Property in Andermatt & POST by ELIE SAAB: 2025 Buyer's Guide

Introduction

Andermatt has experienced one of the most significant regeneration programs of any European ski resort. Since Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris founded Andermatt Swiss Alps AG (ASA) and began construction in 2009, cumulative investment has reached approximately CHF 1.67 billion.

However, the next chapter may be its most compelling yet. In the heart of Andermatt’s historic old town, a centuries-old landmark is being transformed into POST by Elie Saab, which will be Switzerland’s first branded hotel and residences from a haute-couture fashion house.

Andermatt At a Glance

What’s New and Happening in Andermatt

Furkagasse: A New Alpine High Street

December 2024 marked a milestone for the resort with the opening of Furkagasse, a fully pedestrianised shopping and dining street in the Andermatt Reuss district. The development brings international brands such as Audi, Mammut and Frauenschuh alongside new restaurants, après-ski venues and street-level lifestyle retail. Designed as the social heart of the modern village, Furkagasse links directly to luxury residences, hotels and public squares, cementing Andermatt’s evolution from ski enclave to all-season destination village.

La Vetta Ski Apartments in the Andermatt Reuss district - Prices From CHF 1,500,000

Major Lift Upgrades and Vail Resorts Investment

The transformation of Andermatt’s ski infrastructure continues at pace. Following Vail Resorts’ CHF 149 million acquisition of a 55% stake in the ski area operator in 2022, two ageing Gemsstock lifts are now scheduled for full replacement after winter 2024/25. The new six-seat chairs will double uphill capacity to 2,400 people per hour for winter 2025/26, a significant upgrade to Andermatt’s expert ski mountain. Snowmaking expansion, modern gondola links across the Andermatt–Sedrun–Disentis ski region, and ongoing lift modernisation have already enhanced reliability and distribution of skiers across the 180 km of pistes.

Concert Hall, Culture and Michelin-Starred Dining

The 1,000-seat Andermatt Concert Hall continues to anchor the resort’s cultural programme, hosting international orchestras, chamber music and summer festivals. This infrastructure, unique among Alpine villages, is matched by high-end dining, including three Michelin-starred restaurants operating in the region as of 2021. Cycling teams, including Tudor Pro Cycling, now use Andermatt as a high-altitude training base, adding sporting prestige to the cultural calendar.

Andermatt Property Market Overview

Growth and Performance

Over the past decade, Andermatt has delivered one of the strongest growth trajectories in the entire Alpine property market. Real estate prices have risen at a compound annual rate of 7.3% between 2012 and 2022, and 2023 alone recorded 11% year-on-year price growth. Demand remains robust: by the end of 2023, 721 of 757 units released or under construction within the Andermatt Swiss Alps masterplan had been sold, a 95% absorption rate, exceptional for a resort still in development.

The buyer base is now evenly split between Swiss and international purchasers. While European buyers remain active, the fastest-growing segment is the U.S. market: American enquiries tripled in Q1 2025 compared with the previous year, and Americans now represent around 20% of hotel guests, up from just 5% pre-pandemic. This shift coincides with Andermatt’s integration into the Epic Pass network, a strategic alignment that has placed the resort firmly on the radar of North American investors and lifestyle buyers.

Pricing

Current pricing places Andermatt firmly in the premium bracket, yet still below Switzerland’s ultra-prime market. Across 2024–2025, the average price ranges from CHF 15,000 to CHF 19,000 per square metre, with new branded projects sitting above this band. Chalets typically go between CHF 1.04 million and CHF 5.85 million, while apartments range from CHF 800,000 to more than CHF 15 million, depending on size, views and services.

UBS now lists Andermatt among the fastest-appreciating Alpine markets, with institutional analysts noting that continued construction exemptions mean supply can still expand while pricing rises.

Rental Yields

Hotel-serviced properties in Andermatt typically deliver gross yields of around 2.5–3.8%, although net returns fall closer to 1–3% once operating and management costs are included. High-season weekly rates for a three-bedroom serviced apartment can reach CHF 5,000–7,000, with ultra-luxury chalets achieving CHF 15,000–25,000 per week in peak periods.

Much of the market now operates on a managed rental model, where owners place their properties into a hotel pool and receive a share of rental income while retaining personal use. This approach improves occupancy versus traditional second-home ownership, historically around 30–35% in Swiss resorts, and aligns Andermatt with luxury destinations such as The Chedi, which records average occupancies of around 70%

Occupancy Trends

Andermatt is one of the few Swiss resorts to achieve meaningful year-round utilisation. In 2024, the region recorded around 172,700 hotel overnight stays and a further 515,000 nights in second homes and unmanaged accommodation, marking sustained growth across both winter and summer seasons. Winter occupancy frequently reaches 90–100%, while summer tourism now keeps hotels and residences above 50–60% utilisation.

This seasonality balance is a crucial component of the investment story. Where traditional Swiss resorts often struggle outside ski season, Andermatt’s golf course, cultural programme and cycling infrastructure have doubled overnight stays over ten years and created a true four-season rental market.

Regulatory Stability and Foreign Buyer Demand

The resort’s exemption from both Lex Koller (foreign purchase restrictions) and Lex Weber (second-home caps) remains in force through 2040, a structural advantage unmatched by its peers. Paired with Canton Uri’s ultra-low transaction costs (0.3%) and no property transfer tax, the regulatory environment has helped push Andermatt to the top of the Swiss Alps in annual price growth. US enquiries tripled in early 2025, and Americans now account for roughly 20% of hotel guests, up from just 5% before the pandemic.

POST by Elie Saab – Apartments & Penthouses

Who Is Elie Saab?

Elie Saab is one of the world’s most recognisable haute couture designers. A Lebanese fashion icon whose work has defined red-carpet glamour for more than four decades. Born in 1964 and launching his first atelier in Beirut in 1982, Saab rose to global prominence when Halle Berry wore one of his gowns to win Best Actress at the 2002 Oscars. Since then, the brand has become a fixture of Paris Haute Couture Week and a symbol of refined craftsmanship, intricate detailing and timeless luxury.

In 2019, Saab extended his creative universe into interior design with ELIE SAAB Maison, a line of high-end furniture, lighting and décor crafted primarily in Italy. The brand has since partnered on more than 20 luxury real-estate projects worldwide, from London to Dubai and the Middle East. With POST in Andermatt, Saab enters hospitality for the first time, marking his debut in the branded hotel and residence sector.

What Makes POST Residences Unique

POST by Elie Saab transforms one of Andermatt’s most historic buildings - the 1788 Hotel Drei Könige und Post into Switzerland’s first fully branded hotel and residence development under a couture fashion marque. The project brings together the architectural expertise of Switzerland’s A++ Group and the design of ELIE SAAB Maison to create a contemporary luxury retreat rooted in Alpine heritage.

“POST is a historic Alpine landmark reborn - the 1788 ‘Drei Könige und Post’ re-imagined through ELIE SAAB’s couture sensibility and A++’s architectural precision. It blends Swiss heritage with a new expression of luxury, pairing fully furnished ELIE SAAB Maison interiors with the comfort and consistency of true 5-star services. Buyers are choosing Andermatt over resorts like Zermatt or Gstaad because it offers more flexible ownership, a year-round lifestyle, and fresher value in a market still on the rise. We’re seeing interest from Swiss and Northern Italian clients, along with Middle Eastern and UK/US HNWIs who want branded, service-driven Alpine homes in an authentically historic setting.” - Gianmarco, A+

Every residence is fully furnished with custom ELIE SAAB Maison pieces, blending warm natural materials, soft textures and refined detailing in a style described by the designers as “mountain chic.” Interiors feature plush fabrics, neutral palettes, soft woods and signature motifs, sometimes accented by crystal elements such as Swarovski lighting. The result is a calm, intimate aesthetic that feels both authentically Alpine and unmistakably haute couture.

The location is another distinction. Positioned in Andermatt’s Old Town on Gotthardstrasse 69, POST sits at the heart of the historic village, a unique setting compared with the modern Andermatt Reuss district. Surrounded by traditional chalets and narrow streets, the project offers a sense of heritage that few new-build developments can replicate.

Key Features: Pricing, Timeline, Amenities

Pricing

- 1 Bed Apartment: CHF 3,160,000

- 2 Bed Apartment: CHF 5,350,000

- 3 Bed Penthouse: CHF 6,460,000

- 4 Bed Penthouse: CHF 9,160,000

- 5 Bed Penthouse: CHF 14,000,000

POST follows a clear development schedule:

- Sales Launch: December 2024 in Milan, February 2025 in Paris

- Construction Start: March 2025

- Completion & Handover: Summer 2027

-Hotel Opening: Summer 2027, in conjunction with the delivery of residences.

Amenities

POST is designed as a fully serviced hotel-residence hybrid, offering a level of hospitality rarely found in Alpine Old Town settings. Key amenities include:

- Luxury spa with indoor pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation areas

- Fitness centre with yoga studio and ski/bike simulator

- Two restaurants plus an exclusive private club

- Bar and lounge

- Children’s areas and kids’ club

- Ski and bike storage lounge

- Dedicated concierge and multilingual 24-hour service

- Ski valet and “lock-and-leave” management convenience

All residences are fully turnkey, designed and furnished by ELIE SAAB Maison, with options to join a hotel-managed rental pool offering flexible personal use. Ownership is freehold, and critically, POST benefits from Andermatt’s full exemption from Lex Koller and Lex Weber, enabling unrestricted foreign purchase.

FAQs About Buying Property in Andermatt & POST by Elie Saab

1. Is Andermatt open to foreign property buyers?

Yes. Andermatt is one of the only Swiss Alpine resorts fully exempt from both Lex Koller and Lex Weber through 2040. This means foreign buyers can purchase freely, own multiple properties, and face none of the strict second-home caps.

2. What are the typical property prices in Andermatt?

Across 2024–2025, Andermatt’s residential prices average CHF 15,000–19,000 per m², with branded or luxury serviced properties sitting higher. Chalets generally range from CHF 1.04 million to CHF 5.85 million, while apartments start around CHF 800,000 and can exceed CHF 15 million depending on size, view and amenities. Post by Elie Saab is positioned toward the upper end of this spectrum due to its heritage building, couture-branded interiors and full hotel services.

3. What rental yields can investors expect in Andermatt?

Hotel-serviced residences in Andermatt typically deliver 1–3% net rental yield, depending on occupancy, personal-use allocation and management fees. High-season weekly rates for a three-bedroom serviced apartment can reach CHF 5,000–7,000, with luxury chalets achieving CHF 15,000–25,000 per week. Managed rental pools, common in developments like POST, generally produce higher utilisation than traditional second homes, supported by Andermatt’s strong winter and expanding summer seasons.

4. What is the ownership structure at POST by Elie Saab?

POST offers freehold ownership with no usage restrictions and the option to participate in a hotel-managed rental pool. All residences come fully furnished by ELIE SAAB Maison and include full access to luxury amenities such as a spa, fitness centre, concierge service, kids’ club, restaurants and ski-valet facilities.

5. How strong is Andermatt’s year-round occupancy?

Andermatt is one of the few Alpine resorts with genuine four-season demand. In 2024, the region recorded 172,700 hotel overnight stays plus 515,000 stays in second homes and alternative lodging. Winter occupancy often reaches 90–100%, while summer stays regularly exceed 50–60% thanks to the golf course, cultural programming and extensive hiking and cycling.