#48

White Christmas on ice, another year and a new website

Everything around you, things are glittering and sparkling – and the Dolder open-air ice rink above The Dolder Grand in Zurich is no exception. An intense, eventful year is drawing to a close. We personally visited more than 400 hotels and restaurants across Europe, testing and evaluating them independently. About the 320 finest places, the ones that left lasting impressions on us, we wrote detailed profiles, and we’re sharing them with you on pillowandpepper.com.  

We are currently working full-speed to get our new website online with its engaging design, its clearly structured map view that is meant to inspire you when planning your personal travel itinerary, and many other amazing new features. We will be going live in January. Do stay aboard, because 2020 is sure to become an exciting year.  

But now the time has come to pause for a few days; time to feel grateful, and time to celebrate.  

We decided to venture out onto thin ice together during the pre-Christmas season, bringing childhood memories back to life, and remembering the things we truly value.  

Joanna, Co-Founder

My personal values: honesty, development and commitment

Another year is at our doorstep. And an official relaunch like ours is always a great opportunity to hit your inner “reset” button. To pause and ask yourself in all seriousness: Where do I see myself today? What do I seek? And then to go back to start over … Which is not to suggest I’m about to turn my whole life upside down but that it is time to take Pillow & Pepper a step further, to reposition it with a new look, and to give some of the usual routines a hard look. You could say that commitment and development define my purpose in life – standing still is not for me!  

Ekaterina, Co-Founder

My personal values: reliability, generosity and family

More than anything, I appreciate reliability in people, whether they be friends, co-workers or simply one-time acquaintances. Even if it is a concierge, a chambermaid or service staff – it makes my day every time to see that the linen are freshly ironed or that breakfast is delivered to my room right on time. I so enjoy it when hotels surprise their guest with little extras, be it a rose when checking in, champagne welcoming you to your room, the complimentary use of bicycles or a free mini-facial in the spa. Even if you don’t always find the time to take advantage of every offer, it is nice to know your hotelier cares. As a mother of three, I love to travel with my children. So, it always delights me to discover new hotels that treat even their little guests like VIPs.  

Daniel, Art Director

My personal values: being creative, enterprising and mindful of future generations

What good is the most brilliant idea if it proves unsustainable? My two boys are a constant source of inspiration and admonition at the same time. The things we do or fail to do today decide what the world of tomorrow will look like. And we have huge challenges ahead of us. So, I agree with David Ben-Gurion who once said: “Anyone who doesn't believe in miracles is not a realist.”  

An inspiration for all of us. Let’s have a reset, please! We wish you a wonderful Christmas full of magic moments, and a running start into a great and felicitous new year. May 2020 become a sensitive, just and heart-warming year for all! 

Celebrate in style, and don’t forget to make exciting travel plans for 2020.