TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
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.
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.
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.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Weekly QuizOct 30, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeOct 30, 2025
29-Year-Old Man Charged in Multiple Seattle-Area Smash and Grabs The suspect faces charges in the August robbery of Menashe & Sons Jewelers and is accused of committing smash and grabs at two pawn shops.
Lab-GrownOct 30, 2025
Alison Lou’s New Collection Uses Lab-Grown Diamonds and ResinThe “Lumière Fine” collection was born from designer Alison Chemla’s interest in the transformative power of light.
Brought to you by
DESERT DIAMONDS: The Newest Trend in Natural Diamond JewelryFrom sunlit whites to smoky whiskeys, introduce your clients to extraordinary diamonds in colors as unique as their love.
TrendsOct 30, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: A Haunted HalloweenShow off your spooky side with these 12 festive jewels.
Events & AwardsOct 29, 2025
Couture Partners With Time to WatchesThe company, which organizes a watch show in Geneva every spring, will bring a selection of watch brands to the 2026 Couture show in Vegas.
TrendsOct 29, 2025
Beth Bernstein Releases Vintage Jewelry Guide“The Modern Guide to Vintage Jewellery” follows the evolution of jewelry design from the ‘30s to the ‘80s with buying and styling advice.
EditorsOct 29, 2025
Why Creepy, Crawly Bugs Inspire Beautiful JewelryFor her annual Halloween story, Senior Editor Lenore Fedow explores the symbolism behind spiders, beetles, and other eerie insects.
Events & AwardsOct 28, 2025
Meet the 2026 Gem Award NomineesNotable jewelry designers, members of the press, and retailers are up for an award at next year’s gala.
Recorded WebinarsOct 28, 2025
Watch: The State of the Jewelry Industry Leaders from Jewelers of America and National Jeweler discuss the gold price, tariffs, and more in this one-hour webinar.
CollectionsOct 28, 2025
Eriness Reflects on Life in ‘One of One’ CollectionAfter experiencing motherhood, growth, and loss, founder and designer Erin Sachse has created 10 irreplaceable jewels.
AuctionsOct 27, 2025
Napoleon Left This Brooch Behind, And Now It’s Up For AuctionIt is part of Sotheby’s “Royal & Noble Jewels” sale along with an ornate hair ornament and an old mine-cut light pink diamond ring.
CrimeOct 27, 2025
Arrests Made in Louvre Jewel Heist One of the individuals was apprehended at the airport as he was trying to flee the country.
MajorsOct 27, 2025
Target to Cut 1,800 Corporate JobsThe retailer, which has faced struggling sales in recent quarters, is looking to streamline its operations.
Events & AwardsOct 27, 2025
Hill Management Group Hired to Help Atlanta Jewelry ShowHill Management Group will oversee, market, and produce next year’s spring show.
AuctionsOct 24, 2025
Bonhams Under New Ownership, Top Executives ReplacedLondon-based investment firm Pemberton Asset Management acquired the auction house for an undisclosed amount.
GradingOct 24, 2025
DMIA to Hold Diamond Testing Instrument DemoThe workshop will give attendees the chance to try out and ask questions about three different diamond verification instruments.
CrimeOct 24, 2025
Video Emerges of Louvre Jewelry Robbers Fleeing the Scene The footage shows two of the jewelry heist suspects descending from the second floor of the museum and then escaping via scooter.
CollectionsOct 24, 2025
Piece of the Week: Wyld Box Jewelry’s ‘Ray of Light’ EarringsFounder and designer Rosanna Fiedler looked to a vintage Cartier clutch when designing the sunlight-inspired drop earrings.
FinancialsOct 23, 2025
Jewelry Sales Resilient Despite Struggles at LVMH, KeringThe luxury conglomerates faced a challenging Q3 amid geopolitical and economic tensions.
SourcingOct 23, 2025
Petra Diamonds Turns to Shareholders to Raise Capital The struggling diamond mining company, which owns the historic Cullinan mine, has launched a rights issue to raise about $25 million.
WatchesOct 23, 2025
‘Million Dollar Hip Hop Watches’ Recounts Watch HistoryThe book details the journey of watches as symbols of hard-earned success in hip-hop for artists like 2Pac, Jay-Z, and more.
AuctionsOct 23, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman Names New VP, Senior Specialist for Jewelry & WatchesAlexis Vourvoulis, who most recently worked at Tiffany & Co., brings more than two decades of jewelry experience to her new role.
