Geneva’s legendary calm was upset recently. At fault: hotel groups. Since the beginning of the third millennium, Starwood, Mandarin Oriental, Concorde, Four Seasons, Rocco Forte have placed their brands one after the other on the banks of Lake Leman with the Président Wilson, Rhône, de la Paix, Bergues and Richemond hotels as new ports of call. The last group to hoist its banner in Geneva’s harbor, Kempinski just took over the management of the ex-Palace, ex-Noga Hilton. The bankruptcy of its previous owner, Nessim Gaon, led to a change in the management of this large complex on Quai du Mont-Blanc, where conference rooms, luxury boutiques and casinos rub elbows. “A divorce by mutual consent,” tempers Silvie Alric, Marketing director Hilton Western Europe. The new Saudi owners have decided to pursue the adventure with Kempinski. The property will benefit from major works. Closed only recently, its reopening is scheduled for the first trimester 2007.The only problem with this rapid movement is that the Leisure segment remains a step behind. “Geneva is a stopping place where one spends a night at the end of the week to do a bit of shopping before heading up to the Swiss and French Alps for skiing”. For the most part the city’s clientele are Swiss and local (France, Germany, United Kingdom). While Americans are also present at Geneva’s hotels, the city was long able pride itself as the fief of Middle Eastern clientele. Today it continues to rejoice in the presence of this clientele that makes a major contribution. But “this clientele alone is no longer sufficient for ‘making’ Geneva,” comments Raoul Finan. The death of the Saudi king Fahd and the Emirate sheikh Zayed dealt a harsh blow to this source of clientele. Fortunately for Geneva, emerging clientele, with Chinese, Indian and Russian guests...