CHICAGO and GENEVA (January 25, 2024) – Global luxury real estate network Christie’s International Real Estate announces its expansion into the affluent ski resort town of Verbier, Switzerland through a partnership between Geneva, Switzerland-based SPG One, the exclusive Christie's International Real Estate affiliate for French-speaking Switzerland, and Besson Immobilier SA, one of Verbier’s most respected real estate firms.
With an unrivaled understanding of the market, clientele, and local culture, Besson Immobilier is Verbier’s premier brokerage for high-end real estate sales and rentals. Founded in 1979, the firm is one of Verbier’s longest-running real estate brokerages, specializing in the upper end of the market. In 2023, Besson Immobilier logged one of Verbier’s highest sales, a grand, 9,367-square-foot (870-square-meter) chalet that sold for US $33 million (CHF 28M).
SPG One, the only local brokerage solely devoted to luxury real estate, represents some of the world’s most distinguished properties in Switzerland. As an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, its clients benefit from its unrivaled international network of listings, access to exclusive marketing partnerships and a relationship with the iconic Christie’s auction house. The firm is responsible for some of the region’s most notable real estate transactions, including the recent US $43 million (CHF 38M) sale of the historic Chateau de Beau-Pré, in Genthod, Switzerland.
“Verbier is one of the world’s top destinations for skiing and for luxury, and we’re thrilled to partner with the Besson Immobilier team to bring the Christie’s International Real Estate brand into the region,” said Maxime Dubus, managing director, SPG One. “With the experience and talent of the Besson team, supported by Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s leading luxury real estate brand, SPG One and Besson Immobilier will offer an experience well beyond what’s currently available in Verbier.”
Nestled in the Swiss Alps on a plateau overlooking the Val de Bagnes, the Alpine village of Verbier is one of the world’s most charming and luxurious ski destinations. The region has long attracted celebrities, royalty and the wealthy who come for the sun, altitude, challenging world-class skiing, and its dining and nightlife.
Verbier’s market offers a range of homes, from apartments to mountainside chalets. High demand for real estate in Verbier has far outpaced supply in recent years, leading to significant growth in prices, especially for vacation homes. The current scarcity of properties is due to several factors, including the popularity of second homes during the pandemic, the rise of remote work, and the effects of Switzerland’s Lex Weber law, which restricts the construction of new second homes. Over the past month, however, the region has seen a slight uptick in new listings.
Verbier is a strategic addition to the SPG One portfolio, as the firm looks to expand its own brand and the Christie’s International Real Estate brand to more of Switzerland’s premier ski resorts. “The concept is to combine the strength of the SPG One brand in Switzerland with the unique expertise of local agencies and the worldwide network of Christie’s International Real Estate,” said Maxime Dubus.
“We’re proud to partner with SPG One and Besson Immobilier to bring Christie’s International Real Estate to Verbier,” said Helena Moyas de Forton, managing director, EMEA and APAC for Christie’s International Real Estate. “Rachel Besson and her team are the best in the local market, and Verbier is another jewel in the crown of luxury mountain resort destinations around the world served by Christie’s International Real Estate.”
Christie's International Real Estate press release - January 2024
