Zurich shines during the Swiss Meetings Trophy
The eighth Swiss Meetings Trophy, an annual
familiarization trip arranged by the Swiss Convention &
Incentive Bureau, is basically an "Amazing Race" competition.
In it, a dozen North American meeting planners and journalists
compete with teams from seven European countries in a three-day
whirlwind tour of four cities in which arriving first doesn't
count, as long as you enjoy the journey.
It's a great way to see Switzerland. The event makes it clear
that the country is small enough, and the transportation
infrastructure is robust and reliable enough, to plan
multi-stop trips rather than settling in one spot -
particularly if it's an incentive trip.
Zurich to Flims
The rally began in Zurich's old citywith a game of bocce in a
courtyard off Lindenhofstrasse, high above the Limmat River,
which flows through the old city before meeting Lake Zurich.
It's a great place to start the day, with excellent views of
the city. From there we walked through twisting, medieval
streets lined with shops - they ranged from the Apple Store to
small art galleries - to Brasserie Lipp, a well-regarded
restaurant in an old building with a tall, domed tower, at the
top of which is the Jules Verne Panorama Bar. It is a small
space, round but fairly narrow with a capacity of 80, and has
what may be the best view of the whole of Zurich.
From there, we were off to the Flims, Laax, and Falera region
in Eastern Switzerland. There are more direct routes from
Zurich than chartering a ferry to Thalwil, followed by a
private train to Chur, and then bus to the Graubunden region,
but it's a scenic, fun way to travel nonetheless. We were able
to have hors d'oeuvres on the 30-minute ride in a chartered
Zurichsee ferry, which also provides scheduled service along
Lake Zurich.
The historic Churchill train (aka Little Red Train), built in
1939, is a small charter-only train that has transported
royalty and other notables across the country for decades. We
ate a lunch prepared onboard at tables with linen tablecloths
and red roses while wetook in the views, and then took a
chartered, Yellow Post Bus, which has regular service to many
large and small destinations throughout the country, including
some very scenic routes. Groups doing a lot of traveling will
find the Swiss Pass invaluable. Available in four-day,
eight-day, or longer versions, it permits unlimited travel on
all trains, buses, and boats in the Swiss Travel System, taking
much of the logistics out of transfers.
In the afternoon our group found ourselves at the striking,
turquoise-green Lake Cauma in the Alps. It's about 3,300 feet
above sea level, yet so deep inside a valley that it requires a
short funicular to reach - the drop's too steep for stairs.
There's a nice caf�, swimming docks, and two-person
paddleboats. A small island in the lake is the right distance
for a quick teambuilding competition - far enough to move
quickly, but long enough to allow early sprinters to be
overtaken.
Dinner was at Restaurant Tegia Curnia in nearby Laax, which is
accessible only via cable car. A mile up in the Alps, the views
from here are incredible. Cocktails and a traditional fondue
were served at a rustic mountainside lodge, accompanied by
music from long alphorns, before we retired to the glass-walled
restaurant for Graubunden regional specialties.
Appenzell and St. Gallen
There may be a better way to travel through the Swiss Alps in
summer than by the convertible Volkswagens and Audis we rented
from Europcar, but it's hard to imagine what it might be. The
mountainous route from Flims to Appenzell takes you through
Lichtenstein, which provides even experienced road warriors
with another country to add to their lists.
Take the long way into Appenzell, as some of the best scenery
is on the road surrounding the city. It's a small city of
7,000, high up in the mountains, with ornate iron signs marking
many businesses. It's a lovely old town to stroll around, and
if you're looking for a genuine Swiss garden gnome, this is the
place. Stop at the Appenzeller Bier brewery and distillery,
where the Locher family has been making excellent beer for five
generations and surprisingly good Scotch since the new
millennium.
Outside of town, higher up in the mountains, is Restaurant
Eggli. It's very casual - think picnic tables - but the food is
good, the views are unmatched, and it's in an idyllic setting.
If you're going to bring a photographer, this is where to take
each attendee's "in the Alps" photo. That said, the serving
staff was a bit overwhelmed by our roughly 100 participamts
sitting down together, so you may want to consider a buffet
meal here for large groups.
St. Gallen is a short, though equally scenic, drive away. Once
there, our stops included a local cheese tasting at Chaslaube
Kundig, and the not-to-be-missed library of the Abbey of St.
Gall, a Rococo masterpiece in the cathedral that named the
city. The Benedictine Abbey was a vital center of learning from
the Middle Ages, and the main library room, which inspired the
movie The Name of the Rose, can make a claim to being the most
beautiful room in the country.
The final night awards dinner was held at the Pfaltzkeller
restaurant, an underground facility perfect for a blow-out
party. The restaurant - which you enter through a staircase
that rises out of the sidewalk - is all flowing curves inside.
It's a lovely facility that illuminates well, with excellent
food and service.
Back to Zurich
That was the end of the Trophy portion of the trip, but Team
North America took another day back in Zurich, spending more
time seeing the city. On the way back, we stopped off at the
Weinbau Muhle Stafa, a small, family-run winery where
husband-and-wife team Stefan and Maya Reichling can give a
short vineyard tour followed by an informative and delicious
wine-tasting and pairing lesson using their award-winning
products. The traditional Swiss wine soup package makes a nice
gift.
Back in Zurich, an excellent local guide took us around the old
city, sharing her excitement and infectious energy about her
city. Zurich is a city rich in music. It is everywhere, from
sidewalk brass bands and string quartets to jazz clubs and
other nightlife, notably in the industrial west side and around
the Limmat River.
Strolling around the medieval old city and along the river,
taking in the shops and people, is a wonderful way to spend a
day. The shopping is great, the near side of Lake Zurich is
lined with parks and outdoor cafes, and the city's 1,200
fountains - every one of which has drinking water - are
charming.