High above Lake Maggiore, above Locarno, sits the five-star Hotel Villa Orselina with a fantastic view over the lake and the surrounding mountains. The hotel invites you to relax, true to the motto «il dolce far niente». For this year’s edition of SUMMERTIMES, we spoke to Daniel Schälli, who has been the director of the five-star hotel since 2017, in person. We talked to him about the biggest challenges currently facing the hotel industry, his love of Ticino and he revealed his personal highlight at Villa Orselina.
Text: Malin Müller
Bilder: provided
How do you think the hotel industry has developed in recent years?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Swiss holiday hotel industry recorded record results. We had many new guests in our hotel, including some who had rarely spent a summer holiday in their own country before or were visiting Ticino for the first time. This was a great opportunity for us to build up new regular guests. Guests are increasingly looking for authenticity and personalised experiences. There is a lot of potential here. The Swiss hotel industry has emerged stronger than before.
«For the holiday destination of Ticino, transport links and weather dependency are by far the biggest challenges.»
– Daniel Schälli
What are the biggest challenges in the hotel industry at the moment?
Attracting young people to this exciting and fulfilling profession and keeping them in the hotel industry. At the same time, we can only have a limited influence on rising operating costs. For the holiday destination of Ticino, however, transport links and weather dependency are by far the biggest challenges.
You have been in the luxury hotel industry in Ticino since the beginning of your career. Why Ticino?
Being able to work in this holiday paradise for so long is already a great privilege and was not initially planned in this way. I started my career in Lenzerheide, then followed the call of the legendary hotelier Hans C. Leu to the Hotel Giardino in Ascona. He was the one who sparked my passion for the hotel industry. Starting as a night concierge, I left the hotel after eight years as assistant manager. This was followed by exciting roles at the Parkhotel Delta and the Hotel Eden Roc, where I was able to work for the Kipp-Bechtolsheimer family for a further eight years. For seven years now, I have been managing and developing the Villa Orselina, a little gem above Locarno.
Could you also imagine working abroad in the future when the children are older?
My wife and I have been in Ticino for over 25 years now and our children grew up in Ascona. We feel at home here. We don’t yet know what exciting things the future has in store for us and where they will be.
What is your personal highlight at Villa Orselina?
Villa Orselina is a small jewel above Locarno. With just 28 exclusive rooms and suites, we can offer our guests very personalised and individual care. The view of Lake Maggiore can be enjoyed from everywhere, be it from the restaurant terrace or the hotel garden or from our unique outdoor pool. The view makes you forget the time and guests can completely indulge in «dolce far niente». Everyday life is forgotten.
Describe Villa Orselina in three words.
Boutique, panorama and retreat hotel
Villa Orselina has 28 rooms and suites. Il Ristoranti di Villa Orselina (15 Gault Millau points) welcomes guests with fine Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, topped off with a breathtaking view over Lake Maggiore. During the day, delicious pasta and grilled dishes are served in La Pergola Restaurant in the subtropical garden. An aperitif or nightcap can be enjoyed in the Panorama Lounge & Bar. Wine lovers can enjoy wine tastings in the Cantina. The five-star hotel offers a wide range of spa treatments and has saunas, an indoor pool, a fitness and yoga room and, of course, a heated outdoor pool in the garden with fantastic views over Lake Maggiore and Locarno. Villa Orselina is also particularly popular for weddings.
Boutique Hotel Villa Orselina
Via Santuario 10
6644 Orselina-Locarno
+41 91 735 73 73
welcome@villaorselina.ch
www.villaorselina.ch