Meet Michel ROCHEDY
Owner of Le Chabichou,
2-Michelin star Chef

In April 2011, you laid the first stone of this ambitious project that is based on ecologically, socially and economically sustainable development. Can you tell us what motivated this titanic project?
Michel ROCHEDY: The decision to create a mountain bistro and Spa results from the intimate knowledge we have of our clients’ wishes. It was in the aim of satisfying this new urge to enjoy the mountains no matter what season of the year that we decided to carry out this ambitious project. Another significant motivation was our wish to provide our staff with the opportunity of being employed at the Chabichou all year round as it is not easy managing seasonal employment particularly in upmarket hotels.

Courchevel is the resort where one slaloms between 4-star Luxury hotels that fiercly compete for clients. In what way do you think your offer is different?
M.R.: We are able to contribute something different that is nurtured in our family’s approach to service for our clients’ happiness.
Welcoming guests, being attentive and listening to the desires of each individual, and, of course, satisfying those desires: that is the Chabichou attitude and raison d’être. Over the years, we have seen the resort changing and we have contributed to this, but nothing and nobody will ever change the soul of our house; it is in its values that we draw our pleasure in constantly revitalising our offering and not resting on our laurels. We have a duty to astonish, invent and to offer all-round and authentic enjoyment.
 

You chose right from the very start to surround yourself with experts who supported you throughout this project. Did they make a positive contribution?
M.R.: The creation of this Spa has also been a human adventure. It was blatantly obvious for us that we had to surround ourselves with experts from the wellbeing sector in order to be able to take up this challenge and make it a reality and a success. Whether we are talking about Franck TRECCO, Marie-Line SANI for the design of certain treatments or Elodie DENNENE CROCILLA, each brought their expertise so that we could build the ChabiSpa together. We conveyed the spirit of our house to them and they were able to incorporate this in each of their tasks. As for the choice of cosmetics partner, the reputation and quality of the brands Décléor and Carita appealed to us, as did the personality of Dominique LE CAROU, CEO in France, who was able to explain the Spa business to us and who, won over by the scope of our project, was with us every step of the way. Finally, all this has been possible thanks to the trust placed in us by our partners that have financed the project, the CIC, Oseo and the Société Générale. In these difficult economic times, it is very heart-warming to see that investments to develop family enterprises are being encouraged.

You are going to be the only hotel in Courchevel to open 11 months of the year. How are you planning to deal with the off-peak periods, particularly as far as the Spa is concerned?
M.R.: Indeed, opening our establishment all year round is an ambitious move and the Spa will play a strategic role. With this new offering we have become a Resort with multiple activities, including during the off-season. We are going to set up a specific offering that will target not only sportsmen and women with tailor-made programmes but also those interested in discovering all the treasures that the mountains have to offer in summer: botanical walks, discovering the flora and fauna, hiking, etc., along with health, detox and fitness treatment packages that are for both our local clientele as well as holidaymakers. We are also going to create a ChabiForme menu developed by Stéphane BURON, myself and a dietician, without forgetting our expert Dr. Guy BENOÎT, who worked with the Quiberon thalassotherapy teams on the expert slimming programmes. Beyond being a Resort, our ambition is to become a Destination Spa where the clients will come to recharge their batteries in the invigorating mountain air.

To conclude, this is your 54th season at Chabichou, what is your secret for staying so dynamic?
M.R.: A good challenge!

www.chabichou-courchevel.com

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