easy.”
Even easier for Franzen, since his vast international experience, began with growing up in his father’s family hotel, which was full of VIP’s and celebrities in Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn. “We always had guests such as Audrey Hepburn, Charles Bronson and Roger Moore. Despite what you read in the sensationalist press these people are very down to earth. There is no need to be star struck because most of them are not arrogant at all.”
Similarly to Franzen, Jacqueline Barney’s career in hospitality began as a child when the native-Floridian’s parents took her aboard weekend cruises. Now Barney oversees global marketing for Crystal Cruises. The sumptuous ships would never be compared to the dowdy “Maksim Gorkiy” Soviet summit ship but are now in the high-profile spotlight. “One of the things that differentiates Crystal Cruises is we bring aboard actors, singers, and world-renowned experts in areas such as science, art, and history,” said Barney.
October 26, for instance, a Crystal ship will set sail from Quebec City to Ft. Lauderdale with disco queen Gloria Gaynor, who sang the groovy anthem “I Will Survive” aboard. Actor Bruce McGill and golf star instructor David Leadbetter sailed in 2024 aboard Crystal ships.
Spotting notables at Nobu is a common occurrence in the New York and Malibu landmark sushi restaurants, so stars will be at home aboard Crystal – the only cruise line with Nobu at sea. Le Casino de Monte-Carlo is the 007-style, belle epoque, exquisite experience in Monaco, and Crystal Cruises offers a taste of elegant gaming experience in an onboard homage to the glamorous palace. By the way, your champagne will be neither shaken, nor stirred, but it will be vintage.
“At Crystal Cruises and Abercrombie & Kent, we do not even use the word ‘luxury.’ We consider ourselves exceptional,” Barney said.
Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com His new book: Travel Tattler – Not So Torrid Tales, may be purchased via Amazon.com Hear his radio talk show on WJIM AM 1240 in Lansing weekdays from 9 am – noon.
