Q: Hi Sebastian. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions today. Firstly, could you tell us a bit about how you came to found the boutique hotel collective 84 Rooms? Q: What have been your key criteria when it comes to choosing the hotels and residences to feature? Q: In the preface to The Alps , you describe a memorable afternoon tea at the Klosterbräu in Austria. What other hotels in the book really stand out to you in helping guests create everlasting memories and feel a true sense of place? Q: Among the many stunning properties included in the book is The Arula Chalets in Lech, Austria, with whom we worked to curate books for their impressive library. Are books something you tend to notice when travelling? Q: If you could take only three books on holiday to The Alps, what would they be (aside from your own of course)? Alpine Atlas Matterhorn The Magic Mountain Why do book collections matter? Book a consultation with a ~personal curator Contact Quick Links Follow us @ultimatelibrary Join our community
Sebastian Schoellgen on Where to Stay in The Alps
14 Dec 2023
© Jonathan Ducrest
The Alps is the highest and most extensive mountain range in Europe, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. So much is on offer, from adventurous winter sports and breathtaking nature to traditional architecture and flavourful food. Sebastian Schoellgen is a seasoned traveller and founder of the specialised travel and lifestyle agency and creative collective,
84 Rooms
. His new book,
The Alps: Hotels, Destinations, Culture
, recently published by Monacelli, is a stunning collection of luxury and privately-run boutique hotels with authoritative insider guides to the most desired, unique and exclusive Alpine destinations in Europe. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Sebastian to talk about his new book, what makes a hotel great and his favourite Alpine holiday reads.
I was fortunate that my parents took us on several vacations every year. During these travels I noticed everything about hotels: the staff, the guests, the food, the decor, the service, and the energy. I could feel when a hotel was managed by a family, and it was these family-run properties that resonated with me the most. I loved the intimacy of close-knit operations, the longevity and preservation of tradition, memories, and people. The art of hospitality is one of the most fascinating things to me, so much so that I chose to study Hospitality Management at the Swiss School of Les Roches. I am still obsessed with service and, of course, the vibe of a hotel.~~84 Rooms was built out of this energy (and my birth year), as well as a desire to share these stories and places with others. It is a collection of all the hotels I truly love and a reflection of the warmth and excitement I felt as a child. The initial goal was to reach 84 properties, which we have since surpassed many years ago. It now includes beautiful family-run hotels, chalets, and villas across the world, but its heart—and mine—will always be in the mountains.~
What matters most is a personal character, an authentic experience. 95% of our hotels are family-run. We don't care much about stars or the latest trends. My favorite Alpine hotels, which you will discover throughout this book, are the ones that offer all sorts of sports and activities in every season, have a fantastic food scene, and those that place a great value on heritage, culture, and tradition.
© Villa Honegg
© The Arula Chalets
Almost all of the hotels in the book have wonderful owners who do everything possible to create an everlasting experience for guests. Another great example would be the
Schmelzhof
in Lech. Run by the Strolz family, who have been in Lech for several centuries, it’s a place defined by its warmth and soul and a true family affair: The owners Robert and Gitti take the reins, with their son Arthur presiding over the bar and restaurant and even the grandmother taking your coffee order in the morning. It’s this multigenerational passion and generosity that keeps their guests returning year on year to the Schmelzhof and this is something you would never experience in a chain hotel, no matter how luxurious it is.
I remember their library very well. I believe every great hotel lobby or reception area needs a well-stocked library.
BY ADAC
Every year, a book called the
Alpine Atlas
was published, and I would devour it. This would be my first choice.
BY Edward Whymper
The second would be the true story about the first ascent of the Matterhorn – a very iconic and fascinating story.
BY thomas mann
My third is
The Magic Mountain
by Thomas Mann –
a rich novel of ideas set in a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps.
We want to thank Sebastian for being our expert this month. Find 84 Rooms on
Instagram
and order his new book
The Alps
via
Bookshop.org
.
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