When you cross the threshold, luxury means leaving behind everything that pushes the corners of your mouth down in everyday life. In Megève, France, you can snuggle up in one of ten chalets at the Hotel L’Alpaga and look out over the majestic summit of Mont Blanc, whose panorama puts many things in life into perspective. Marie-Hélène Ziller puts her heart and soul into looking after the well-being of her guests, who are seeking peace and quiet here in the French mountains.
FACES: How did you get into the hotel industry?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: My family has always been passionate about cooking. We love good ingredients and food and are real foodies who are also very involved in associations. Not least because of this, our door was always open to guests, and I think it was this hospitality that made me choose a career in the hotel industry. From the very first day at the hotel management school, I knew that I was on the right path and had found my passion.
FACES: What’s so special about L’Alpaga?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: When I saw L’Alpaga for the first time, I immediately thought: This is magic! Beaumier’s hotels are all characterized by their individuality, and L’Alpaga is a very special, peaceful and authentic place where people work with passion and serve guests attentively and with a good eye for detail.
FACES: What do we absolutely need to know about the hotel?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: L’Alpaga is no ordinary hotel, but a real little village of ten chalets in typical Megève style that celebrate the local Mont Blanc. This alpine spirit runs through the entire hotel, which was designed by Vicky Charles and Julia Cordens from Charles & Co. Not only were the best materials used, but local craftsmanship was also promoted. The aim was to retain the charm of this place at all costs. Care was taken to ensure that L’Alpaga stands out from other chalets in the region. Velvet and wood provide warmth and comfort inside, along with colors such as fir green, steel blue, chocolate or Bordeaux, as well as old leather armchairs and woolen fabrics that create a cozy atmosphere without drowning out the nature outside. Of course, the view of Mont Blanc is an absolute highlight, which is why you can also enjoy the panorama from our wellness area, fitness room or whirlpool. This is complemented by the excellent food from our two restaurants. There’s nothing better than enjoying a meal at the Michelin-starred Table de L’Alpaga after a speedy descent.
FACES: What are the reasons we should definitely stay at L’Alpaga?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: The surroundings of L’Alpaga in the French town of Megève are quiet and unspoiled, just right for immersing yourself in nature and enjoying its beauty. In everything we do at the hotel, we pay the necessary respect to the region and also ensure an authentic experience for our guests. We have many enthusiastic talented people working in our restaurant who are passionate about delighting our guests with locally inspired food and drinks.
Hotelier: a multifaceted profession
FACES: What makes everyday life as a hotelier so exciting, and what aspects get on your nerves from time to time?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: The profession of hotelier has many facets and combines several jobs in one. You not only manage the hotel, but also take care of the guests, the maintenance of the facility, the employees, the financial administration, advertising, marketing and so on. Ultimately, however, it is always about passion and the exchange between people. You meet people from different countries, get to know their culture while talking to them and broaden your horizons. And that’s exactly what makes the hotel industry so exciting: every day is different.
FACES: What does a hotelier need to be able to do?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: A hotelier has to be extremely flexible and be able to get stuck in. In this job, you have to be able to look ahead and deal with pressure and stress. The focus is always on the guest, and that raises new questions every day. It is therefore essential to be able to think and act quickly.
FACES: As a hotelier, what do you have to think about that others don’t have to worry about?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: Nothing works without care. Of course, a hotelier is always an entrepreneur, but what makes the difference are the people.
FACES: What do you rack your brains over?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: About the future. In my opinion it is
Currently, one of our most important tasks is to restore the splendor of our profession and our industry. It is essential to attract new generations to the hotel industry and to take our social and ecological responsibility seriously.
FACES: What are you like as a boss?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: I am a very positive person and want people to smile and be happy. I give them the freedom to express themselves and their personality and trust in the strength of the collective. Teamwork is the key to providing our guests with the service they expect. I am always authentic, curious, sincere, inspiring, detail-oriented, tolerant and empathetic.
Simply listen as a host
FACES: What makes a good host?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: A good host welcomes everyone as if they had just come home. You need a keen eye, you have to be able to analyze and understand situations quickly and react to them. Every interaction is different and gives you the opportunity to create a personal moment. It is particularly important to listen and pay attention to details.
FACES: Which guests do you like the most?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: Those guests who enjoy the moment, who love discovering the hotel, talking to the team, exchanging ideas and experiencing new things. Anyone who manages to create emotional moments and unforgettable experiences will always have a place in my heart.
FACES: Is there any guest behavior that makes you angry?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: Disrespectful people who behave badly towards the staff, other guests, places or the environment make me angry. Fortunately, this is quite rare!
Management of expectations
FACES: What expectations do you have of your hotel?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: Due to the location in the middle of nature, we are keen to expand the wellness offer in the future. In doing so, we rely on Beaumier’s credo of immersing our guests in a place and giving them opportunities to feel at home. This could be an outdoor pool with a view of Mont Blanc, for example. Incidentally, we are always inspired by Mont Blanc, which is right under our noses. Nature and silence are the luxury we believe in.
FACES: How have your guests’ expectations changed over the years?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: What guests really want today is genuine service. But they also want to have fun, have great experiences and meet new people. Our guests pay attention to sustainability, which is why we must also strive to meet this requirement. The challenge is to combine all of this with our hotel basics – namely to create emotions, offer exceptional service and pay great attention to the smallest detail.
There is so much to tell!
FACES: What story from your everyday life do you absolutely have to tell us?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: I had a very intense and stressful time in September 2021, and I really needed a break. So I rented a guest house for one night in a totally green, idyllic and peaceful setting. You could hear the rushing of the river and the chirping of the birds, just great. The hostess was charming, and I was very impressed when I learned that she receives guests out of pure joy, as she works as a nurse during the day. We had great conversations and I told her that the best way to recharge my batteries was by swimming and hiking. Finally, we went on a hiking tour together, during which she showed me a hidden indoor swimming pool to which only she had the key. That moment when she opened the door to it was simply magical!
FACES: What do you look out for when you stay out yourself?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: When I travel myself, I want to get away from everyday life, have new experiences, switch off, discover something and be enriched by a new culture and new people in a new place. For me, a trip is a success if I can recharge my batteries and return home with lots of wonderful memories, pictures and faces in my head.
FACES: What separates a good hotel from a great hotel?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: The people. Their talent, kindness, generosity, sincerity and commitment are the key to success. Authentic, sincere and friendly hospitality makes all the difference.
FACES: Where is your own bed?
Marie-Hélène Ziller: I have just moved to the Megève region and currently live in a charming house in the valley with a view of the mountains. Now it’s all about exploring the region to build a cocoon here.
L’Alpaga
If the Brothers Grimm had written another winter fairy tale, it would have been set in Megève, France. Charm finds its face here in the Hotel L’Alpaga, which celebrates the regional, the peace and serenity that is reflected in every treetop and every mountain peak that can be seen from one of the ten chalets belonging to the hotel. In addition to the alpine architecture, the cozy interior and the spa, the highlight is the Mont Blanc, at the sight of which all everyday worries lose their meaning. A wild ride on the local slopes helps you switch off just as much as splashing around in the pool with massage jets or nibbling on local delicacies in one of two restaurants.
L’Alpaga, 66 All. des Marmousets, 74120 Megève, France
Marie-Hélène Ziller from…
cruise ships:
Cruises offer the opportunity to visit several places and have everything you need on board. However, I personally don’t like this type of travel: it lacks authenticity and is not environmentally friendly.
Buffet meal:
…is not in keeping with the times for several reasons: there is too much waste, you have to constantly refill individual food items and the buffet also has to be visually attractive. It is up to us to act now to reduce our negative impact on the environment.
All-inclusive:
That depends on the guest himself and his requirements. In my opinion, however, this type of offer lacks authentic discoveries, as you hardly have the opportunity to explore a local culture.
Tip:
…rewards good service and increases the motivation to go the extra mile.
Dogs in the restaurant and hotel:
Dogs are man’s best friend. The animal is part of the family, so it is only understandable that people want to spend as much time with it as possible.
Children in the restaurant and hotel:
The best memories are made when we are children. What could be more magical than eating with the family, sleeping in a hotel and admiring the landscape around us?
Animators:
…are not in line with our definition of luxury at Beaumier, where we stand for tranquillity and nature. Our aim is to create places where you can relax and unwind.
Dress codes:
People should feel comfortable. A dress code only makes sense if it is part of the experience and gives the moment a special feeling.
TripAdvisor:
…is one of the most frequently used sources when traveling due to its large number of reviews. My tip: Be careful when reading and form your own opinion.
Online travel agency:
For many travelers, OTAs are the preferred way to search and book their hotels. However, they must be well managed and well integrated into the sales strategy.
Sharing Economy:
…is one of the most important changes in recent years. The possibility of renting instead of buying has changed the traditional model and enables a more sustainable use of resources.
Sustainability:
…is a must. Conserving resources and sustainability are important for the next generation, but also for the survival and growth of the hospitality industry.
Shortage of skilled workers:
We need to make careers in the hotel and catering industry desirable again and make young people want to take up this profession.
More great accommodation from Beaumier and the option to book a chalet at Hotel L’Alpaga can be found here.
Would you rather swap the mountain for the beach? Then off to the Maldives! Our tip: the Patina. You can read everything you need to know here.
Photos: © L’Alpaga, Charlotte Lindet, Benoit Linero
