Simon Schenk

Alpine mornings and timeless details.

In Crans-Montana, it is completely different. Schenk personally writes every welcome card: ‘Here, I can make a difference as compared to the big five-star hotels,’ says Schenk. Such a personal touch is only possible with a hotel of this size. He enjoys taking care of his guests and loves being a host, and when Schenk talks about the advantages of his establishment, the word ‘personal’ comes up repeatedly.

For Schenk, it is important to present the residential section, as these private apartments with the hotel service represent true luxury to him. He gives everything during the season to create such a high level of excellence every day, but the season is now over and there is some time to relax. As we look out at the snow-covered mountain peaks, he explains, ‘Of course, this intensity also drains energy, which is why I do little during the off-season.’ Schenk takes time to recharge in Basel and abroad. Long walks give him strength, as do concerts and museum visits.

“When I walk into the hotel in the morning, it is showtime. I am on stage until I leave at night.”

A quiet summer escape above the treetops.

The 2026 winter season was extremely challenging for a different, very sad reason. The fire disaster, which claimed 41 lives and left 115 people injured, some very seriously, left its mark. Schenk describes this period as incredibly difficult. ‘There was a dark cloud that made everything so difficult.’ The bar Le Constellation, where the fire raged, is just one street away from the hotel. He turned off the music at 1:30 AM that New Year’s Eve, and at the same time, the first reports of a fire came in. Then he saw flashing blue lights reflecting off the façades and heard sirens wailing. That’s when he realised something terrible had happened. And then the helicopters: ‘There must have been 15, 20 helicopters. They came from all over Switzerland,’ says Schenk. They kept coming and taking away people who never returned. ‘The noise, the uncertainty, it was apocalyptic.’ After that, nothing was the same. Everyone had to process the catastrophe together and for themselves alone.

Somehow, life had to go on, and according to Schenk, it was wonderful when laughter returned to Crans-Montana. He and his 75 employees are continuing what they have built. They all take care of a community that has developed over the years. These are guests who keep coming back. They appreciate being able to have a more relaxed and private holiday here. And they like to be pampered. Especially in the restaurant, which Schenk has elevated to a new level: it’s a sharing-food concept with Levantine cuisine. This too is part of Guarda Golf. ‘The most important thing is that the guest feels seen.’ A sentence that sounds simple yet encompasses everything. This is where Schenk’s strength lies: in the personal, the authentic, the unobtrusive.

Three items of importance

• Montblanc ballpoint pen (mini version) Schenk always carries this with him. For 15 years. He needs it to take notes, to write down his thoughts.

• Favourite golf club This golf club brings him luck. ʻWith it, almost everything works,’ says Schenk.

• Reading glasses Schenkʼs constant, involuntary companion for two years. He canʼt do without them anymore.