The sense of
calm evolutions
Every success tells its own story. Ours is one of courage and hard work. Of true mountain spirit and intrepid pioneers. But also of destiny and, of course, love. It’s love, after all, that holds everything together.
1950
Lech in the 1950s was simply idyllic – a remote mountain farming village, almost closed off from the outside world in winter. Tourists came to enjoy winter sports – and so the first ski courses were set up to show the world what modern skiing looks like. The technique of “wedeling” originated on the Arlberg, and more and more sports enthusiasts became fascinated by skiing and wanted to be initiated into this elegant art of swinging the skis from side to side.
1956
When Johann Schneider, the son of a mountain farmer from Lech, returned to his home town after spending time abroad in Chamonix, Nice and Paris, he decided to take his future into his own hands. Together with his wife Helga, in December 1956 he opened what was then the Gasthof Arlberg with 26 beds and a dining room for 50 people. This set the course for the future.
1965
The first extension was built in 1965, and the next stages of construction followed shortly afterwards: swimming pool (1967), tennis court (1975), hunting lodge (1986). In parallel with the extensions on the outside, the interior of the hotel was also redesigned. The functional spaces behind the guest areas – the kitchen, the cold store, the wine cellar and the hotel’s entire infrastructure – were adapted to the new requirements with foresight and commercial skill.
1986
The addition of the Jagdhof, or “hunting lodge” – a separate wing with spacious suites up to 80 m² – marked a decisive step: the hotel was certified as a five-star establishment. This was an important milestone in the hotel’s history.
1991
A fateful booking under a pseudonym changed the history of the hotel. Diana, Princess of Wales, spent a skiing holiday at Hotel Arlberg. The ‘Queen of Hearts’, the most photographed woman in the world at the time, found a refuge for herself and her two sons, William and Harry, who learned to ski at the Arlberg. Their visit became an annual tradition until her tragic death in 1997.
1996
Hannes, Johann’s son, continues the family tradition with dedication and perseverance. Together with his wife Christiane, who also contributes her expertise as an independent entrepreneur in a family business in Stuttgart, they take over the family business. Further remodelling of the hotel and renovation of the rooms followed, as well as the opening of the Juwelenstub’ and Boutique. The hotel’s current success is due to their intuition for family-run luxury hospitality and their sharp sense of entrepreneurial foresight. The family business will be respectfully handed over to the next generation and continued hand in hand.
1997
In 1997, the efforts of the Schneider family were recognised by the government: the hotel was awarded the National Coat of Arms for its outstanding services to tourism in Lech. This honour publicly documents the special achievements of our hotel and the family.
2004
‘Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason’, starring Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth, brought Hollywood to Hotel Arlberg. At the end of November 2004, the famous Bridget Jones learned to ski on the slopes of Lech.
2005
On 22 August 2005, the whole of Lech was hit by a devastating flood, and Hotel Arlberg suffered along with it. After days of rain, the surrounding torrents burst their banks and caused immense destruction in a matter of hours. The hotel’s underground car park was flooded, the carefully curated wine cellar suffered enormous damage, and the newly planted gardens were completely destroyed. Some 3,000 m² of the hotel were flooded. But in an impressive display of community spirit, everyone pitched in – even regular guests with friendly ties to the hotel – so that the winter season could begin without any restrictions.
2015
After both graduating from the renowned École hôtelière de Lausanne and gaining valuable international experience with international and boutique luxury hotel companies, they joined forces to continue Benjamin’s family legacy in his home village Lech. With a combines skill set in hotel operations and entrepreneurship as well as marketing and hospitality strategy, they are shaping the next chapter as a team. Carefully planned renovations in the guest areas and behind the scenes enriched the hotel’s tradition with fresh, modern touches. This constant pursuit of excellence not only brought a breath of fresh air, but also showed a deep appreciation for the history of the hotel.
2019
With the opening of the new outdoor swimming pool and the completely redesigned gardens, further investments were made in summer operations, with the aim being to transform the hotel into a ten-month business. This development is particularly close to the heart of Benjamin Schneider, now head of the Lech-Zürs hospitality association, not only for his own hotel but also for the good of the entire village.
2022
The little wonder Hannah completes Benjamin and Patrick’s family happiness and has been turning the hotel upside down since the day she was born. Guests with young children in particular will notice that the fourth generation of hoteliers has already had an impact on the infrastructure and the hotel’s offering for young families. The hotel has always been a place of openness and acceptance of different backgrounds and will continue to proudly celebrate diversity in our society.
2024
Als das damalige Verkehrsamt Lech Zürs gegenüber vom Hotel Arlberg zur neuen Nutzung ausgeschrieben wurde, haben Benjamin und Patrick nicht lange gezögert und ein Konzept entwickelt, welches den Ortskern neu beleben soll. Mit dem erfolgreichen Zuschlag wurden die Weichen für das Arlberg Club House gestellt und ein starkes Zeichen für innovative Gastronomie und diversifizierten Handel in einheimischer Hand gesetzt. Ebenso setzen sich beide Hoteliers mit dem Projekt stark für eine touristische Ganzjahresnutzung des Ortskerns ein, von dem letzlich eine ganze Gemeinde profitieren kann. So viel sei bereits verraten: so etwas hat Lech noch nicht gesehen.
