Swiss hotel launches travel timekeeping package

A Swiss hotel claims it has become the first in the world to offer guests the service of a "watch butler."

The Le Richemond Hotel in the Swiss city of Geneva has introduced a new service for watch lovers by employing the services of Pierre Jacques, the head of luxury Swiss watch boutique Les Ambassadeurs, to advise guests interested in Switzerland's famous horology industry.

The "watch butler" is on hand to display particular timepieces, says the hotel, as well as being able to arrange private tours to top-end timepiece manufacturing sites such as Vacheron Constantin, Roger Dubuis and Franck Muller.

For guests looking for the complete watch-making experience, the hotel is also offering an "Art of Watch-making Package," which includes a welcome glass of champagne, breakfast, the Watch Butler Service, a manufacturing plants visit, a visit of Patek Philippe Museum and a dinner at Le Jardin, from £454 (€523).

Switzerland ranks as the world's top destination for horology and horologists, laying claim to a number of time-keeping firsts - the first wristwatch, the first quartz watch, the first water-resistant wristwatch, the thinnest, smallest or most expensive wristwatches all hail from Switzerland's valleys.

Today, the watch and clock industry is Switzerland's third largest exporter, says the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.

Specialist Stays - Some other hotels that provide that little bit extra:

- The Algonquin Hotel, New York (Gemology Concierge)
- The Andaz Hotel, London (Reader in residence)
- Westin Hotels, Worldwide (Running Concierges)
- The Alisal, California (Professional wranglers)

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