More than just a spectacular stay, Geneva’s Hotel d’Angleterre is also deeply committed to sustainability and the community. From sumptuous rooms and sublime views to the employment of AI technology to cut food waste, there’s more than meets the eye to this magnificent hotel.

Discover this on: Majestic Switzerland

Luxury on the lake

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Renowned for offering “the finest British hospitality in Switzerland”, the Hotel d’Angleterre sits proudly on the edge of Lake Geneva. Here you can throw open the windows and breath in the fresh mountain air. Set in the heart of Geneva, the hotel combines all the joys of a central location with the relaxing atmosphere of a lakeside retreat. The sublime views across the lake are set against an unforgettable backdrop of snow-capped mountains and the majestic Mont Blanc.

For inspiration: Switzerland destination guide

Travel like a VIP and explore Geneva in style with a complimentary boat shuttle that leaves from just outside the hotel. It will transport you across the lake, past the impressive Jet d’Eau, the 140m fountain that is iconic to the Geneva skyline. Step out into streets lined with Cartier, Patek Phillipe and Dior and enjoy some of the finest shopping in Europe.

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Decadent rooms

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Sumptuous rooms and suites at the Hotel d’Angleterre reflect the 5-star grandeur and European elegance for which Geneva is renowned. With silk curtains and rich, fabric-lined walls giving a cosy yet sumptuous feel no two rooms are alike. Some suites have private balconies overlooking the lake, while others feature fine art lithographs by Miró, Calder and Picasso. All are designed with guests’ comfort at front of mind, with elegant marble and onyx bathrooms providing the perfect place to pamper and relax.

Afternoon Tea and fine dining

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There’s no finer place in Geneva to enjoy the decent ritual of afternoon tea than the Hotel d’Angleterre. Here you can savor an array of tempting treats including delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and sweet homemade pastries. Perfectly accompanied of course by an extensive tea menu or a glass of Champagne to enhance the occasion. At the Hotel’s Windows restaurant the food and scenery come with service to match. Executive Chef Alexandre Cardiga offers a wide spectrum of sought-after specialities, international favourites and homely dishes.

A commitment to sustainability

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The Hotel d’Angleterre is a Red Carnation Hotel, a family-run collection of 19 exceptional properties around the world. Unique and special, The Red Carnation Hotels share a strong commitment to sustainability. As part of the TTC Family of brands they work together with the Treadright Foundation to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®.

Related content: 4 incredible MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences you can enjoy with Luxury Gold

Cutting food waste

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The hotel places a great emphasis on eliminating food waste. Global food losses and food waste amounts to $1 trillion per year. In partnership with Winnow Solutions, a waste management company, the hotel is employing “intelligent” waste management techniques.

The Hotel d’Angleterre used ground-breaking AI technology to run a more productive, profitable and sustainable kitchen. Identifying what ingredients go to waste at the end of each day, they plan meals and order produce much more efficiently.

Not only does the technology help to save the business money on unused food products, it also helps to reduce their carbon impact by eliminating unnecessary food waste. There is also a great focus on the elimination of single use plastics, another great contributor to waste.

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Local partnerships

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The hotel partners exclusively with food suppliers and businesses that share our eco-friendly values and commitment to reaching carbon neutrality. Our strong focus on local ingredients from local producers results in lower food miles.

Related content: 5 Michelin-star chefs celebrating local culture through food

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

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For all guests to the hotel, a special lake-to-plate MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience is offered (at additional cost). You can join a seasoned local Swiss fisherman on Lake Geneva for a three-hour fishing tour, to learn the local fishing practices and catch some fish. Then take your bounty back to Executive Chef Alexandre Cardiga, who will prepare a sublime dish for you to enjoy in the hotel’s Windows Restaurant overlooking the lake and the Jet d’Eau.

Related content: Luxury travelers are willing to pay more for sustainable experiences

A commitment to the community

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Community also sits at the heart of the Hotel d’Angleterre’s manifesto. In collaboration with the UNHCR Refugee Food Festival, the hotel invites talented refugee chefs to promote their food culture and showcase their cuisine in their kitchen, with the profits donated to charity.

The annual event is a fantastic showcase for refugee chefs in the area to show their talents and share in food and friendship in the city. This year the Hotel d’Angleterre Geneva showcased an Iranian menu prepared by chef Mostafa Mohjib Nurbakhsh.

The hotel also supports important charities such as the Make a Wish Foundation. This global organization grants the most heartfelt wishes of children aged between 3 and 18 living with a serious medical condition to give them hope, strength and joy.

Related content: Majestic Switzerland through the lens of a Traveling Concierge

Majestic Switzerland

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To enjoy the delights of the Hotel d’Angleterre for yourself take a look at our Majestic Switzerland luxury guided tour. Over 10-Days, enjoy the most amazing alpine scenery, exceptional dining and exquisite hotels.  Explore Zurich, St Moritz and Lucerne. Enjoy VIP experiences and take an unforgettable journey through the Alps aboard the Glacier Express.

 Related content: 5 benefits of visiting iconic tourist hotspots out of hours

Created in partnership with Tourism Switzerland.

Let me introduce you to Pink City Rickshaw. Rajasthan’s capital of Jaipur lives up to its nickname of The Pink City. Upon arrival, you can see the distinctive salmon hue across the city’s skyline. But beyond appearance, it’s also a place that is steeped in heritage. Traditional folk song and dance, textile markets, handmade designer shopping and local cuisine are all part of Jaipur’s rich culture. 

Newer additions are the bright pink, custom-designed and eco-friendly Jaipur rickshaws driven by local women. What better way to see the city sights? It’s more than just a fun way to explore Jaipur. Pink City Rickshaw employs female rickshaw drivers and offers a unique opportunity to help support more than 200 local women from low-income households. 

Employing and empowering women who often have no work opportunities prior to guiding Jaipur tours, Pink City Rickshaw equips its employees with professional training and opportunities for economic empowerment among their communities. 

Does that sound like your kind of ride? Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience on our Essence of India with Ranthambore luxury guided tour to meet these women for yourself and learn all about the initiative. Hop in, share stories and see the magnificent sights of Jaipur. 

“Our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences are a beautiful exchange of values between our guests and the people that we meet,” explains Lucie Dalila, Sustainability Manager, Travel Experiences at Luxury Gold “This is a two-way experience – a sharing of stories, ideas and knowledge that shines a whole new light on your destination. We all leave feeling empowered, inspired and keen to contribute even more.” 

Empowering local women 

Puja Gour, Vice President of ACCESS Development Services, a nonprofit organization based in Jaipur, that partners with Pink City Rickshaw tells us: “Empowering women is our main initiative but creating an engaging and curated experience on our sightseeing tours is a top priority as well. Tourism meets philanthropy as you are guided through the medieval mystique of the walled city, seeing the local culture and sites through the eyes of the smart, enthusiastic and knowledgeable women who navigate Jaipur’s streets.” 

A modern icon since the 1880s 

“The presence of rickshaws in India has played an important role, from the electric cities to the smaller towns of rural regions,” explains Puja. “Growing up in Patna in Bihar, we didn’t have a public transportation system. Hopping on a rickshaw (usually hired by a family or friend) for weekly outings with other neighborhood children continues to hold a warm place in my heart.  While the city’s rickshaw industry has traditionally been dominated by men, the societal backdrop is adapting to the transition of new drivers — giving women the power to gain professional experience and income, while also giving you a fuller experience compared to the standard point A-to-B taxi service.” 

Soaking up the sites 

Sites like the 16th-century Amber Palace and UNESCO world heritage site Jantar Mantar observatory are part of what draw so many visitors to the magic of Jaipur. Stroll Amber Palace’s cobbled paths and take in views of Maota Lake. The magnificent City Palace is home to Mughal and Rajput architecture. It is also the present residence to the last ruling royal family who live in a private section of the palace. 

You’ll also get lost in some more off-the-beaten path destinations. Explore the partially hidden lower level of Mansagar, a beautiful place of solitude often overlooked by the masses.  When you take a tour with the women of Jaipur, you’re making a personal impact on the local community and contributing to a cleaner environment. You’re also experiencing the magic of one of India’s most dynamic cities. 

Feeling inspired to rickshaw around Jaipur? 

Jaipur is a featured destination on our Essence of India with Ranthambore and Spirit of North & South India luxury guided tours. 

Travel to Jaipur with us and enjoy the opulent rooms of the 5-star Jai Mahal Palace.  Discover the 18 acres of Mughal style gardens in this magnificent hotel showcasing Rajasthan’s stunning heritage. 

Sample the best of the city’s exquisite food. Dine at the sumptuous 1135 AD, with its royal interior, traditional music and breathtaking sunset views. And, celebrate the final night of your voyage at the Cinnamon Restaurant in Jai Mahal Palace. Here the chef expertly blends traditional and contemporary cuisine from the four princely states of India. It’s an unforgettable feast. 

Visit our website for more information on all our luxury guided tours to India. Download our interactive brochure for 2022 & 2023 Worldwide tours. And learn more about our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences. 

Head Chef of The Werf at Boschendal, Allistaire Lawrence offers guests an exceptional soil-to-fork dining experience. Showcasing the spectacular produce of the Cape, he champions simple cuisine starring ethically sourced ingredients and served with unpretentious gourmet flair.

Exclusively for Luxury Gold, we asked Allistaire what our guests can expect when they dine at The Werf. And we also took the opportunity to learn more about South African cuisine.

Discover this on: Spectacular South Africa

Meet Allistaire Lawrence

Allistaire with fellow chef Todd English @delicious_al

Trained at the Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) in Stellenbosch, one of the top three chef training schools in the world, Allistaire Lawrence boast an impressive pedigree. He has led the kitchens at some of the Cape’s most iconic restaurants and is now Executive chef of The Werf at Boschendal. Known for embracing and enhancing the simplicity in foods and letting the ingredients shine, he makes use of the freshest ingredients on his doorstep.

On the food philosophy at The Werf Allistaire says, “We are dictated to by the seasons, and the availability of produce from our farm and surroundings. The healthy rich soil for which Boschendal is famous translates into flavor profiles that are earthy and intense, as a result the dishes speak for themselves. I want guests to take away something special from our authentic farm-to-table experience, for it’s a process that continues to teach me so much.”

For inspiration: South Africa destination guide

The Boschendal Wine Estate

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The Werf Restaurant is part of the Wine Farm Franschhoek, situated in the attractively revamped original cellar of the Manor House. All sited on the Boschendal Wine Estate, one of South Africa’s oldest wine estates, where the overriding philosophy is of family, food and reconnection. With sustainable at its core, the farm employs practices that ensure the soil is left better than found and to deliver quality produce and products.

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With a vast organic vegetable garden and orchards on the doorstep of his kitchen, as Chef of the Werf, Allistaire always has a bounty of fresh ingredients available. In addition, other ingredients are sourced from small producers and farms from the surrounding Winelands, Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

Related content: Mind the culture gap: The chefs who make worlds collide through food

Dining at The Werf

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 With such mouth-watering soil-to-fork dining on offer at The Werf Restaurant, we asked Allistaire Lawrence what Luxury Gold guests will gain from this dining experience. “Dining at the Werf restaurant gives guests an opportunity to make a visual connection with a taste and flavor experience” he tells us.

“Being able to sit and eat food produced on the farm and being able to see a working farm doing what it does, gives you a better appreciation for the food. It allows us to showcase the amazing produce the farm has to offer, while giving the guests an opportunity to sample it, as well as an opportunity to take some of it home, when shopping at our retail store.”

The seasonal menu features treats such as; aged black Angus steak with parsley butter and beef jus served with crispy potatoes with garlic emulsion; cured local trout with charred cucumber, fresh turnip, lemon sauce and foraged sorrels; and broad beans and ricotta, poached boschendal egg with chilli oil, white bean hummus, burnt lemon and hazelnuts.

For the ultimate souvenir of your visit, you can take away a recipe card to recreate one of Allistaire’s dishes at home.

Allistaire Lawrence on South African cuisine

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“South African cuisine has many external influences” Allistaire goes on to explain. “There is no one type of South African cuisine. We all have a version of it based on where we come from.”

We asked him what he feels is so special and distinctive and he proudly told us: “The one thing that makes South African cuisine a magical experience is the extension of hospitality that you feel when you share a South African meal and experience. You are made to feel welcome and like family. We are very proud of what we cook, and we are very eager to share our food and hospitality culture with people.”

Related content: 6 of the best spas you can visit with Luxury Gold

His favorite South African dish?

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When asked his favorite dish Allistaire again reinforces: “Every South African has a different context when it comes to South African cuisine. Our food has been inspired by so many international influences and, due to how things were in the past, your family would have different food experiences to another based on social influences.”

“The one language all South Africans speak is “Braai”” he says, “so anything from a snoek with apricot jam, to wors (sausage) and a skaaptjoppie (lamb chop), to a Skope and pap (sheep’s head and maize meal). Anything over the coals would be a proudly South African meal.” However, to conclude the question without a doubt he tells us: “My favorite South African dish is my mother’s tripe, trotter and sugar beans curry.”

Related content: This is what it’s actually like to travel on South Africa’s Rovos Rail

His favorite ingredient?

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As Chef of the Werf, there are many fresh ingredients for Allistaire to choose from when we ask his favorite. “South Africa and especially Cape town has an amazing selection of fish to work with. Nothing beats fresh fish, cooked well,” he says. “I’m also a big fan of eggs. Such a simple, yet versatile ingredient.”

Home comfort food

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To conclude our chat, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask what an acclaimed chef cooks at home with his family. “Because of the hours I work, cooking at home doesn’t happen too often,” he shares. “When I do cook it will be something hearty like a stew or curry, or something over the coals. I enjoy meals that bring back nostalgia of my family life when I was younger. I’m a sucker for an oven roast chicken, as my mom makes a killer one. My ultimate favorite comfort spoil is my wife’s spaghetti Bolognese – its like a bowl of delicious love.”

Related content: 5 Michelin Star chefs celebrating local culture through food

Allistaire Lawrence’s exceptional cuisine as chef of The Werf Restaurant is one of the culinary highlights on our Spectacular South Africa luxury guided tour. A showcase of beautiful wilderness, eclectic cultures, warm hospitality and rich heritage, journey from Cape Town into the heart of Big Five territory. Discover Robben Island, Table Mountain, the finest wineries and view iconic wildlife on a luxury safari. And why not extend your tour aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail to the mighty Victoria Falls?

Related content: Where the wilderness and luxury combine: Step inside the Lion Sands Game Reserve