French-speaking Switzerland
Hotel spa consultant in Geneva and French-speaking Switzerland
Are you preparing a hotel spa opening in Geneva, Lausanne or a resort in the Vaud or Valais Alps? I’m a consultant in hotel spa openings and operations. I build the spa operation, from the treatment menu to the first weeks of business.
I have already worked in French-speaking Switzerland. At the Villars Palace, in Villars-sur-Ollon, I prepared and opened the spa as Spa Manager. I’m now based in Finistère, France, and travel for every project, with a site visit at the start.
01
Geneva, the highest occupancy in Switzerland
In 2025, Geneva hotels recorded 3.851 million overnight stays, a record for the third year in a row, including 2.81 million from foreign guests. At 67.9%, its occupancy rate is the highest of Switzerland’s 13 tourist regions, against a national average of 56.8%, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
The canton has 129 hotels and 11,401 rooms. Thirteen properties of 5 stars and above account for 1,427 rooms. Guests come from many markets. Switzerland provides 27.1%, ahead of the United States (10.5%), France (8.7%), the UK (7.7%) and the Gulf states (5.7%). From 2016 to 2025, leaving out the Covid years, August, July and June were the busiest months, February and January the quietest.
02
Vaud and Valais, between lakes, mountains and baths
The canton of Vaud passed 3 million hotel overnight stays for the first time in 2025, up 5.8%, with the same growth in the Vaud Alps. Its 4 and 5-star hotels hold 40% of beds and 48% of overnight stays. Swiss guests account for 51% of the total.
Valais recorded 4.53 million hotel overnight stays in 2025. Its thermal baths counted 1.2 million entries, up 9.3%. A resort hotel spa therefore has neighbours guests already know, and its menu should say clearly what it adds.
03
What I did at the Villars Palace, and what I bring
At the Villars Palace, a former Club Med being turned into a palace hotel, I arrived as construction was finishing, four months before opening. I built the offer and organisation of an 800 sqm spa with 5 treatment rooms and 2 spa suites, then ran it through its first months, 8 months in all.
On a project in French-speaking Switzerland, I apply the same method: opening schedule, treatment menu, procedures, software selection, recruitment with the hotel, test days and presence through the first days. After launch, I set up a dashboard to track performance.
My full method is described on the hotel spa consulting page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you travel to Switzerland?
Yes. I come on site at the start of the project, then for the key stages: interviews, test days and the first days of opening.
Which languages do you work in?
French, the working language of most hotels in French-speaking Switzerland. I also work in English with international teams and guests.
How does an assignment work remotely and on site?
The first visit helps me understand the property, the team and the project. The menu, procedures, job descriptions and opening schedule then move forward remotely, with regular check-ins. I come back on site for testing and opening.