Try a Luxury Suite ‘Pod’ in the Snowy Swiss Alps with Audemars Piguet & Whitepod Hotel

The recent match-up between Audemars Piguet (AP) and Whitepot Hotel shows off the best of the best in Swiss Alps-based tourism with a breathtaking Luxury Suite “Pod” that places guests in the heart of nature.

Audemars Piguet maintains its reputation in terms of design, so what’s expected for a hotel with its name tied to it should be nothing short of spectacular. Whitepod lives up to the hype; the eco-resort is perfectly situated in the cozy Swiss Alps – perfect for watchmakers and their fans.

The Whitepod is a bit of a tradition and has been since it was established in 2004. 18 private pods dot the Dent-du-Midi mountain range at an altitude of approximately 4,600 feet. There, the resort joins ecological sensibilities with fine and luxurious touches throughout. 

Whitepod

Whitepod

Whitepod

This trend is what inspired Audemars Piguet to join forces with the hotel. What AP sees in Whitepod has been at its own core since 1875. That’s what’s being brought forward into the new Timeless Suites. This is not the watchmaker’s first foray into the field of hospitality, though. 

Back in 2005, it introduced to the market a 50-room Swiss inn called Hôtel des Horlogers. It was bulldozed 13 years later for a new project. The 75,350-square-feet hotel (designed by architect Bjarke Ingles) is expected to open in 2022.

Breathtaking mountain views will be offered by the pod. That’s for certain since the pod was built as part of a contest to find the right design firm for the gig. The prize was given to Bénédicte Meynet and Singal Depéry-Moesch. Their work now appears as a cozy cove in the Alpine.

Whitepod

Whitepod

Whitepod

Whitepod

The name of the game with this setup is “multi-sensory experience.” In other words, all that stops have been pulled to ensure that sight, sound, taste, touch, and scent have all been considered as evidenced by wool carpet, bird song, Swiss pine, and selection of natural teas.

A lighting concept was also developed to further elevate the experience. As if that weren’t enough, the relaxation rolls outward for a Nordic bath amidst scenic mountain views.

Whitepod COO Hugo Pozzo Di Borgo reportedly stated that “AP’s brand presence is discrete in the pod.” The comment continued, “There are no watches or specific watch designs, except the bathroom is in green and gray mineral colors, related to AP’s corporate colors.”

“However,” he added, “the architecture is based on a watchmaking concept called ‘cardiac coherence.’”

The COO’s explanation then likened the old way of making watches to the creation of all living things with a heart beating inside, marking the rhythm of life as nature intended. 

Without the ticking of the clock, finally some rest; that’s the whole angle of the Timeless Suite.

The room starts at roughly $1,626 per night. The rate includes breakfast for two and a bottle of champagne to be enjoyed in the suite.