World’s tallest hotel to open in...Switzerland?

Getting high in Switzerland has always been a purely natural activity, usually done by strapping on sturdy hiking boots or Kessler skis and heading into the Alps. In 2019, a man-made, elevator-assisted option could be available — Swiss entrepreneur Remo Stoffel  unveiled plans this week for the world’s tallest hotel to be opened in Vals.

At 1,250 feet, the 7132 Tower (named for 7132 Ltd., which manages the existing resort in Vals) will beat the reigning champion, the JW Marriott Marquis hotel in Dubai, by 86 feet, and in fact, Stoffel admits his vision was inspired by the city’s emir, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, whom he credits with transforming Dubai into the tourism and business powerhouse it is now.

The design for the building, a minimalistic mirrored monolith not tremendously unlike Stanley Kubrick’s vision in 2001: A Space Odyssey (at least in artist renderings), comes from U.S.-based firm Morphosis, and has a goal of blending the structure into the landscape. The firm’s leader Thom Mayne told Dezeen.com:

"The tower's reflective skin and slender profile camouflage with the landscape, abstracting and displacing the valley and sky.”

Naturally, the $200 million hotel also comes with a heavy price tag for guests, who may pay from $1,000 to $24,000 for a night in one of the 107 bedrooms. I’m guessing that doesn’t cover costs in the planned spa, restaurants, or sky bar, but let's hope is does at least cover the swimming pool, library, ballroom, and art gallery.

Whether it ever gets built remains to be seen, however, and some speculate the whole affair is merely absurd marketing. The green light, according to Swiss law, requires a vote by local citizens.