Front Office at Giardino: Summer by the Lake, Winter in the Mountains
Two properties, two worlds, one job, and yet never quite the same day twice. Anyone working in the Front Office at Giardino Hotels moves between Giardino Lago on Lago Maggiore and Giardino Mountain in the Swiss Alps. What makes this role so special becomes clear through the experience of Philip Bionda, who has lived exactly this rhythm since 2019.
Philip began his hospitality career in England and Germany before returning to Giardino Hotels in Ticino in 2019. Ever since, he has been a familiar face at the front desk, by the lake in summer, in the mountains in winter. We spoke with him about his work.
What Makes the Job Special: No Script, Real Hospitality
After years abroad, Philip was looking for something he had not found in standardized large chain hotels: authenticity. No script, no uniform service, just real hospitality, with guests and within the team alike.
“I was looking for an environment where quality of service and real, personal connection go hand in hand, with guests and colleagues alike. The moment I got to know Giardino Lago, I felt it immediately.”
Philip Bionda, Front Office Agent
What kept him beyond that first season was, above all, a combination: two completely different working worlds under one roof, or more precisely, under two roofs.
“For me, this rhythm is above all enriching. Summer and winter in Switzerland could hardly be more different, and that is exactly what makes it interesting.”
The Daily Routine: Two Properties, Two Rhythms
The Front Office is the heart of a hotel: the first contact, the last smile, and everything in between. At Giardino Hotels, this role is even broader than at many other properties, something Philip feels every day.
Variety by the Lake At Giardino Lago, the work reaches far beyond the classic check in: supporting weddings at Villa San Quirico, collaborating with F&B, coordinating events. “The days are dynamic and very varied,” Philip says. “Priorities change constantly, and you have to stay flexible and present everywhere.” A typical summer day starts early: a walk through the property, answering emails, handling checkouts, supporting breakfast service, coordinating events, welcoming guests. “It is a constant mix of tasks, and that is exactly what makes the job interesting.”
Focus and Pace in the Mountains At Giardino Mountain, the focus shifts more toward classic front desk operations: ski passes, slope information, transport, and guests want it right away. “You have to be even faster and more precise,” Philip explains. “But at the same time, a stay here brings very direct, personal contact.”
What matters to him most is the same at either property: “When a guest comes back, after months or after a year, and still knows you by name. That happens at both the lake and the mountains. In those moments, you know your work leaves something behind.”
Challenges & Growth: Staying Calm When It Counts
In the luxury segment, expectations run high, and sometimes they are close to impossible. How does Philip handle it when a guest makes a request on an intense day that is barely feasible?
“The most important thing is to stay calm and truly listen, even when the situation is under pressure. Often it is enough for someone to feel heard. The rest gets solved together as a team.”
That same attitude, made up of calm, listening, and teamwork, is also what has shaped Philip most in almost seven years at Giardino. “Front Office work in such a dynamic setting teaches you to find solutions quickly without losing your composure. That is something you learn nowhere else quite like this.”
Team & Company Culture: What Sets Giardino Apart
“What connects the two properties is the team spirit. You never work alone. Even in the most intense moments, you feel the support of your colleagues and supervisors.”
For anyone considering applying, Philip has clear advice: “Apply without hesitating, but with the awareness that this is not a static environment.” Flexibility, team spirit, and the willingness to pitch in matter most to him. The rest, he says, you learn on the job.
Career at Giardino: Growing With the Company
Philip’s own outlook is clearly forward looking: “I still see myself in the Giardino group, with growing responsibility. In the long run, I am also drawn to the idea of becoming self employed one day, but built on the foundation I have developed here.”
A Personal Note: What Stays With Him
There is no single defining moment for Philip. What stays with him most is this: “When a guest comes back and still knows you. In those moments, you know that the work, even on the most intense days, leaves something behind. That means more than any title.”
And in the end, a genuine thank you: “I am grateful for the opportunities this group has given me. Working at such a high level between two such different properties has shaped me, professionally and as a person.”
Philip Bionda, Front Office Agent, Giardino Hotels
