Makers & Shakers: Hotel Employees (Part I)

Leonardo Poesini is the Head Technician at the Kulm Hotel. Whenever a fault occurs, something needs fixing, or a USB cable needs to be found for a crucial online call, “Leo” is there to save the day. His behind-the-scenes expertise ensures that the Kulm runs as smoothly as it does. We caught up with him for a short while before he was called to another important meeting.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?
In Chiavenna, in Italy, which is about 40 minutes to an hour from here. I live in Prosto now, which is on the way to Chiavenna, and it’s where my family is, so whenever I get some days off, I go to see them there.

As well as seeing your family, what activities do you do around St. Moritz when you have some free time?
I bring Nina, my dog, with me – she’s a pointer – when I am in St. Moritz. She stays with someone when I work, but after work, the highlight for me is a late-afternoon walk with her. We might go for one and a half or two hours around the lake or maybe even a bit further up in the mountains. It’s my way of relaxing after a long day. I also like to go fishing in Lake St. Moritz and in Silvaplana, too. I also go fishing in Italy, but there are some beautiful places to fish around here.

What’s the best thing about working in the Kulm Hotel
The most beautiful thing is that every day is completely different. I used to be an electrician, but since coming here, I don’t do the job of an electrician anymore – I need to know how to do everything. So yes, I’m an electrician, but I’m also a technician and a plumber for when something needs to be painted, changed, fixed or welded! You never know what to expect because when something just breaks or almost burns down, you need to invent a way to fix it temporarily, and order something to fix it properly – so there’s a lot of creativity involved.
But it’s also quite a lot of fun. The Kulm is like a small town for me; you have the swimming pool, the plant room, the laundry and the kitchen… It’s so many different spaces that you need to know how to fix the whole city!

Is there anything you haven't done in St. Moritz yet that you would like to do?
I would still love to do some of the downhill tracks or the flow trails on a mountain bike. That would be really exciting. But most of all I would like to experience a delta-plane flight from Corviglia during the winter. Take off and fly overhead from a great height, float over all of St. Moritz and then land down on the icy lake. That would be bellissimo!

Melanie Jaletzky is on the HR team at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel as Training & Quality Assistant. She has also worked in and been involved with various companies and businesses around St. Moritz since 2018, ever since the area cast its spell on her…

What's your favourite part about working there?
The best part is that it is never boring or monotonous here. There are always new projects and changes to get involved with, as well as meeting many different colleagues and personalities, which makes the work especially exciting for me.

Where were you born and how long have you lived in/around St. Moritz?
I originally come from Germany, and eight years ago, my partner and I decided to spend a winter season in St. Moritz to gain more professional experience. But then the area captivated us so much that we have been living here in the beautiful Engadin ever since. We love the breathtaking scenery and the unique lifestyle in and around St. Moritz. Every season brings new highlights and experiences.

When you're not working, what are your favourite things and activities to do?
I like to spend time with my friends and enjoy the exquisite culinary scene in St. Moritz and the Engadin. This is important to me as someone from the hospitality industry – it’s one of my passions. I also love hiking, cycling, paddleboarding or swimming at Lej Marsch in the summer and autumn – all of these activities bring me great joy and are all the relaxation I need. However, I always make sure to put sunscreen on before leaving the house otherwise I’ll end up looking like a tomato! We’re at an altitude of over 1800 metres here and the sun can be strong!

What is the best thing about St. Moritz and the valley when it’s quieter than usual?
During the quieter times, the area transforms back into a small, intimate village. For most of the people who stay here in the off-season, it provides a homely feeling. The springtime is particularly beautiful when the last of the snow melts, nature becomes greener, and the flowers start blooming again.

For people who have never been to St. Moritz, what is the one thing they should visit or do before they leave?
Visitors should definitely take a walk to Lej da Staz on a sunny day and go for a swim there. It’s beautiful to buy some food, cook it at one of the barbecue spots there and finish the day feeling very relaxed. I would also recommend paddleboarding early in the morning on Lake Silvaplana. It’s a fantastic way to see the area from the water. A hike to Corviglia and a visit to Paradiso Mountain Club is also a must – you can enjoy the sun and indulge in some great food before taking the return hike home. The Festival da Jazz in St. Moritz is another highlight in the summer – it brings an incredible atmosphere to the area, with live concerts at a lot of different locations. Finally, the Alp-Schaukäserei in Pontresina, and observing the ibex around there in May are truly unforgettable experiences that should not be missed.

Bruno Tobler is the Suvretta Sports’ mountain-bike instructor and guides cycling experts and fun-loving riders along the panoply of trails and thrilling rides in the area’s forests and valleys.

When did you begin working at Suvretta Sports?
It was about three years ago, in 2021. Before then I was also working as a ski instructor and ski expert – that means I get to teach other instructors to pass their skiing instruction exam – and I still do this every winter, as well as mountain biking.

What type of mountain-bike instructing do you do? Who is it for in particular?
I act as a guide for guests and visitors, so not much technical stuff, and we talk and ride on the trails and the tours around the mountains. I do a little bit of this especially at the beginning of the summer. Then I do more technical camps or technical lessons because the people who learnt at the beginning of the season are keen to improve further. In the summer, during Switzerland’s school holidays, we have a lot of kids and teens, and we do a programme for them for a whole week. We start from Monday till Friday, and I would say we do 80 percent biking, and the rest of the time we’re having fun, playing around in the trees, things like that. I also do a lot of e-biking with the older guests or those who want to take it a little bit easier and not get so tired-out!

What’s your favourite type of class to teach?
I like to have a good mix of guided rides, to show people the really nice views and amazing mountains in and around St. Moritz and the Engadin. But then I also like taking people on the technical trails and giving them tips about how to improve their bike-riding skills.

And when you’re not working, what are your favourite things to do in the area?
I enjoy going for bike rides of course, or driving over to Chiavenna, having a great pizza and a glass of wine and then driving back, all in one day, so I can have a taste of Switzerland and Italy.
Or I like to climb Piz Palü; it’s close to 4000m, and I climb up with the skis, and the last part of the climb, you do it without the skis. It’s possible to do it almost year-round, and the snow conditions are really good.

What are your favourite trails to ride on around St. Moritz?
The Marmotta Flow Trail is good, especially at the beginning of the season, because it’s a good flow trail. I also enjoy the Foppettas Trail; it's like a little playground – you can jump everywhere, and it’s not too crazy. It’s good for intermediate bikers and is one of my favourite trails to warm up and get back to the technical skills of biking. Then, of course, in the middle of the summer in the high season, one of the best trails is the Olympia Trail. That’s the classic one, the first flow trail to be built in Switzerland 11 years ago!