Lessons in Hosting from the Swiss Hospitality Industry

There is something truly special about Swiss hospitality. When I get the chance to travel I make every excuse to visit my cousins in Switzerland and travel the country.

I think when people think of Switzerland they simply think of a beautiful place, which it is. Yet, it is so much more than that. The culture has incredible heart especially when it comes to caring for other people.

I have noticed this with my own family as well as at hotels and restaurants throughout my travels. When people host or entertain in Switzerland they put a lot of thought and care into it.

Their hospitality is seemingly effortless because the Swiss know how to stick to the basics and select items of only the highest quality. Now what are these basics? Keep reading and I will share my personal observations.

Lesson One: Have Excellent Food (specifically breakfast)

I really don't think I've ever had a bad meal in Switzerland, especially at a hotel. One of my favorite parts about staying at a Swiss hotel is the incredible breakfast spread they all seem to do. If you have never had a Swiss breakfast spread, I highly recommend the experience.

Generally, what you can expect when you arrive downstairs in the morning is a usually dining room with a nicely set table. Once you are seater, a hotel staff member will typically approach you and ask you how you would like your coffee. They will then promptly return with a fresh cappuccino (at least that is what I request).

Everything else is laid out. There is typically a juice bar with all sorts of juices, including one neon orange health juice that is absolutely delicious although disturbing in color. You will generally always have your choice between different kinds of breads and croissants, jellies, fresh deli-meats, and cheeses. While each place seems to do eggs differently, there is almost always some sort of variation on eggs. My favorite is when they will make soft-boiled eggs to order which is delicious with mutschli (a yummy and very popular roll that always seems to run out) or a croissant.

If you have the opportunity to stay in a mountain hotel that provides a half board (breakfast and dinner) such at the Kulmhotel Gornegrat, I recommend doing so. My family did this when we went skiing for New Year's in 2019 and I have never had a better food experience, not to mention the view was unlike anything else I have ever experienced.

Lesson Two: Keep Things Clean and Tidy

Every room I have ever stayed in, even in the most obscure places in Switzerland, has been immaculate. This ranges from hostels to chalet rentals to luxury hotels. Of course, I always read reviews and conduct a little research to make sure but a good rule of thumb is – generally if the place looks Swiss, you will not be disappointed.

Lesson Three: Simplicity is Key

The Swiss generally do not over complicate. When you start with a good foundation, like the Swiss, all you really need are the necessities.

If you stay in a Swiss hotel, you can pretty much expect the bed to have a crisp percale, cotton fitted sheet, a fluffy duvet, and a luxurious down pillow of the highest quality. This may seem minimal but when you are sleeping in the fresh mountain air it is all you need. The lesson here is even if all you have are the necessities, so long they are of excellent quality, your space can still be comfortable and luxurious. While I do not do this in my personal guest room at home, I would however consider doing this at a ranch house or vacation home.

Lesson Four: Take Care of Your Guests

When you travel pretty much anywhere in Europe, the best places you will stay are generally operated by a Swiss-trained hotelier.

Swiss-trained hoteliers operate with great care. They welcome you into their hotel or in as if you were coming into their home. They do not simply ask you what they can do to improve your stay, they proactively look for ways in which they can.

It is not uncommon for the hotel manager to walk by during breakfast and ask you about your plans for your stay. What is incredible is that they can do so in many different languages as well, as these hoteliers are typically also well trained linguists.

If they have any good recommendations or can provide a referral for activities, they will generally offered them up. Hotels often have relationships with restaurants and businesses. Usually, all you have to do is let places know that the hotel manager referred you for a little extra special treatment.

If for some reason you have a problem while you are staying at their hotel, in my experience hotel managers will make it their prerogative to help you fix the problem, even if it has nothing to do with staying at their hotel. My family had such an experience at Hotel Ermitage in Kandersteg when my mother accidentally locked the car keys in our rental car (I will share that anecdote in another blog post). The manager made resolving this issue so much easier than if we had tried to do it ourselves. Whenever we are in Kandersteg we always go back to Hotel Ermitage because of this wonderful hospitality experience (and also their incredible breakfast).

I hope this this gives you some inspiration on hosting and perhaps I have convinced you to make Switzerland your next destination for international travel!

Photos: All of the photos in this post are from my family's New Year's trip to Zermatt in 2019.

if you have any wonderful hospitality experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear about them in the comments below!

As always,

Alli