HOME
Kempinski Geneva
I present to you Thierry Lavalley, General Manager of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva. A lover of cultures and civilizations, human relationships, voyages and traditions, it was at a young age that Thierry Lavalley chose to enter the hospitality industry—above all, out of passion. A graduate of the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland, he began his career at the Noga Hilton hotel in Geneva, which later became none other than what is now the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva.
He has cultivated his international experiences over the course of the last 25 years, working primarily in European capitals because, a true European at heart, he is a firm believer in the values of European luxury.
Thierry Lavalley
This vision has led him to return as part of the Kempinski hotel group to lead, now in his 3rd year, one of the crown jewels of the Swiss hotel industry: the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva.
His philosophy: to fulfill the dreams of the grasshopper with the work ethic of the ant! Throughout his career, Thierry Lavally has earned distinctions on multiple occasions for his contributions to the international luxury hotel industry.
What is your professional approach to the French art of welcoming? Is it a differentiating factor for the luxury hotel industry? What are the advantages that come into play when you welcome your clients? What experiences do you deliver?
The luxury hotel industry demands rigor, beauty, rituals, and shared excellence…In my opinion, the notion of the French art of living no longer exists and instead leaves a place in today’s world for the European art of living. The Kempinski group extols this tradition by bringing to it a touch of modernity. My mission is to preserve the Kempinski group’s heritage of European culture. It is a collective goal that allows us day by day to draw closer towards perfection. In dialogue with the origins and culture of the Kempinski group, the art of welcoming is a distinguishing factor.
Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva – Presidential Suite
Each of our collaborators is an ambassador of the hotel and of the promise of the services that await. What actions have you put in place to ensure that your team successfully delivers the experience promised to the client? How do you motivate them to give the very best of themselves?
The success behind my team’s ability to deliver the best service to our highly demanding clientele lies in their training. Every day I cultivate a sense of initiative and show them that they are important even as individuals. I make them responsible, I praise their value to the team, and I give them incentives to motivate them. My work philosophy is guided by values to which I myself remain very attached, and I expect the same from my colleagues’ end: human warmth, kindness, a smile, ready availability, patience, integrity, and respect for others.
Can you give us an experience that you have gone through? What is your most cherished memory as a hotel manager?
People often ask me this question. In fact, a great number of celebrities have come through the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva, and it is always difficult to look back and put your finger on one name in particular. My most cherished memory as a General Manager is broader. With a career of 30 years in the hotel and food industry, I have been a mentor to numerous colleagues and talent scouts. Several of them have gone on to even greater roles and responsibilities, and that has been my largest source of pride.
Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva
Laurent Delporte, an editor and conference speaker, is a strategic expert in the sector of hotels. A visionary, he brings his unique look on hotels in service to the decision-makers in the industry, whether to enhance the development of new projects or strategic visions.
Laurent has visited and audited over 350 hotels across the world and also participates in mystery visits to provide quality control for the world’s finest hotels.
