The reception at Norman is easy to miss. Push through the rotunda door, part a heavy velvet curtain, and what greets you instead is a library, firelight, low conversation, the particular hush of a room that feels inhabited rather than assembled.

From the terrace of one of Hôtel Balzac’s upper suites, Paris does something it rarely does in the company of strangers, it goes quiet.

The Dolder Grand, an iconic Zurich building since 1899, was renovated in 2008 by Foster + Partners, perfectly combining historical charm with modern style. It offers a unique fusion of elegance with breathtaking views of the Alps as a backdrop.