Notes from Vevey: A Valmont Journey

Some invitations you accept before you have even finished reading them. When Valmont asked me to join them in Vevey, on the edge of Lake Geneva, I knew this would be one of those trips that stays with me long after the flight home. What follows is a journal of the days, and a few recommendations for anyone lucky enough to find themselves there.

Monday, July 6: Arrival

There is a particular kind of relief that comes from stepping off a long flight and into cold water. After landing and arriving at the Grand Hotel du Lac, I spent my free time doing exactly that: a dip in Lake Geneva, followed by a slow walk along its edge. The light on the water that afternoon was worth the jet lag on its own.

I also made my way into the city center for a lymphatic massage, which did exactly what I needed it to do for the swelling that comes with a transatlantic flight. If you are prone to puffiness after travel, I cannot recommend this enough as a first-day ritual.

In the early evening, we gathered for cocktails at the Grand Hotel du Lac with Valmont's CEO, Sophie Guillon, and Maxence Guillon, their USA Business Development Manager. It was a warm, easy start to the trip and the first of many conversations about where this brand is headed.

Dinner followed at the Veranda at Grand Hotel du Lac, and it was, without exaggeration, one of the finest meals of the trip. A glass of Sancerre paired beautifully with the meal, and the strawberry and whipped cream dessert that followed was the kind of simple, perfect thing that lingers in memory. If you find yourself at the Veranda, order both.

Tuesday, July 7: Content Day

Tuesday was given entirely to collaborating with Valmont on educational skincare content I am looking forward to sharing in the coming weeks. The day started early with hair and makeup, followed by a video shoot dressed in soft whites and beiges to match the light of the space. We broke for lunch midday, then returned for a second round of filming, including product application, before wrapping in the early evening.

If you find yourself in Vevey with a free evening, Gueuleton is a wonderful choice for something casual and unfussy after a long day.

Wednesday, July 8: Treatment and the Source

Wednesday began with breakfast before a Valmont facial treatment at the spa at Grand Hotel du Lac, performed by an esthetician named Jan. She has been practicing for over twenty-five years, and it shows in every movement. Her technique is some of the most skilled I have encountered, and the spa itself is a beautiful, calm setting to receive it in.

From there, we set off up a winding mountain road to the Flore-Alpe Alpine Botanical Garden, stopping first for lunch at Au Club Alpin. The meal was exceptional, the kind of gastronomy set against a lakeside view that makes you understand why the Swiss take their time at the table. If you are in the area, Ma Cocotte is another excellent choice for a lunch that lingers in the same way.

The garden itself is where Valmont sources select active ingredients used in their formulas, and seeing the source in its natural landscape, rather than simply reading about it on a label, changed how I think about the brand entirely. The tour was genuinely interesting and well worth the drive up the mountain. We returned to the hotel by late afternoon.

The quality of the food across every meal in Vevey was unlike anything I have found here in the States. What struck me just as much was the pace of life. Everyone I met seemed genuinely happy and relaxed, and spending these few days inside that rhythm was its own kind of treatment. There is something the Swiss understand about slowing down that I intend to carry back with me.

Thursday, July 9: Departure

An early departure for Geneva Airport closed out the trip, but Vevey stayed with me well past the drive there. It is a beautiful place to think, to slow down, and to be reminded of why I fell in love with this industry in the first place. My gratitude to Valmont for the invitation, and for a trip I will be drawing from for a long time.