Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne

By Nigel T. Heffer

Hotel Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne
is an iconic lakeside venue that makes events feel seamless.

If you’re scouting Switzerland for an event venue with serious wow-factor, the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne should be at the top of your list. I worked there several times as a technical manager, and it is one of my favourite venues in Europe, not just Switzerland. Open since 1861 and expanded with its neo-baroque Palace wing in 1908, this grande dame sits right on Lake Geneva in the Ouchy district—steps from gardens, the promenade, and the Olympic Museum. Its salons have hosted historic summits (including the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne negotiations), A-list weddings, and boardroom heavyweights—so your gathering will be in excellent company. Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel – 5-star Hotel

Spaces that scale—from private strategy days to 600-guest galas

The hotel offers a highly flexible collection of salons, terraces, and a purpose-built conference space. The star of the show is the Salle Sandoz (430 m²), richly decorated with chandeliers and a dramatic domed ceiling, which accommodates up to 400 for a conference, 350 for a banquet, or 600 for a cocktail reception. It’s the “We’ve arrived” room for product launches, awards nights, or fundraising galas.

Facing it is La Rotonde (236 m²), a soaring, light-filled salon ideal for dinners up to 180 or theatre-style sessions for 200; it also flows effortlessly out to the terrace for breakouts or receptions.

Need a self-contained conference hub? The Forum (165 m²) is situated slightly apart from the central hotel, featuring integrated translation booths, robust acoustic insulation, garden access, and a capacity of up to 160 in theatre-style seating—ideal for arbitrations, scientific symposia, or international committees.

When the weather cooperates (and in summer it often does), the Palace Terrace is the showstopper: Lausanne’s most extensive green terrace with lake views, accommodating up to 500 guests for cocktail events.

Tech, flow, and formats

Beyond the single-room specifications, planners will appreciate how the salons interconnect: Sandoz and Rotonde for the main plenary and gala dinner; Forum and Atrium for the plenary and coffee breaks; and Arcades and Library for registration and networking. The hotel partners with specialist AV vendors for in-room setups—a plus if you’re bringing a complex showfile or streaming brief.

Sleep, spa, and scene (because attendees are people, too)

With 168 rooms and suites—all recently refreshed—the property can accommodate most groups on-site, reducing transfer time to nearly zero. Many rooms face the lake or the Alps, and the overall vibe is classic Swiss elegance with contemporary comfort.

Wellbeing is a real highlight: in February 2024, the hotel unveiled the Guerlain Spa, bringing signature treatments, pools, and thermal areas—a luxe reset between sessions or a reward for your speakers.

Dining is of the “plan-your-dinner-around-it” variety. Pic au Beau-Rivage Palace holds two Michelin stars and was freshly redesigned in 2024—think refined, modern gastronomy with polished service and views. For complementary experiences, Kaigan serves elegant Japanese cuisine, while Café Beau-Rivage nails the chic-brasserie brief; The BAR handles the after-party.

Getting there (easy)

Geneva Airport is approximately 40 minutes by car, while Zurich is roughly two hours away. If your guests are coming by rail, Lausanne’s superb public transport makes it simple: metro M2 runs from the central station to Ouchy in around 10 minutes, and from there it’s a scenic lakeside stroll to the hotel. Paris-Lausanne TGV in 3h40 also keeps the door open for a lower-carbon travel plan.

What kinds of events work best here?

Flagship conferences where prestige is a key factor (global client forums, leadership summits). Sandoz + Rotonde can deliver theatre, breakout, and gala without changing address.
International hearings or scientific boards that need privacy and translation booths—Forum is purpose-built.
High-touch incentives, such as terrace cocktails at sunset, Michelin-starred dining, and spa time, tick the “memorable” box.

Planner tips

Build movement into the program. Use the gardens and lakefront promenade for walking breakouts and photo ops; guests love the fresh air. (The hotel sits directly on Lake Geneva in Ouchy.)
Block smart. If the brief leans culinary, anchor one evening at Pic and keep earlier sessions tight—no one wants a late start before a two-star dinner.
Hybrid ready. Ask the events team to involve their AV partner early in the process for streaming, interpretation, and lighting design at Sandoz; it saves time on-site.

Bottom line

The Beau-Rivage Palace blends heritage, scenery, and modern meeting muscle in a way few European hotels can match. Between its statement salons, terrace capacity, lakeside setting, and best-in-class dining and spa, it’s a venue that elevates both the content and the experience of your event—without complicating the logistics. If Lausanne is on your map, this is the benchmark.