Sebastian Metry was elected unanimously by the Relais & Châteaux members to succeed Jan Stiller. The EHL graduate is co-owner and director of the Chalet Hôtel Schönegg in Zermatt, and is preparing to take on the role with great energy, ready to treasure the past but also to innovate.
The Relais & Châteaux Switzerland and Liechtenstein delegation brings together 22 establishments out of a total of 580 in 65 countries. Sebastian Metry succeeds Jan Stiller, who has held the position of delegate for this region since 2018. His role will be to represent the interests of the delegation members within the Board of Delegates, the board of directors of the international association. Through suggestions and initiatives, he will support President Laurent Gardinier in the management of Relais & Châteaux.
Sebastian Metry will work closely with Melanie Frey, Head of the Switzerland-Liechtenstein Delegation. “Together we will develop an action plan,” explains Metry. “With my commitment, I would like to encourage all members of our region to network even more intensively.”
Communication: commitment to greater visibility of the association
Sebastian Metry has clear goals: “to increase the association’s awareness and visibility,” but also to increase visits to members to “better understand the needs and challenges of each establishment.” Geographically, Sebastian Metry will share the tasks with hotelier Thomas Walther from Pontresina, vice-delegate and long-standing member.
“Existing members need to be supported in their sustainable regional success,” says Sebastian Metry. “If other facilities were to join us, that would be ideal.”
Another priority will be the success of the Chefs' Club, which allows sharing experiences, innovating in high-end gastronomy and promoting food sustainability while preserving culinary traditions. The elected representative of the delegation's chefs is Stéphane Décotterd, of the gastronomic restaurant Maison Décotterd in Glion, near Montreux.
A leader with a sportsmanlike spirit
A graduate of the SSE (Schweizerische Sportmittelschule Engelberg), a member of the junior national ski team from 2000 to 2002, and a certified ski instructor in Zermatt, Sebastian Metry has always been a passionate sportsman. After studying at the EHL in International Hospitality Management, he gained experience in prestigious establishments such as the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne, the Grand Hotel Kronenhof in Pontresina and the Jefferson Hotel in Washington DC
A hotelier at heart and soul, Sebastian Metry approaches this new assignment with the same sporting spirit. Co-owner and director of the Chalet Hotel Schönegg since 2013, an elegant establishment that combines traditional Alpine charm with modern comfort, Sebastian Metry also managed, together with his partner Line Février, the Hotel National in Zermatt from 2016 to 2023, completely renovating and repositioning it.
He is a member of the Zermatt Hotel Association, of which he has been president for the second time since April 2024. From 2017 to 2023, he was a member of the board of directors of Zermatt Tourisme and was one of the organizers of the renowned international music festival Zermatt Unplugged for many years.
Since 2018, he has been co-responsible for the digital strategy of the resort as a member of the Bonfire-Zermatt management board. Digital transition and sales are also key topics: with the operational support of Melanie Frey, Sebastian Metry aims to strengthen sales channels and activities as well as optimize the use of digital platforms already successfully introduced in the HR area.
Relais & Châteaux: global excellence
Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an association that brings together an extraordinary global collection of 580 independent hotels and restaurants. The women and men who belong to it, often operating in a family context, are committed to making their local culture live and share, transmitting their passion for the beautiful and the good.
