At 74, Yvette Thüring Continues to Delight Guests as a Hotel Director

Yvette Thüring, a prominent figure in Swiss hospitality, continues to actively manage hotels worldwide as she approaches her 75th birthday. With a career spanning four continents and numerous establishments, she currently leads the Basel Hotel Odelya. Despite challenges in the competitive hotel market, Thüring emphasizes the importance of customer satisfaction and meticulous management. Her extensive experience, gained without formal training, fuels her passion for the industry as she seeks to modernize the hotel and attract more guests.

Meet Yvette Thüring: A Hotel Management Trailblazer

Swiss hospitality is renowned worldwide, and few embody this spirit as much as Yvette Thüring. This dynamic hotel director from Basel, who will celebrate her 75th birthday this August, is still actively managing hotels across the globe. Her remarkable career has led her to oversee a multitude of establishments, making her one of the most seasoned figures in the industry.

A Global Journey from Basel to the World

Thüring’s extensive resume spans two pages and highlights her leadership in nearly two dozen hotels across four continents. While she has dedicated a significant part of her career to her hometown of Basel, her expertise has also taken her to various locations, including Eastern Switzerland, several Latin American nations, the USA, China, Amsterdam, London, and Dresden.

“Since I turned 64, I’ve been trying to step back from work,” Thüring admits, “but I haven’t been successful yet.” Despite a slight limp, her enthusiasm for her profession remains unyielding. Currently, she serves as the interim director of the Basel Hotel Odelya, nestled in a picturesque park near the iconic Spalentor, within a historic mission house that reflects the legacy of the Basel Mission.

Thüring’s latest role is temporary, having assumed the position on January 15, following her previous tenure at the Radisson Blu in St. Gallen. Throughout the years, she has also led two Sorell hotels under the ZFV-Unternehmungen cooperative and managed a hotel in the Sunstar chain in Grindelwald.

Recognized for her adeptness in turnaround situations, Thüring is once again stepping into a challenging environment. The hotel industry faces intense competition, with many establishments relying on discounts to attract guests, thereby squeezing profit margins. Rising costs for personnel, rent, materials, and energy further complicate the economic landscape.

In Basel, the competition is particularly fierce, with over 50 hotels vying for market share in a city of approximately 180,000 residents. The Hotel Odelya, featuring 73 guest rooms, remains relatively unknown to locals, overshadowed by more prominent hotels like the “Drei Könige.” Some locals even harbor reservations about the mission house’s past, built in 1860, despite the Basel Mission having transitioned to a charitable focus in developing countries 25 years ago.

Thüring acknowledges that the building’s history may deter some potential guests. A chapel on the ground floor serves as a reminder of the building’s past, featuring a large wooden cross and an organ, which are now partially hidden behind a screen. Nonetheless, the hall has been repurposed for conferences and gatherings, and Thüring aims to attract more seminar and congress organizers.

Realizing her vision won’t be easy, as Basel’s market is saturated with seminar venues. A modern restaurant with additional halls was constructed next to the mission house in 2020, and Thüring plans to gradually refresh the guest rooms, which, although clean and bright, are in need of an update.

Currently, the hotel’s room rates, averaging 145 Swiss francs per night, are insufficient for the owner to achieve profitability. Thüring believes that modernizing the property could allow for higher pricing, ultimately benefiting the hotel’s financial health.

Interestingly, Thüring embarked on her successful career without formal hotel management training. After earning her commercial diploma, she gained experience in various hotels across Basel, Western Switzerland, and Germany. Her extensive on-the-job education in management, marketing, and finance has equipped her with a remarkable understanding of the industry and a knack for numbers.

In every role she takes, Thüring meticulously reviews business figures. “If the numbers don’t add up, it’s no fun,” she emphasizes. She often discovers that cost-cutting measures are misdirected, with management maintaining high salaries while opting for the cheapest cleaning services, which can lead to diminished guest satisfaction.

Moreover, Thüring underscores the significance of fostering customer satisfaction as a cornerstone of hotel success. Satisfied guests not only return but also become vital advocates for the establishment, promoting it through word of mouth.

Active involvement at the reception and during events is another approach Thüring champions. She believes that interacting with guests during crucial moments, such as farewells, provides invaluable feedback. She often lends a helping hand at the cloakroom or engages with guests during breakfast, a gesture that is warmly received.

While the duration of Thüring’s stay at the mission house remains uncertain due to her age and health considerations, she remains optimistic. “I’ll probably need about six months to generate new momentum,” she says with a smile, demonstrating her enduring passion for the hospitality industry.

Related Articles