Events & Awards

Baselworld Launches Hotel Partner Program

Events & AwardsNov 01, 2018

Baselworld Launches Hotel Partner Program

Forty hotels in the Swiss city have signed on so far, agreeing to not raise prices over 2018.

2018_Baselworld-outside.jpg
A shot outside the 2018 Baselworld edition of the watch and jewelry trade show. The event’s organizers are working with hotels in Basel to keep down the cost of staying in the city.

Basel, Switzerland—Baselworld has announced a program designed to address one of the criticisms directed at it: the inflated cost of staying in Basel during the watch and jewelry trade show.  

Organizers of the event announced Wednesday the launch of a hotel partner program.

Forty hotels have signed on to become either “Official Partners” (26) or “Preferred Partners” (14), comprising about two-thirds of the hotel capacity in Basel and surrounding areas, they said. (The two-thirds refers to official hotels; it does not include alternative accommodations, such as rooms booked through sites like Airbnb.)

Official Partners fulfill the following four criteria.
 
1. Comply with the agreed maximum price per night for a double room including breakfast.
•    5 star superior: CHF 1290 (about $1,286)
•    5 star: CHF 990 (about $987)
•    4 star superior: CHF 750 (about $748)
•    4 star: CHF 650 (about $648)
•    3 star superior: CHF 600 (about $598)
•    3 star CHF 550 (about $548)
•    2 star: CHF 350 (about $349)
•    1 star: CHF 200 (about $199)
2. No minimum length of stay.
3. No price increase compared with 2018.
4. No obligations to book more services than just a room, i.e. minimum consumption of food or beverages during the stay on top of the room rate.

The official partner hotels include the Les Trois Rois, which is the city’s only five-star hotel, and Hotel Stücki.

Preferred Partners, meanwhile, only have to fulfill three of the four aforementioned criteria. A Baselworld spokesperson said it is up to the hotels which one of the four they skip; so far, all the partners that have signed on have opted to forgo minimum length of stay.

Hotels that have agreed to be Preferred Partners include Ibis Styles Basel City, Ibis Basel Bahnhof, Ibis Budget Basel City, Ibis Budget and Courtyard by Marriott.

Show organizers said program conditions apply for the Baselworld 2019 event and are retroactive for existing bookings, but also noted that accommodation at participating hotels is not guaranteed and is subject to availability.

Prices also are only guaranteed for bookings made directly through the hotels.

A full list of participating hotels can be found on Baselworld.com.

RELATED CONTENT: What Is the Future of Jewelry Trade Shows?

The show created the program in collaboration with Basel’s Hotelier Association. The initiative is ongoing, and Baselworld organizers said they will continue to add hotels if they are interested in participating.

“We are very pleased to see that many

hoteliers not only embraced but also contributed towards the success of this initiative. They have affirmed Baselworld’s importance, also for Basel as a city, and they want to contribute toward assuring the trade show’s long-term presence in Basel, which benefits both the city and its surrounding areas,” Baselworld Managing Director Michel Loris-Melikoff said.

The beleaguered watch and jewelry trade show’s attempt to control hotel prices comes after a rough  few months that included Managing Director Sylvie Ritter stepping down (replaced by Loris-Melikoff); Swatch Group announcing it was leaving the trade show; and the resignation of René Kamm, CEO of Baselworld organizer the MCH Group AG.

The hotel partner program is one of a number of planned changes announced in late July in response to Swatch Group’s announcement.

In addition to bargaining with Basel-area hotels and restaurants to not inflate prices during the show, other plans include the addition of a retailer summit that will take place in Hall 1.2; an exhibition about the art of watchmaking in Hall 1.1; and expanding and bringing the on-site catering into the middle of the show floor.
Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

The Latest

Tyrese Maxey The 1916 Company campaign
IndependentsDec 23, 2024
Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey Stars in The 1916 Company’s New Campaign

The retailer’s “On the Clock” campaign celebrates how time, precision, and purpose come together.

Jewelry by Sorellina, Francesca Villa, Cece Jewellery, Retrouvai, Ray Griffiths, Cartier, Cocoerow Fine Jewelry, and Gumuchian
EditorsDec 23, 2024
My Favorite Piece of the Week Jewels of 2024

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco chose her 12 favorite Piece of the Week picks from the year gone by.

GIA emerald report
GradingDec 23, 2024
GIA Adds Filler Identification to Emerald Reports

Lab clients have the option to request this addition on their emerald reports.

ride_or_die_1872x1052.png
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Celebrates "Forever Present" Holiday Campaign

A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’

Retrouvai Green Sapphire and Diamond Heirloom Bezel Ring for Charity
CollectionsDec 20, 2024
Piece of the Week: Retrouvaí’s Ring for Charity

In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Weekly QuizDec 19, 2024
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
DeVries Jewelers
IndependentsDec 19, 2024
Michigan’s DeVries Jewelers Unveils New Location in Time for the Holidays

Co-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.

State Property Gardens Collection Campaign
CollectionsDec 19, 2024
State Property Transforms Spain’s Generalife Gardens into Jewelry

Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.

me_myself_and_I_1872x1052 .jpg
Brought to you by
De Beers Group Launches Holiday Campaign for Natural Diamonds

‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.

Two people in a rowboat
CrimeDec 19, 2024
Alleged Jewelry Thieves Attempt Rowboat Escape

The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.

2488-carat diamond found in Botswana
SourcingDec 19, 2024
The Second-Largest Diamond Ever Found Now Has a Name

The 2,488-carat diamond recovered from a mine in Botswana has been dubbed “Motswedi” while its 1,094-carat sibling is “Seriti.”

Rough rubies
SourcingDec 19, 2024
Gemfields Reports Record Ruby Auction Results Despite Challenges at Source

The average price per carat hit a record high for the miner, which said it remains unaffected by the conflict in Mozambique.

alexandrite ring
AuctionsDec 18, 2024
Alexandrite Ring Sells for Record-Setting $1.9M at Sotheby’s

The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.

Tiffany & Co. pocket watch gifted to captain of the Carpathia
WatchesDec 18, 2024
Historic Titanic Pocket Watch Winds Its Way Back to Tiffany & Co.

More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.

Picchiotti Spotlight Campaign Video Still
TechnologyDec 18, 2024
Picchiotti Utilizes AI in ‘Spotlight’ Video Campaign

The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.

Steve Feldman
IndependentsDec 18, 2024
Industry Veteran Steve Feldman Set to Retire

Feldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.

Frank Circelli
SourcingDec 17, 2024
Frank Circelli, Founder of Gem Shopping Network, Dies at 75

Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.

Blue diamond ring
AuctionsDec 17, 2024
Blue Diamond Fetches $8.8M at Christie’s

The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.

Stock image of a gavel, handcuffs, and books
CrimeDec 17, 2024
‘Black Bin Crew’ Robbers Get 14-16 Years in Prison

The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.

Cover of the new book “The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance”
TrendsDec 16, 2024
Marion Fasel’s New Book Delves Into the History of Engagement Rings

“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.

Rolex store on Rodeo Drive
WatchesDec 16, 2024
Take a Look Inside the New Rolex Boutique on Rodeo Drive

Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.

GCAL 8X pear and marquise-cut diamonds
GradingDec 16, 2024
GCAL By Sarine Expands 8X to 2 More Fancy Shapes

The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.

Claudia Cividino, Sissy’s Log Cabin, Shri Govind Dholakia, Tanishq
SourcingDec 16, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces 2025 Award Recipients

DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.

Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco, Engagement Ring
TrendsDec 13, 2024
Selena Gomez Said ‘Forever Begins Now’ to Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

Estimates on the size and value of the solitaire diamond, which is mounted on a diamond pavé-set yellow gold band, vary.

Martin Katz tanzanite drop earrings
TrendsDec 13, 2024
Piece of the Week: Martin Katz’s Tanzanite Drops

These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.

My Next Question webinar graphic
Recorded WebinarsDec 13, 2024
Watch: The Highs and Lows of 2024

The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.

Tom Brady’s Rolex Daytona Paul Newman “John Player Special”
AuctionsDec 12, 2024
Tom Brady’s Watches Top $4M at Sotheby’s Auction

The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”

Grizzly emerald mining
SourcingDec 12, 2024
Grizzly Emerald Auction Garners $22.4M

Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy