High life
Trading in snow
Taki
New York The Olden Hotel in Gstaad is even more famous than the Palace. It is located in the middle of the main street, and is a veritable architectural jewel. Built before the turn of the century, it is a small, classic Siebenthaler style chalet-inn, whose owners have been the Mullener family since its conception. Heidi Mullener Donizetti, the present owner, has run the place ever since I arrived in Gstaad nearly 40 years ago. Heidi is among the nicest people anywhere. I don't think anyone has ever seen her scowl, or in a bad mood, despite many per- sonal heartbreaks. She sings nightly, all golden oldies, in a beautiful and mellow style that has been compared to Mel Torme's. Space prevents me from recount- ing the wonderful times most Gstaad regu- lars have had in the Olden.
Last summer word got out that the Olden had been sold. To the Fayeds, of all people. Dining there one evening, I made a crack to Heidi about the beautiful boisserie and traditional interior being turned to Louis Farouk in the future, but she smiled and told me not to worry. But I did, until this week. I had to ring Heidi about some- thing and the sale of the Olden came up. The good news is that Heidi still owns it.
The bad is that the Fayeds have, • err pulled a Fayed. It transpires that last June Fayed and wife went to the Olden with their lawyer and point blank asked Heidi to sell the Olden to them. The way they put it was, `We want to buy the little Ritz of Gstaad.' Heidi answered that she needed time to consider the offer — a very good one, inci- dentally — but then the Fayeds sweetened the offer by saying she could not only keep her flat, but she could also involve herself with PR for the place. Heidi then said 'Yes, I'm selling you the Olden.'
The news was then spread by both sides, with the ensuing problems that inevitably arise when ownership changes. Heidi then waited for the contracts, and waited and waited. As the summer passed she asked for a pre-contract in order to plan for the winter season. Then one Friday night the Fayed lawyer rang from Geneva and informed Heidi that 'the Fayed family has decided not to buy your hotel.' Amen, says I. But it's a pity about Heidi, who not only took the Fayeds at their word, but who was left lagging behind in preparing for the coming winter.
Mind you, Heidi is not complaining, in fact she's relieved. The Olden is her life, and Gstaad would not be the same without her running the place. What I find amusing is how high-handed these towelheads are. Good manners, needless to say, is not expected of them, but they should have taken into consideration Heidi's age and character. They are used to dealing with sharks like themselves, but Heidi is a lady.
When I recently wrote in a Sunday paper how they first got a foot in the door ln Gstaad, Mohammed Fayed wrote back that I was known as a freeloader living in a cheap bed-sit. I realised right there and then that this man will say anything, and to hell with the truth. Even my enemies know that I do not freeload. (Once, in 25 years of journalism, off the Fortes, last month.) He then bragged about the ferries he owned in Egypt and the millions he made. Ferry boats in Egypt? During the Nasser years when even pushcarts were nationalised? Fayed is protected by major newspapers because he leaks damaging stuff against the government to them. With the exception of The Spectator, the papers play ball. But it's a sad day when British newspapers play Faustian games, and an even sadder day when rich towelheads can buy respect. Otherwise, things are not so hunky-dory in the Bagel. William Cash's article has everyone up in arms, and yours truly has been catching hell as a result. The Daily News, owned by Mort Zuckerman, has just called your High Life correspondent 'a racist whose pen is puss,' (sic) and who belongs to the organ which asked if Tinsel- town was a Jewish cabal. Oh well, at least I know how to spell pus, and yes, I am a racist. I believe only in the Ancient Greeks. The rest are all barbarians and inferiors.
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