chalet
G U E S T S E R V I C E S
One of the main aims of all staff at Our Chalet is to ensure
guest satisfaction through providing a personal, efficient and
professional service.
In the busy summer season, various improvements were made
to the welcome pack and the programme information, and
the format of the leaders' welcome meeting was changed to
make it easier for leaders to decide on programme options.
Daily reflections were held throughout the summer and much
use was made of the new laptop and beamer, which were
purchased this year to enhance Our Chalet as a fully-equipped
seminar venue.
Throughout the year, the Chalet minibus offered guests a
valuable service, and in the winter the new ski rack proved
useful when transporting guests to and from ski lifts.
The Internet corner, with its additional computer, was
popular and the new pay phone in Spycher provided a
second (more private) guest telephone. An ice bar made by
the volunteers out of snow enabled winter guests to enjoy hot
drinks on their return from skiing, while a new range of shop
products in the summer proved extremely popular as did the
new ice cream freezer and the picnic tables.
Over 4,000 day visitors were given a guided tour of
Our Chalet last summer, including a slide show presentation
of the Chalet's history, a tour of the buildings and a visit to
the shop. Many groups also took the opportunity to perform
Bridging ceremonies and to renew their Promise by the flagpole.
WELCOME to the third edition
of Chalet Matters, our annual
newsletter designed to keep
you up to date with what's been
happening at Our Chalet and
what's planned for the future.
In 2003, Our Chalet exceeded
previous annual records with a
total of over 11,500 `bednights'
(over 1000 more than in 2002).
Guests, of whom 95% came from Guiding and
Scouting, were from 20 countries including (in order of
participation) USA, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Canada and
Germany. 25% of guests were repeat visitors. In addition,
4000 people made a trip to Our Chalet to receive a day
visitors' tour.
But it's not all about statistics. Our guests constantly give
positive feedback on the exceptional service provided in
all areas. We are proud to be able to meet and exceed
so many expectations. There are so many benefits in
staying at Our Chalet from reduced rates on lessons and
equipment hire, and mountain familiarisation by our own
qualified staff in the winter, to the programme of high
adventure activities, excursions and hiking accompanied
by our own staff acting as tour guides and walking guides
in the summer.
Our morning reflections, challenge badges and unique
evening activities also provide a `full on' programme which
fulfills the goals of the centre and of the World Association
of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Our Chalet is indebted to the hardworking and dedicated
full time staff, the committed board members and the
enthusiastic teams of volunteers who assisted us last year.
We also give a big thank you to all our Friends, both
individuals and organisations, who have contributed with
donations and grants. Your generosity has enabled us to
make many improvements to the facilities over the last
year and to begin the renovation programme this year.
I hope you enjoy reading about the highlights of Our
Chalet's year, and the programme of work ahead. We look
forward to welcoming you at Our Chalet again soon.
Peter Neurauter
Centre Manager
Our Chalet
F I N A N C E S A N D
D O N A T I O N S
Our Chalet operated within budget in the last financial year.
A total of 11,746 bed nights were occupied, which exceeded
the previous year's challenging figures in seven out of the 10
months of operation. General donations received in 2002/3
totalled CHF 6,460, specific donations and grants totalled
CHF 43,120 and legacies of CHF 12,559 were also received.
Expenditure in all areas was regularly evaluated to seek out
further savings.
Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to
Our Chalet last year.
F R I E N D S O F
O U R C H A L E T
The support and commitment of all
our Friends worldwide is very much
appreciated, and we acknowledge that without this valuable
assistance, many of the improvements made at the Centre last
year would not have been possible. Membership remained
constant throughout the year with approximately 2,500
Friends in 42 countries worldwide.
Donations made by Friends of Our Chalet enabled new items
to be purchased, including toasters, wine glasses, candle
holders, kettles and a coffee machine, table tennis bats,
picture frames, toilet seats, a football table, wooden coat
hangers, garden tools, a vacuum cleaner, mirrors, a travel cot
and high chair, sun-umbrellas, a high pressure cleaner, towels,
an electric fly killer, fire alarms, a digital video camera,
a weather station, rubber non-slip mats, a kitchen fan and
other kitchen equipment.
Thank you.
W O R K I N G W I T H
T H E C O M M U N I T Y
Our Chalet has excellent relations with suppliers and
neighbours in Adelboden, and the Centre and its staff are
valued members of the community. For many local businesses,
a large part of their income comes
from Our Chalet guests, and our
second annual Open Day for local
businesses attracted over 130 people,
while the annual Neighbours' Party
at Christmas was attended by many
local families.
Our Chalet is becoming a popular
venue in the village for special events.
In March, a local septuagenarian
chose Our Chalet as the venue
for his birthday celebrations and
several local families hired a room
in the Chalet for their New Year
celebrations.
Many staff and volunteers last year took on a local community
project as part of the new `Staff Challenge'. Some helped
to build a new path near the Engstligen waterfall and one
volunteer used her artistic talents to draw local churches.
During the summer, Adelboden received an award from
Tourism Europe for the best family resort in the Alps, and Peter
Neurauter and his family were chosen to demonstrate many
of the local amenities (including Our Chalet) for a worldwide
video and radio report.
O U R C H A L E T ' S S T A F F
Throughout 2003, Our Chalet's core management team comprised just three people: Peter Neurauter, Centre Manager, Louise
Berry, Deputy Centre Manager and Nicola Baker, Office Assistant. Other long-term staff included Susi Marmet, a local bookkeeper
and Alison Neurauter who manages the Centre's PR and Marketing on a voluntary basis.
28 volunteers aged between 18 and 62 worked for up to three months each, carrying out many
of the day-to-day house, kitchen and guest-programme duties. A total of 115 applications were
received for the 28 positions, and 23 of the 28 volunteers were young women from WAGGGS
Member Organizations including Australia, Finland, Switzerland, UK, Sweden, Japan, Canada,
USA, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea and Russia. The other five were male Scouts from
Portugal, Switzerland and Poland.
All volunteers received comprehensive training in team building, health and safety, work
policies and practices, customer care and public relations. They also gained a certificate of
competence at the end of their stay. A strong emphasis is placed on volunteers' personal and
professional development, and one volunteer was selected to represent WAGGGS at the World
Bank meeting in Paris last September.
What
happened
at
Our
Chalet
in
2003
Breathtaking
hikes lead by
Our Chalet staff
"Congratulations on running a wonderful facility.
It was truly the experience of a lifetime (for the grown-ups too)."
Friends of Our Chalet
A summer volunteer
digging a new path
to the Engstligen
waterfall
Staff and volunteers
Winter 2003
matters
