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Discover Mövenpick

Our story

About our history

When Swiss hotelier, the late Ueli Prager, founded the Mövenpick brand in 1948, he redefined the European restaurant scene and paved the way for a new style of modern hospitality, conceived on a simple premise: ‘doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way’. A visionary of his time, Prager created a restaurant concept based on simplicity, innovation, commitment to service and a passion for culinary and hospitality excellence, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Where everything began

1948

Mövenpick’s first restaurant opens

Zurich, Switzerland

Mövenpick’s astonishing journey began when Prager was strolling the shores of Lake Zurich with a friend. He had been searching for a name for his new restaurant concept – a ‘dining bar’ where guests could relax and eat high-quality food at affordable prices. As he considered the possibilities, a seagull (or Möwe in German), swooped down to skilfully pick up food mid-flight. That one elegant movement encapsulated Prager’s vision and so ‘Mövenpick’ (Möwe pick), and Europe’s first casual dining experience, was born. Prager’s first restaurant, Claridenhof, opened in Zurich in July 1948, offering simple dishes that could be ordered à la carte - a refreshing alternative to set menus. It was considered unconventional for Swiss restaurants and was the first of many Mövenpick innovations. Twenty-five years later, in 1973, Prager capitalised on Mövenpick’s reputation for quality food, affordability, staff training standards and innovation by opening the company’s first two hotels, both in Zurich – one at the airport and the other in Regensdorf. At the time, airport hotels were considered unnecessary, but for Prager they were an overlooked opportunity. As an innovator, he was light years ahead of the competition, which was reluctant to break with tradition.

The right idea at the right time

1950

Several Mövenpick restaurants open across Switzerland

 

60 years of wine experience

1962

The first Mövenpick Wein (Mövenpick Wine) store opens

First branded goods

1963

Mövenpick Coffee launches, the start of Mövenpick Fine Foods business

A passion for the extraordinary

1968

Mövenpick Ice Cream launches

A new style of modern hospitality

1973

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts established – 2 hotels open near Zurich, Switzerland

International expansion begins

1976

The first international Mövenpick hotel opens in Cairo, Egypt

The expansion continues

1980

The brand debuts in Germany with new hotels

The company debuts in jordan

1996

The first Middle East property opens in Jordan

Succesful middle east expansion

2001 - 2003

First hotels in the Gulf: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Mövenpick reaches asia

2006

First hotel in the Far East – Thailand

Commitment to sustainable practices

2017

Mövenpick becomes the most Green-Globe-certified hotel company in the world

 

Prager’s legacy lives on

2018

The Mövenpick Group marks its 70th anniversary

 

Mövenpick takes flight with accorhotels

2018

Mövenpick takes flight with AccorHotels, a world-leading travel & lifestyle
group and digital innovator. 

Mövenpick continues to grow in Asia

2020

First Resorts open in Cam Rahn & Phu Quoc Vietnam.

Mövenpick arrives down under

2021

First Hotels open in Hobart & Melbourne

Nourishing the planet

We believe the greatest indulgence is giving back to create a brighter future, a refreshing approach that has made Mövenpick a sustainability leader

Food & Drink

We’ve been making mouth-watering moments for more than 70 years, creating culinary experiences that are bursting with flavour.