Our philosophy emphasises guest comfort, sustainability, and attention to detail. Continuous training is crucial to maintaining our high standards and encouraging professional growth. What sets us apart is our eco-friendly approach — we use just two cleaning products for bathrooms and water for dusting, balancing environmental consciousness with refinement, ensuring an unforgettable stay for our guests.

Our team ensures smooth operations while fostering staff development. Trainee head room attendants make sure rooms are perfectly prepared and guest requests are handled. Floor supervisors uphold high standards in line with LQA (Leading Quality Assurance) guidelines, while trainers ensure that all protocols are followed. Trainee supervisors help with training new members, checking rooms, and refining processes. Across all roles, our focus is on delivering memorable guest experiences, maintaining safety, and ensuring top quality.

We’ve implemented several initiatives, such as reusing flowers, recycling glass, paper, aluminium, and coffee capsules, and replacing plastic bottles with refillable glass ones. We’ve reduced chemical use by focusing on manual cleaning methods, and bed linens are changed only upon guest request. Room dispensers are refilled daily with palm oil-free, paraben-free products. Our wool slippers, made from 100% natural materials, serve as keepsakes for guests. Additionally, we’ve cut down on water and energy usage by cleaning with ambient temperature water. Other innovations include switching from paper lists to iPads, reusing sponges, and adopting eco-friendly amenities. Through EarthCheck — a globally recognised certification for sustainable tourism — we continuously find ways to reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve our environmental performance across the hotel.

One unforgettable moment was arranging the delivery of 5-metre Christmas trees by helicopter for a special guest in one of our residences. We’ve also had the pleasure of spelling out “Marry Me” with 8,000 roses on the lawn, creating a truly magical experience. Another challenge involved building a real-size gingerbread house in the garden for Santa’s arrival and managing complex decorations for events like the Super Car event, which included setting up a 50-metre table. We aim to create “wow” moments for guests, whether it’s through elaborate set-ups or simply exceeding their expectations. Sometimes, a guest’s sincere thank you can leave the biggest impression.

The Housekeeping Alpina Academy was developed to offer career opportunities to those without formal hospitality training, while addressing the demand for highly skilled housekeeping staff. The Academy’s mission is to train the best room attendants and supervisors by fostering a passion for knowledge and personal growth. It allows our team to build professional portfolios and ensures The Alpina Gstaad has a consistent pipeline of skilled, dedicated staff. The Academy reflects our belief that anyone, with the right support, can grow and succeed in a hospitality career.

Delivering personalised service is our priority, and we achieve this through continuous, hands-on training that follows LQA guidelines. We hold daily meetings to align our efforts and run situational drills, like fire evacuations, to keep everyone prepared. Our guest profiles are updated regularly, allowing us to tailor our service to each guest’s preferences. We also encourage open communication with guests to ensure their needs are fully understood. Through our Housekeeping Academy, we provide personalised training with videos, checklists, and practical sessions. We track progress with quizzes and exams to ensure both theoretical knowledge and practical skills meet our high standards. With regular supervision and personalised guidance, we help our team focus on delivering bespoke service. Graduates of our Academy must pass an exam to advance, ensuring they meet the expected luxury standards.

The Academy has had a significant impact on career progression within our team. Antonia, for instance, began as a room attendant with no formal training and is now a third housekeeper. Armanda, a trainer, uses her experience to mentor new team members. Many of our staff, upon leaving The Alpina Gstaad, find it easy to secure positions elsewhere, thanks to the strong foundation provided by the Academy. It serves as a school, offering a clear path for career growth, with opportunities for higher roles, more responsibilities, and increased knowledge.