Early Winter Tourism

There were quite a few guests in the summer, but Badrutt knew that the Engadine winter had a lot to offer. In the autumn of 1864 he made a daring bet with his mostly English guests: he waxed enthusiastic about the sunny, pleasant winter days and promised them that they could enjoy being on his terrace in their shirtsleeves during this period.

His guests, familiar with the cold, damp English winter, could not begin to imagine that it could be different in the Swiss Alps. Johannes Badrutt offered them lodging at no cost if he should prove to be wrong.

We now know that the pioneer won his bet; the guests were astonished by the sunny weather and the majestic winter landscape. His British guests didn't depart until springtime, replete with suntans, and enthusiastically recounted their Alpine winter experience at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz to friends back home. The start of the winter sports in the Alps was born.