If you’ve ever dreamt of spending time in one of the most private cellars in the world, that dream is closer to reality than you might expect.
As the travel industry continues to see a post-pandemic boom, many travelers are continuing to spend more and extra on special experiences, and many hotels and resorts are taking a more proactive approach in imagining what kind of experiences with which they can woo potential customers from all over the world.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is expanding its own experience portfolio this year with the autumn expansion of a campaign it first launched last year, “Based on a True Stay,” highlighting personalized guest experiences curated by local Four Seasons property teams but based on more than 125 actual previous stays and guest requests.
And among that pool, Four Seasons is honing in on its true stay experiences in one of the most popular ski resort towns in France.
First opened 2017, the Four Seasons Hotel Megève in the heart of the French Alps is one of the prime spots for the campaign, with multiple exclusive and personalized experiential offerings for guests in both summer and winter.
That includes dinner in the hotel’s massive Mont Blanc Suite, a five-bedroom suite that can be entirely closed off to encompass an entire floor—ideal for private groups and families—with pristine alpine views of both the mountains and valley.
Within the suite, guests can enjoy a stargazing experience inspired by a guest story in which the staff set up a special dinner and suite experience to surprise a newlywed couple on their honeymoon after bartenders overheard them talking about their love of stargazing. In addition to being one of the inspirations behind the Fall campaign, the bespoke experience also inspired the hotel’s “A Night Above the Clouds” package, now available to all guests.
Another experiential option that is sure to pique the interests of oenophiles is dinner in the hotel’s subterranean wine cellar. The cellar has more than 10,000 bottles in its collection, including many prized bottles and cases belonging to France’s illustrious Rothschild family, who have invested heavily in Megève and the surrounding area for many generations.
“It’s the heart of the hotel,” says Joachim Jacob, general manager of the Four Seasons Megève. “This wine cellar has some of the most iconic—perhaps the best selection—of Château Lafite Rothschild wines.”
The oldest bottle in the cellar, still in the case, dates from 1869—one of the oldest bottles you can find in the world, at least for sale. And the wine cellar boasts to have nearly every wine vintage of Lafite Rothschild since then, too. That said, the collection includes bottles from all over the world, let alone all of France’s major wine producing regions such as Burgundy and Bordeaux.
The cozy dining space was also especially useful during the pandemic, Jacob notes, given how isolated it is from the rest of the hotel—a few floors below the lobby level where the main dining areas are located—making it ideal for families or small groups of friends (pandemic pods).
Available for parties of up to eight people, guests can enjoy a special tasting and wine pairing menu—with any and all dietary restrictions and allergies in mind—crafted by one of the hotel’s many onsite dining options, including La Dame de Pic–Le 1920, a fine dining establishment open in winter and helmed by Anne-Sophie Pic, the world’s most Michelin-distinguished female chef.
Designed by architect Bruno Legrand and designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the property hosts 41 guest rooms and 14 suites in a modern alpine chalet, celebrating both indoor and outdoor sporting activities. (For instance, most rooms and suites feature both a fireplace and a balcony.)
Rochon also worked closely with banking mogul Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, who was named CEO of the Edmond de Rothschild Group earlier this year. The Edmond de Rothschild Group offers sustainable investment opportunities around the world, with focus on arts and the environment, among other interests. The baroness personally assisted with the interior design of the hotel to ensure it reflects her family’s long heritage.
Additional activities available in Megève include private hiking and photography tours through the Alps (for any level of athleticism and proficiency), a horse-drawn carriage ride through Megève, an excursion to the nearby picturesque Lake Annecy, and private cooking and pastry lessons from the hotel’s highly-trained professional culinary staff.
The inaugural launch of the Based on a True Stay campaign in August 2022 proved fruitful for Four Seasons as the company said it generated numerous new bookings across its 126 hotels and resorts globally.
“The acts of love—big and small—delivered by our exceptional teams are how we will continue setting the standard for luxury hospitality worldwide,” said Marc Speichert, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, in a statement.
Rates for the Four Seasons Hotel Megève start at 550 euros ($583 USD) per night for a superior room, and pricing for experiences are available upon request.