Interview: Hosts with a passion

Close to the guest, close to the mountain: Dennis and Mareike Szelkowski run the Boutique Hotel Matthiol in Zermatt with warmth, presence and alpine sensitivity.

Anyone arriving at the Boutique Hotel Matthiol quickly realizes that a very special host couple is at work here. Dennis and Mareike Szelkowski, the new faces of the hotel since July 2022, have not only anchored themselves in Zermatt, but also in the hearts of their guests. Both come from Germany, both have international hotel experience and both share the same vision: to create a small hotel that allows real closeness. Here, on the edge of Winkelmatten, where the forest begins and the Matterhorn peeps through the treetops, the couple live out a form of hospitality that has become rare today: personal, attentive, present. In the mornings, you can meet Mareike at reception, in the evenings Dennis personally serves you at your table in the Filet et Fils restaurant - this is exactly what makes the Matthiol an oasis: a place of strength for those who are looking for peace and quiet, appreciate quality and want to feel the warmth of two people who run their hotel with genuine passion.

What does being a host mean to you?
Dennis Szelkowski: It is important to us that guests feel that this is a small, lovingly run oasis of well-being as soon as they arrive. Many come to us to get away from it all - and that's exactly what we want to be here for. The house is in the middle of nature, yet you can be in the center in 10 to 15 minutes. This mixture of tranquillity and proximity is what makes us special.
Mareike Szelkowski: And we are always there. In winter, we split up: me in the morning, Dennis in the evening - so the guest always has a contact person. We take time for discussions, recommendations and feedback. That's what boutique hotels are all about.

You both come from the five-star hotel industry. What is different at the Matthiol?
Dennis: The biggest difference is the direct contact. With 31 rooms - around 60 guests - you can take your time. We do a proper rooming, explain routes, answer questions. Large hotels with 180 rooms can hardly manage that these days.
Mareike: And our team is allowed to show personality. We don't want a rigid scheme, but real people who enjoy being hosts. Guests sense that immediately.

What makes the Matthiol unique?
Dennis: Our location on the edge of the forest - green, quiet, close to nature. Our guests can relax, eat well, do sports. Many like to be at the breakfast buffet at 7:30 am to enjoy the first quiet slopes. This is our audience.
Mareike: In addition, 16 of 31 rooms have a private spa - their own bio-sauna, their own steam bath. No one else in the village offers this. After skiing or hiking, a glass of wine, privacy, warmth - that's a luxury that many people are looking for.

What does your everyday life as a host couple look like?
Dennis: Very varied. I often have my ski equipment in the office, go to Stafelalp, our mountain restaurant, in between and help the team up on the mountain - those are nice moments because you immediately strike up a conversation. And in the evening, I'm usually at our hotel restaurant Filet et Fils.
Mareike: And I take care of the front office, reservations and guest contact in the morning. We are omnipresent - and that's what makes boutique hotels so special.
What do you value in the kitchen?
Mareike: Our cuisine should be regional - but always light and contemporary.
Dennis: Around 90 percent of our meat dishes come from Switzerland. We make a lot of things ourselves - such as dried meat or specialties from the Stafelalp. Regionality, quality, conscious enjoyment: this is becoming increasingly important for guests. Of course, we also have international dishes - such as burgers with a regional twist or vegetarian options.

Your luxurious apartments have recently been modernized. Why this investment?
Dennis: Our apartments have been given new fixtures and fittings, new furniture, new beds - alpine chic, lots of wood, English details, warm and cozy. Design and comfort should remain at the highest level.

You are new parents. How do you reconcile family and hotel business?
Mareike: Of course, a lot has changed. But Emelie is a relaxed baby - and sometimes she's just along for the ride. Grandparents and daycare also support us. It works amazingly well.

A final word?
Dennis: In a world where hotels are getting bigger, louder and faster, the Boutique Hotel Matthiol creates a pleasant counter-movement: quiet quality, unagitated luxury, genuine hosts. We don't live this role on the side - we embody it. And that is precisely why our guests not only feel welcome at the Matthiol, but that they have arrived.

You can find more information at: www.matthiol.ch