Terms of Service

1. Basic Provisions

These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) govern the legal relationship between the guest/customer, referred to hereinbelow as the "Guest", and Hotel Welschen AG as the operator of the hotel, referred to hereinbelow as the "Hotel". For simplicity's sake, the term "Contract" is always used in these GTC regardless of the particular service concerned.

The terms and conditions of the Hotel as valid on conclusion of the Contract shall be exclusively applicable. General terms and conditions stipulated by the Guest shall apply only if this is explicitly agreed in writing prior to signing the Contract.

Should individual provisions of these GTC be ineffective or invalid, the validity of the Contract and of the remaining provisions of the GTC shall not be affected thereby. The statutory provisions shall apply in addition.

2. Place of Jurisdiction / Applicable Law

The place of jurisdiction for any disputes arising from this Contract shall be Visp in the Canton of Valais, unless any other mandatory place of jurisdiction is stipulated by law.

All contractual agreements and those regarding reservations, any supplementary agreements and general terms and conditions shall be governed solely by Swiss law. The place of performance and payment shall be the registered office of the Hotel.

3. Definitions

Groups: "Groups" for the purposes of these GTC are travel groups comprising a minimum of 10 booked rooms.

Written Confirmations: written confirmations are also deemed to include fax and email messages.

The Contracting Partners are the Guest and the Hotel.

4. Subject of Contract / Scope of Validity

The Contract for the rental of (bed)rooms, seminar rooms, other spaces and the purchase of other goods and services shall come into being on written confirmation by the Guest or the party concluding the Contract. A reservation made on the actual day of arrival shall be binding as soon as it is accepted by the Hotel.

Amendments to the Contract shall become binding on the Hotel only when they are reconfirmed (in writing). Unilateral amendments or additions to the Contract by the Guest shall be without effect. Subletting and re-letting of the rooms made available and their use for purposes other than accommodation shall require the prior written consent of the Hotel.

5. Scope of Performance

The scope of performance under the Contract is determined on the basis of the Guest's reservation which is effected individually and is confirmed. Notwithstanding other contractual agreements, the Guest shall not be entitled to a specific room.

If no rooms are available in the Hotel even though a reservation has been confirmed, the Hotel must inform the Guest promptly and must offer an equivalent substitute in a hotel which is geographically close and is in a comparable or higher category. Any additional expense for the substitute accommodation shall be borne by the Hotel. If the Guest declines the substitute room, the Hotel must immediately reimburse any payments already made by the Guest (e.g. deposits/advance payments). No further claims on the part of the Guest shall exist if the substitute accommodation was equivalent.

6. Period of Use

Without prejudice to other agreements, the Guest is entitled to use the rented rooms from 1500 hours on the agreed day of arrival until 1200 hours on the day of departure.

If vacation of the bedroom by the Guest is delayed the Hotel may bill CHF 100 per hour, or if delayed by four hours or more a minimum of 50% of the full accommodation price (list price) for use in excess of the contractually specified period. In this case, no justified contractual entitlements are created for the Guest to continue using the premises in the ordinary manner; this is without prejudice to the assertion of claims for compensatory damages. In case of delayed vacation of the room, the Hotel reserves the right to remove the Guest's belongings from the room and to keep them at a suitable location in the Hotel in return for a charge.

7. Prices / Obligation to Pay

The prices notified by the Hotel are understood to be in Swiss francs (CHF) and they include statutory value added tax (VAT). The Guest is obliged to pay the Hotel's agreed or applicable prices in return for placing the bedroom at the Guest's disposal and for any additional services provided to the Guest. This shall also apply to orders placed by persons accompanying and visiting the Guest.

Any increase in statutory taxes or similar dues after the Contract has been concluded shall be borne by the Guest. Prices indicated in foreign currencies are for guidance purposes only and shall be converted at the relevant rates on the day in question. The prices confirmed by the Hotel shall be valid in all cases.

Depending on the agreement made, the Hotel may require a deposit. This deposit should be understood as a partial payment of the agreed remuneration. Instead of a deposit, the Hotel may also require an advance payment in the form of a credit card guarantee. An advance payment must be transferred within 7 days of receipt of the confirmation of reservation.

The final bill includes the agreed price plus any additional amounts incurred due to additional services provided by the Hotel for the Guest and/or the persons accompanying the Guest. Without prejudice to other agreements, the final bill must be paid at or before checkout on the day of departure, in cash in Swiss francs or by means of an acceptable credit card.

8. Withdrawal by the Hotel

For objectively justified reasons, the Hotel is entitled to withdraw from the Contract as an exceptional measure with immediate effect, by immediately issuing a unilateral declaration to this effect in writing; examples of valid objectively justified reasons include these cases:

• If an agreed advance payment or security deposit is not provided during the period stipulated by the Hotel
• Force majeure or other circumstances for which the Hotel is not responsible
• Rooms booked using misleading or false information
• If the Hotel has justified cause to assume that the use of the agreed services could adversely affect the smooth operation of the business
• If the Guest has become insolvent or discontinued payments
• If the purpose of the stay is illegal

9. Cancellation of the Reservation

A cancellation of the reservation requires the Hotel's written consent. If such consent is not given, the agreed price must be paid even if the Guest does not make use of contractual services. If the Guest fails to appear ("no-show"), the full amount is due.

The calculation of the cancellation charges is governed by the receipt at the Hotel of the written cancellation by the Guest. This applies to letters as well as to fax and email messages.

Cancellation Conditions

The cancellation fees are set individually when making the reservation and depend on various criteria (including travel period and duration).

Force Majeure

If the Guest is unable to arrive due to force majeure (floods, avalanches, earthquakes, travel restrictions by official authorities, etc.), he or she is not obliged to pay the agreed remuneration for the days missed. The Guest must provide proof that arrival was impossible.

10. Stay / Keys / Safety and Security

The Hotel room is reserved solely for the registered Guest. Written approval from the Hotel is required to make the room available to a third party or for use by an additional person.

The room card issued by the Hotel shall remain the property of the Hotel; it allows 24-hour access to the Hotel. Loss of the card/key must be reported to Reception immediately. Guests will be charged CHF 5.00 for a damaged card and CHF 5.00 for a lost card.

Throughout the Hotel, smoking is permitted only in locations/rooms with signage to this effect.

11. Extension of Stay

Notwithstanding other agreements, the Guest is not entitled to extend his or her stay. If the Guest is unable to leave the Hotel on the day of departure because all options for departure are blocked or unusable due to exceptional unforeseeable circumstances / force majeure (e.g. extreme snowfall, floods, etc.), the Contract shall automatically be extended for the period during which departure is impossible, and the existing conditions shall be applicable.

12. Additional Conditions for Groups

Group tariffs are applied only if agreed in advance and confirmed in writing by the Hotel. The tariffs for individual travellers apply to a Group of less than 10 rooms.

The final number of persons in the Group (including the list of names) must be notified to the Hotel no later than 10 calendar days prior to the Group's arrival.

13. Food and Beverages

All food and beverages must be obtained exclusively from the Hotel. In special cases (special items, etc.) a divergent written agreement may be concluded. In such cases, the Hotel is entitled to require payment of a service charge or a corkage charge.

14. Objects Brought into the Hotel

Exhibits or other objects (including personal items) are present in the function rooms or on the Hotel premises at the Guest's risk. The Hotel shall not accept any obligation of surveillance or safekeeping. The Hotel shall not accept any liability for the loss or destruction of the objects brought into the Hotel, or for damage to same, except in cases of gross negligence or intent on the part of the Hotel.

15. Actions, Usage and Liability

Hotel

The Hotel waives liability towards the Guest for minor and medium negligence insofar as legally possible, and shall be liable solely in case of loss or damage caused intentionally or by gross negligence. The Hotel shall be liable for Guests' property brought into the Hotel in accordance with the statutory provisions, i.e. up to a sum of CHF 1,000.00.

Guest

The Guest shall be liable to the Hotel for all damage and losses caused by himself or herself, by persons accompanying him or her, and by his or her agents/auxiliaries or participants in his or her event.

16. Dogs

Guests may bring dogs into the Hotel with them only with the Hotel's prior consent and in return for payment of a special charge. No animals are allowed in the Hotel's wellness area and kids club.

17. Lost Property

Lost property is forwarded provided that ownership of the property is clear and that the residential/business address is known. The costs and risk of forwarding such property shall be borne by the Guest.

18. Means of Payment Accepted

Bank transfers, Cash payments, Maestro, Postcard, Visa, Mastercard/Eurocard, American Express or Diners Club. Please note that no personal cheques can be accepted.

19. Visitor's Tax

The following visitor's tax (exclusive) applies:

• CHF 4.00 per adult/night
• CHF 2.00 per child/night (aged 9-15.99)
• Free for children aged 0-8.99

Contact Information

For questions about these terms, please contact us at: