Meet Andreas Mathis, the Host and General Manager of luxury property, Le Chalet

Please can you talk us through the history of Le Chalet? 

The owner is well connected to Lech. He had the opportunity to create his own second home, but he also wanted to create a place that would become a second home for someone else. That’s the philosophy behind Le Chalet - it shouldn’t just be a hotel, it should feel a bit like coming home. The project started during the Covid pandemic, around 2021. The process with the architects, the planning and the building took one and a half years, because it was pretty tough to get access to the mountainous area. It’s a big house at 1,000sqm, and it takes time to build that when you’re [at an altitude] of 1,600m. I came into the project in the spring/summer of 2022. 

We officially opened for the first time on 23 December 2022. Since then, we’ve been working on connecting with our guests. We still get really loyal guests [returning], especially around Christmas and New Year. It makes us very proud and happy that they always come back. 

Le Chalet is aesthetically beautiful - how would you describe the overall design? 

When you approach the main entrance, because it’s built into the mountains, it doesn’t seem that big. But when you step inside, there’s a ‘wow’ moment [when you lay eyes] on the wood and stone. Then there are the big windows - the sky frames - with wonderful views… The plan was to make it understated, because the property wasn’t built like those in the French Alps with lots of old wood.

It’s something modern, but not too modern. It still reflects the local area. You won’t see any gold or silver… There's a lot of wood, stone, and really high-quality materials. There is space to create memories. It’s not about overstated luxury. 

What sets Le Chalet apart from other big rental properties in the area? 

I would say that it’s the personalised service. There are a lot of luxury hotels and chalets around the world which all try to be very personal. It’s not just a motto for us, we want to try and really [make it an integral part of people’s stays here]... Aside from the personalised service, it’s everything together, especially the people and our staff. 

Which three tailored experiences would you say stand out most to guests? 

Every stay is different. It’s all individually personalised, starting with the food. There is no fixed menu, so if the guest says, ‘I would like to have this type of fish or this kind of meat,’ or mentions that they’d like to try Austrian cuisine, we’re not strict. We are not a Michelin-star menu restaurant, it’s more of a family dinner style [approach], food to share.

Then with our ski instructors and ski guides, we personalise this and we try to find the best ones for our clients. It’s not just skiing with them, [there’s an element of entertainment], ensuring that the guests enjoy their holiday. They pick them up from Le Chalet, take care of them the whole day, and take them to nice lunch spots. 

It’s in the small details… We can, for instance, arrange mountain picnics, alpaca hiking, and snow shoe hiking followed by Glühwein and cookies. The motto of Lech is more time, more space, and this fits pretty well with [what we’re doing at Le Chalet]. Get back to nature, get back to yourself, and enjoy the little things. 

Winter is peak season, can you tell us more about visiting Austria in the spring and summer months? 

The area boasts 300km of hiking trails. There’s lots of e-biking and mountain biking. But we also have perfect roads around the area for classic cars. There are also several cultural events taking place, including a classic music festival which nearly always features world-class artists. One festival I tell everyone to go and see is the Bregenzer Festspiele. There’s a stage set on Lake Constance. It’s a beautiful setting… They’re always playing in July and August in the evenings… 

Can you tell us more about Oberlech and its appeal? 

Oberlech is part of Lech - the main village is Lech. It’s 1,464 metres above altitude, and Oberlech is the upper part, starting at an altitude of 1,600 metres, and going up to 1,716 metres. What’s special about Oberlech is that it is completely car-free in winter, which means that every hotel and chalet is connected via the underground tunnel system… Outside, the streets are transformed into slopes. There are walking and hiking areas, and nature [takes centre stage]. For some years now, there have always been foxes around the house in the morning. 

The great thing about Lech is that you can reach every restaurant on skis. It doesn’t matter if it’s located in the village, higher up, or somewhere else, you can reach everywhere on skis. In Oberlech, there are many great restaurants and hotels, some with Michelin stars… One restaurant, for instance, has two Michelin stars and is located 150 metres away from Le Chalet. It’s called Griggeler Stuba. Another outstanding restaurant is Rote Wand Chefstable, which also has two Michelin stars. 

Lech still has its charm from years ago. While we have some nice, modern hotels and restaurants, there are still some strict rules when it comes to building houses. This is what makes the place so charming, you won’t see buildings that are seven-floors high. 

What do you enjoy most about being a host at Le Chalet? 

I’m both the General Manager and the Host. What makes it special is that [the guests] always talk to me when they need something. I try to get to know the guests, try to find the right spots for them etc. As a host, you have so many different things to do every day. It’s this that makes [the job] so interesting. Beyond this, you get to [cross paths] with so many different people… Our philosophy is that we always provide the best service, regardless of who the guest is. 

It’s always challenging getting up in the morning. The hours are long, but it’s [so rewarding] when they (the guests) leave and say they had a beautiful stay. 

Do you have anything exciting in the pipeline for 2026? 

It’s busy, especially starting from mid-December. Towards the end of February, it’s extremely busy. I always recommend March as a great month to stay in Lech. It’s beautiful and the conditions are perfect… We’re looking forward to Easter - it falls earlier this year at the beginning of April/the end of March.

Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival is also really special. We have different DJs and musicians playing across the area - there’s someone playing music everywhere. In the morning you can make the most of the slopes, then step onto a lovely sun terrace and soak up some music while savouring great food. 

It started to snow two days ago - we’ve got half a metre already - so it looks like it’s going to be a really snowy season with a perfect white Christmas. Everyone is telling us that it’s going to be a good winter.