Makers & Shakers: Hotel Employees (Part III)

Giulia Panzeri is the reservations manager at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel. If you’ve ever sent an email or given the hotel a ring, there’s a good chance that it’s been Giulia you’re talking to, who always goes that bit further to make your stay more special.

What are your main duties at the hotel?
I’m mainly dealing with the requests of the guests over the phone and via email, and arranging future requests and reservations. I also work as a duty manager in the evening, usually once per month around the hotel, but I am always in contact anyway with other departments and the guests, too, so it's always busy and exciting.

And where did you grow up?
I come from a small town near Lake Como, with only 10,000 inhabitants, located around two hours from St. Moritz. I started working in Italy, Bergamo, and then after that in Spain. Then I went to Germany for more experience and to improve my German, and then I worked on a cruise ship in Australia. After that, I started working in hospitality at Lake Como, and now I am finally here!

What do you like to do around St. Moritz when you have some time off?
I usually walk to Lej da Staz after work, and come back via Celerina, and if I have more time, then I will go to Val Fex and walk there – it’s such a stunning view. I also like to do yoga, and I have yoga classes at Mesa Yoga in front of the hotel to relax, because I'm sitting the whole day, and this is very helpful for my back and the body. I also go out sometimes for an aperitif or dinner with some friends and colleagues. Not “going out” in a big way, but just to enjoy this time, you know?!

Where do you go to grab an aperitif and some food?
I would go to the Grace Hotel or Belmont for an aperitif, and I would probably go to La Stalla for dinner because it’s close to my home. Then, during summer, I prefer being outside, so I would head to La Gondola at Lake St. Moritz for a drink with friends.

What are the “secret” things that people could try that tourists don’t often do?
If I were recommending activities to people, it would probably be to have a barbecue or picnic at Lej Marsch. It is quieter there, and only people who live here will know how to get there and enjoy doing this – plus it’s there that you are surrounded by the best examples of nature, I think.

Kurt Walters is head waiter at Suvretta House and splits his time between working at the hotel and his apartment in Vienna. Mr. Walters ensures that the Suvretta House remains famous for its outstanding hospitality by setting a positive example for other staff about giving guests that most precious of all commodities: his time. He also prepares the ne plus ultra of steak tartare dishes on the Suvretta terrace when the sun is shining, or in the opulent dining rooms when the snow falls.

How long have you worked at the Suvretta House now, Mr. Walters?
Well, it must be about 33 or 34 years now. I started in the summer of 1991.

And where were you before then?
I started in Austria and stayed for four years to learn the professions of chef and waiter. Then I worked for various four- and five-star restaurants before joining the Carlton Hotel in Tivoli. After this, I worked in the Savoy Arosa, then in the Lausanne, and then joined the Suvretta House in 1991.

If you’re not working, what do you like to do in and around St. Moritz?
Well, I’ve recently had a couple of little accidents, and so it’s now very important for me to move around a lot every day, keep active, you know. So, when I’m not working, I take a little walk down to St. Moritz Bad, then I visit the Hauser coffee house and get a croissant, and then I walk back. If I’m feeling fit, I will walk via the station and up Via Serlas. If I’m feeling a little lazy, then I take the escalator! This is all about six kilometres and around 10,000 steps, so I get my steps done for the day!
Then I like to swim at the Bellavita Pool in Pontresina. There’s an outdoor spa there, and it’s important to get fresh air. I like to do a bit of e-biking. I used to cycle regularly but I had an accident two years ago, so I have to go on the e-bike and the flat roads now. There are still some nice trails, such as Val Fex, or up to Lake Cavloc on the left side of the Maloja Pass. Finally, when I’m not walking or swimming, I like reading.

Where is your favourite place to read? Where do you feel most inspired?
The great thing about the Engadine is that you can stop almost anywhere, and if you have the light and the weather, then it is perfect. But maybe Muottas Muragl is where I feel most inspired, with the view over the valley, and all the paragliders flying below…

For those people who have never been to St. Moritz, what would you recommend that they do?
St. Moritz is such a special place; it's for everybody. You can walk in the valleys, or you can walk high or climb in the mountains. You can go horse riding, or you can have a game of golf. In the summer you can go to Silvaplana and fly through the sky or glide across the lake. It’s a lot of fun and there are many things to do when the weather is clear. Whatever the guests do, it will always be special.

Jasmin Erb is a Talent Acquisition Partner at the Kulm Group. She has only been in her new role and living in St. Moritz for a few months, but is enjoying her new position and gives some great insights about the local area.

What made you decide to move here?
I wanted to move from Germany to Switzerland for many reasons; because the people are said to be very gentle and very nice, and because the quality of life in Switzerland is amongst the highest of the European countries. Then it was just by chance because I received a headhunting call. Of course, St. Moritz is quite remote compared to Zurich or other metropolitan areas, but then I had some more interviews where they also told me, “It will be very easy for you to find a connection here”. There are a lot of expats and international people here – it is like a patchwork. It is also very sunny here, and people are very open-minded, very friendly, and open to new contacts.

And what do you think of it now?
You can do so many things here, and you have even more options when you live here. There’s a whole potpourri of options and possibilities that you might not have if you live, say, one hour outside of Zurich, for example. So I think it's a very rich place because you can do lots of sports, and you can enjoy many events and parties. You have the culture, the galleries, the exhibitions. Yesterday evening, for example, a small art gallery next to where I live had an exhibition, and afterwards the people were just coming together, having a beer, discussing art, having a good time… That’s St. Moritz for me!

What have you enjoyed doing so far in St. Moritz?
Well, I’ve visited the White Turf event with some of my colleagues, and enjoyed betting on the horses, which really gave me some adrenaline! It was a great time. When the snow melts, I really enjoy going mountain biking – that’s one of my great passions. It was also why I decided to move here, because in the Engadine in the summer, it's a paradise for mountain bikers. For me, after work, I go back to my flat, change my clothes, take my bike, and I am right up in the mountains again. You don't need to take your bike in your car and drive to the mountains like I had to in Germany – you can take your bike, set off directly from the office, and you're up in the mountains in no time.

Is there anywhere you want to go or an activity you want to do that you haven’t tried yet?
Well, there is the delta-plane flight that I really want to go on, to see the entire Engadine from above, from this bird-like perspective. I’d also like to hike and ride more on all the trails that are around in the area, and connect with the local mountain-biking group. Of course, this is very easy – if you just go for a ride after work, you will always meet people, and it's extremely easy to start a little conversation and connect with each other!