2_1_DiscoverGermany_August2014_Issue17:Scan Magazine 1
31/7/14
14:30
Page 32
Hotel
of the Month Switzerland
A hotel building its own trail With a rueful smile hotelier Roberto Grisanti rolls up his sleeve and we immediately notice his elbow, marked by a nasty looking graze. "That's from my latest crash," says the ambitious half Swiss-half Sicilian with the joy of someone showing us a medal. "I was at a pumptrack in Zurich riding my bike and I think I found my limits."
to be a sanatorium, run by an insurance company," he continues, "when I arrived there were yellow warning lines on the staircases and the defibrillator took centre stage in the reception area!"
TEXT: EMMIE COLLINGE | PHOTOS: HOTEL SERPIANO
Finding your limits on a bicycle can come in all guises, as can pushing the boundaries of what a hotel can offer. As we discuss the various perils of cycling on the sun-
A passionate enduro rider, hotelier Roberto Grisanti’s dream has finally come to fruition.
32 | Issue 17 | August 2014
drenched terrace of Hotel Serpiano, our attention is consistently drawn away from the conversation, our eyes soaking up the view over Southern Ticino. From the hammocks on the aptly named Sky Deck, overlooking the lake and surrounding mountains, Grisanti explains how he became the manager, driving force and permanent resident of this cliffside spa hotel-cum-wedding and conference venue. "After training in London and France before managing resorts in Mexico and the Seychelles, I came to Hotel Serpiano three seasons ago and was confronted with an out-dated hotel." Given today's contemporary interior and terrace, Grisanti has clearly made his mark. "It used
With a broad smile, he outlines the evolution: a complete overhaul of the interior; the renovation of the spectacular terrace into a stylish Skybar and Skydeck from which idyllic snowy mountain peaks and the glistening lake, lined by villages can be seen; the rejuvenation of the Italian-led restaurant; the creation of an alluring wine cellar; a boutique selling local products, children's adventure playground; and his latest venture (and personal favourite): the bike park and accompanying features. The hotel on two wheels For cyclists, Ticino is the ultimate destination. Away from the madness of the Alps, its relative obscurity renders it quiet enough to