Your host at Giardino Ascona: Wolfram Merkel

Wolfram Merkert is a host with heart and soul. His journey did not begin in the executive office, but at the stove – shaped by his childhood in a family of restaurateurs
in Baden. It was clear early on that the world of the hotel industry was his home.

After training as a chef and working in renowned establishments, he first came to Giardino Ascona in 1988 – back then as sous chef at the Ristorante
“Aphrodite”. Today, as General Manager, he stands for the highest level of hospitality, consistency and continuous development – always linked to
a hotel that he knows inside out, from the kitchen to reception.

About the Giardino Ascona:

The Giardino Ascona is a fresh luxury hotel in the heart of Ticino. With its elegant furnishings and first-class personal service, the hotel offers its guests a true experience on Lake Maggiore. Gastronomic highlights are offered by the two restaurants Hide & Seek and the 2-star restaurant Ecco and the wellness oasis dipiù Spa promises a vacation for body and soul. The Giardino Ascona meets all requirements in terms of comfort and luxury. It is the ideal place to enjoy the magic of Ticino to the full.


About Giardino Hotel Group AG Ascona
The Giardino Group comprises three properties: the five-star hotels Giardino Ascona and Giardino Mountain in St. Moritz, as well as the boutique hotel Giardino Lago in Minusio near Locarno, set directly on the shores of Lake Maggiore. During the summer season in the Engadine mountains, the hotel in Champfèr adapts its concept to the needs of summer guests, operating as a bed & breakfast without an official star classification.
Giardino Hotels have also earned an international reputation for their culinary excellence. Reto Brändli has secured two Michelin stars for each of the Ecco restaurants in Ascona and St. Moritz. He was also awarded 18 points by GaultMillau Switzerland and named “Rising Star of the Year 2026”. The group’s second restaurant concept, Hide & Seek, celebrates innovative, light and aromatic cuisine centred around regional produce. At Giardino Lago, the menu at Restaurant Lago draws inspiration from Italian cuisine, reinterpreting traditional dishes in a modern, light way.
In 2016, the Ayurveda Competence Centre was established in Ascona and opened the same year in St. Moritz. In addition, both properties feature a dipiù Spa with the in-house dipiù skincare line, as well as AVEDA and QMS Medicosmetics.

Media contact

For all inquiries about our brand and corporate communications, you will find the necessary contact details below.
We look forward to the exchange!

Collaborations & press inquiries
Daniela Frutiger
hc.onidraigobfsctd-88b5c8@sserp

Marketing & Social Media
hc.onidraigobfsctd-5293b4@regiturf.j

Wolfram Merkel, General Manager Giardino Ascona

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