TTN

Suite surrender

Oetker Collection uncovers its 10th masterpiece, The Woodward Geneva, a 26-key, all-suite property with a magnificent Guerlain Spa

Share  

On September 1, 2021, the Oetker Collection opened The Woodward Geneva and TTN had the opportunity to visit and experience this all-suite hotel.

Designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, this 26- suite property located on Lake Geneva and facing Mont Blanc, doesn’t feel like a hotel at all, it feels more like home.

The hotel with its beautiful 1900’s façade is located on Quai Wilson. The entrance, however, is positioned at the side of the building that provides more privacy when guests arrive. On arrival, you are greeted with a warm welcome from the doorman and the concierge, who assist with luggage and direct you in a small lift to the living room.

I say ‘living room’ as the hotel does not have a lobby with a traditional check-in desk, but instead, the first floor welcomes you to what is known as the living room, with beautifully decorated furnishings resembling a luxury private residence.

The living room with its centre chandelier, beautiful ornaments with hardback books on shelves – gives sense of being home. There is a concierge desk manned by a friendly welcome team that are also there to assist guests with anything they may need. For a little more privacy, there is a small intimate room off to the side of the living room where you can sit and relax while you chat with a team member on either your reservation or any information you may need. As there are only 26 suites, each and every staff member knows every guest’s name and that is such a special feeling.

On arrival, guests are taken directly to their room where the team member explains the state-of-the-art systems within the room, which includes an iPad that operates everything from the lights, to drawing the curtains to ordering room service. It’s great if you have settled down to bed, and realised you left the light on by the door! There is also a panel on the wall that has a QR code directing you straight to the Wi-Fi. This panel also provides you with access to all the iPad does.

There are eight categories within the hotel’s 26 suites, all uniquely decorated with beautiful furnishings and artworks (There are more than 500 pieces of art within the hotel). There are a few things that are in all rooms, and one of these is a fireplace that will be wonderful addition in the Swiss winter and a library with classic hardback books. There is so much attention to detail in each room, down to the Mother of Pearl within the handles of the bathroom cabinets. Mother of Pearl is used with Chinese painted flowers on the cupboard doors, which open out to your experience bar where your tea, coffee maker, refrigerator, beverages, coffee cups and glasses are located.

21 out of the 26 suites have a full lake view. With each room breakfast is included either at Le Jardinier restaurant or in room dining, a VIP arrival welcome amenity and free Wi-Fi. With a junior suite reservation, your soft drinks within the experience bar are included and with any other suite category, it includes all other bar drinks except special grape and sparkling beverages. Other complementary offers include a one-way transfer in a private car with a chauffeur for two nights or more in a junior suite, and for two nights or more in a deluxe suite, round trip transfers are included with a private car and chauffer. I can attest that your welcome and luxury experience to The Woodward starts with your chauffer with his warm welcome and the comfortable 20 minute journey in a Mercedes S Class 400.

The bathrooms are larger than some hotel rooms I have stayed in. Jokes aside, with double sinks, a huge bathtub and shower, a vanity with lights for the woman traveller (I find that a lot of hotels do not think about the woman traveller including having sockets near mirrors, let alone a full vanity!) and the most amazing thing to me was the self-rising toilet lid as you walked into the separated toilet cubicle, great during the middle of the night when you may not want to turn on lights. There were also not one, but two brands of amenities in the bathroom from two well-known brands Guerlain and Bamford.

One other unique addition to The Woodward is the Valet Boxes. This is a small box within your walk in wardrobe where you can place your laundry or shoes for polishing that is accessible outside the room by housekeeping so that they do not have to disturb the guest.

The largest suite category is The Royal Suite, which can be accessed directly by a private elevator. This Royal Suite has a large living room, a dining room seating up to 10 guests, a marble fireplace, two balconies overlooking Lake Geneva and the French Alps. There is also a separate kitchenette where the chef can prepare the dinner plates for a private dinner or even a private function. The Royal Suite can be adjoined by a deluxe and/or Junior suite to provide a large family/group stay. In fact the hotel can combine suites to make up two, three & five bedrooms.

The property has two restaurants that have won Michelin acclaim for their New York outposts. Le Jardineir is located on the first floor beyond the living room and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It faces Lake Geneva and offers indoor and outdoor seating and when the weather permits, doors can be opened for the indoor diners to also enjoy the breeze. Ideal for sundowners too. L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon on the ground floor is a famous restaurant that offers an open kitchen concept and is so popular, you had better book your guest at the time of the room reservation to avoid disappointment. Both restaurants are headed up by Chef Olivier Jean who studied under Monsieur Robuchon.

Last, but certainly not least, is the hotel’s 1,200 square metre spa offering Guerlain products and a variety of treatment options. The spa is home to a 21-metre indoor swimming pool – the largest in Geneva, and six treatment rooms including a couples room, two saunas, two steam rooms, two Swedish baths, a jacuzzi and a state of the art gym. I had a wonderful back massage and facial that set me up for a relaxed evening in my junior suite. I also used the gym, where you have everything, you need for a good cardio and or weight work out.

I can most certainly recommend The Woodward Geneva for your luxury clients. Its location is only a short 15 to 20 minute walk to downtown where all the luxury shops are, as well as some lovely cafes and restaurants, there is the boat quay for day trips to Mont Blanc and other public transport only a few minutes away, but I would hurry, because with only 26 suites, the amazing spa, and Micheline starred restaurants, they will definitely be high in demand.

Spacer