Grand vs boutique
The marked difference in the two destinations is reflected in their leading hotels. Both destinations offer iconic names in Alpine hospitality – think Hotel Post in Lech am Arlberg, and the Kulm in St Moritz. These are celebrated 5-star properties with a long list of celebrity guests, yet the Kulm is by some order bigger. The split-level Kulm is a giant Alpine property, and the same could be said for the Kempinski and the Badrutt's Palace – statement properties with grand entrances and facilities. Lech, on the other hand, opts for boutique properties that exude charm, history, and quality but forego elaborate facades and towering spires. Lech is no less opulent but, from the outside, appears far more restrained in its luxury offering.
Town vs village
St Moritz has a population of around 6,000; Lech is about a quarter that size. Whilst Lech exudes that small village charm, St Moritz has its retail and high-end hotels, which are conspicuously visible. The lake makes St Moritz feel spacious and open, but it has a far bigger feel than the compact, intimate Lech.
Global vs local events
As well as the world-famous Cresta Run toboggan course, St Moritz hosts the annual White Turf horse racing extravaganza on its frozen lake, as well as snow polo competitions. These really are some of the most spectacular Alpine events on the calendar. The White Turf in particular is one of the showiest events anywhere – a parade for the rich and famous with a backdrop of horses and corporate hospitality. Lech doesn’t host equivalent international events. Instead, it offers orchestral concerts and the famous White Ring ski race. Lech’s Christmas Market is public and in no way exclusive, yet the quality and atmosphere of an evening there is extraordinary.
Convenience
Private jets land around 10 minutes from St Moritz at the local aerodrome, offering VIP transfers for high-net-worth clients. Lech cannot be accessed by fixed-wing aircraft, but transfers to the village edge are possible via helicopter from Zurich or Innsbruck Airports. In terms of getting to the snow, the compact, intimate village centre of Lech offers excellent access to the fabled Arlberg slopes, while Oberlech and Zürs are ski-in, ski-out. St Moritz skiing is more distant, with the elite hotels shuttling their clients to and from the lifts and slopes.
St Moritz vs Lech
Both resorts offer standout luxury Alpine experiences – probably the best in the Alps. St Moritz is more conspicuous in its flaunting of luxury, whereas Lech luxury is often more understated. They are 2 very different resorts to offer clients the height of luxury and refinement in the Alps. Both deliver in their own way.