architect Claudio Carbone will oversee a complete renovation of Switzerland’s hotel+Quellenhof'>Grand Hotel Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz as part of an extensive investment programme of around 40m Swiss Francs (US$42m, €34m, £30m).

Part of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the five-star wellbeing and medical health resort first opened in 1869, and includes 106 suites, which have hosted film stars, statesmen and royalty. CEO Patrick Vogler said the forthcoming renovations will “complete the vision to become ‘the’ leading European Grand Hotel”.

The renovations will begin in February 2019, and the hotel will reopen in June 2019, but all other areas of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz – including Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz, the spa suites, the thermal spa, the medical centre and Clinic Bad Ragaz, Tamina Therme Thermal Baths, the casino and the golf course – will remain open during the remodel.

During the renovations, the lobby and bar will be rebuilt, rooms will be refreshed with contemporary decor, and a new restaurant concept will be created.

Carbone Interior Design, based in Switzerland, beat out competition from New York, Madrid and Dubai to take on the project. Carbone has also previously designed the spa suites at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, which opened in 2009, and is creating the resort’s upcoming family spa, scheduled to open in April 2018.

"For us this is a clear recognition of the Heidiland region as a tourist destination and of Bad Ragaz itself,” said Vogler. “We are convinced that we can continue to strengthen our market positioning.”

Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is one of Europe’s leading wellbeing and medical health resorts, and includes two five-star hotels: the Grand Hotel Quellenhof & Spa Suites and Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz. The property includes the public thermal bath “Tamina Therme”, as well as the its own casino.

Since 2016, the Hotel Schloss Wartenstein has also been part of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz.

The spa and wellness offerings are created around the local thermal waters, discovered in 1242 in the nearby Tamina gorge, and referred to as the “blue gold” of Bad Ragaz.

The resort offers guests a 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa, along with the Medical Health Center – which includes the Swiss Olympic Medical Center and offers expertise in diagnostics and treatment in various fields.

In 2014, the out-patient offerings were expanded to include in-patient treatment and orthopedic rehabilitation at the newly founded Clinic Bad Ragaz, which includes 17 clinic rooms where guests can recover with medical care.