Courchevel, Méribel, Megève, Chamonix
Hotel spa consultant in Courchevel and the French Alps
Are you opening a hotel in a ski resort, or does your spa need to be ready for the first day of the season? I’m a consultant in hotel spa openings and operations. I build the spa operation: menu, procedures, team, software and test days.
I’ve worked in the Alps. In Méribel, as Assistant Spa Manager, I prepared the opening of a hotel spa whose construction had fallen behind. I’m now based in Finistère, France, and travel to the resort for every project.
01
Courchevel, five palace hotels in one resort
Of the 33 hotels awarded the palace distinction in 2026, seven are in the French Alps. Courchevel alone has five: Airelles, Cheval Blanc, Fouquet’s, L’Apogée and Le K2 Palace. Megève joined this year with the Four Seasons, and the Hôtel Royal in Évian-les-Bains completes the list.
In the Tarentaise valley, home to Courchevel and Méribel, there were 244 hotels and 24,500 beds in 2022, the last year published at this level. Hotel occupancy reached 69% in winter 2021-2022, against 49% the following summer. A resort hotel spa makes almost its whole year in a few months.
02
Christmas peaks and British guests
In Haute-Savoie, winter 2025-2026 averaged 56.1% occupancy across all mountain resorts, with 81.3% at Christmas and New Year, 69.7% during the winter school holidays and 39.2% in spring. International guests made up 34.4% of the total, and the UK 46% of those foreign guests.
For a spa, these peaks mean tight schedules over a few weeks and a menu that has to hold without service gaps. Wellness has its place in these mountains too. Savoie Mont Blanc had 6 thermal towns in 2024, and its baths received 39,716 spa-cure patients covered by French health insurance in 2023.
03
Recruiting and housing a team for the season
For winter 2025-2026, Courchevel Emploi listed around 400 job offers, spa and wellness roles included, with 90% of positions housed by employers. A resort spa team has to be recruited early, with clear job descriptions, and be ready from the first day of the season.
04
What I did in Méribel, and what I bring
At Antarès Méribel, the permanent spa could not welcome guests when the hotel opened. A temporary spa was set up inside the property. I helped recruit a four-person team, built the guest journey, prepared the three treatment rooms, contributed to the menu and rolled out the software.
On a resort project, I build the opening schedule around the start of the season, define the roles and take part in interviews, write the procedures and prepare the test days. I stay on site through the first days.
My full method is described on the hotel spa consulting page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you travel to ski resorts?
Yes. I come on site at the start of the project, often between seasons, then for interviews, test days and opening. The schedule follows the start date of the season.
Which languages do you work in?
French and English. Team materials can be written in both languages, which helps with international guests and seasonal staff.
How does an assignment work remotely and on site?
After the first visit, the menu, procedures, job descriptions and software selection move forward remotely, with regular check-ins. I come back to the resort to train the team, test the guest journey and support the first days.