EHL Master's Experience Day

As a trained teacher and journalist, Brigitte Trauffer had no experience in tourism, gastronomy, or hospitality. That changed in June 2022 when she and her husband, musician and toy entrepreneur Marc Trauffer, became hosts. Guided by passion and the motto: "Just do it," their idea for a small visitor center grew into much more, including two restaurants, a bakery, a shop, and a hotel with 31 rooms.

Today, the Trauffer Experience in the Bernese Oberland is a model of "the hotel as a hub." Marc and Brigitte run Trauffer Switzerland with a team of over 200 employees, fostering a down-to-earth, relaxed culture in Hofstetten near Brienz.

Since July 1st, Nico Braunwalder has been the General Manager of the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. Braunwalder is no stranger to this renowned establishment: from March 2021 to November 2022, he served as Deputy Director here before taking on the leadership of the Schweizerhof in Zermatt.

Nico Braunwalder brings extensive international experience, having worked in Beijing, Hong Kong, Osaka, and Bali. Raised in Zurich, his early career included positions at the Hotel Baur au Lac and the Savoy Baur en Ville. Nico Braunwalder is married and a father.

Sascha Spiegel has worked at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa since May 2018. Until December 2022, he was Director of Food & Beverage, and is now the Hotel Manager. Previously, he served as Director of Food & Beverage at the Intercontinental Davos, participating in 3 World Economic Forums.

The Bernese completed his apprenticeship in restaurant services at the Schweizerhof Bern and worked in various 5-star hotels in Switzerland. After graduating from the Hotel Management School in Thun, he held management roles in hotels in Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Myanmar. At 40, he also holds an MBA in Operations Management and a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on consumer psychology.