A declaration of love to “his Belvoir”

He grew up just outside the Simplon Tunnel: in Domodossola. Massimo Gallerini – whose family, an old Walser name, comes from Ornavasso. Somehow, the proximity to Switzerland has always been there. He first studied computer science. And because he had to earn money during the semester breaks, he went to the sea from June to September, to Rimini to be precise. In the business of the father of a school friend, he worked in service, during the day. “And at night we partyed, really partying like only 18-year-olds can do!” Massimo Gallerini had eaten a fool at the hotel business. Somehow the profession did not let him go, so that in 1985 he signed on at the Hotel Polo in Ascona. Like his father, who helped build the huge dam wall on the Grande Dixence as a construction worker and had always encouraged him: “Why don’t you go to Switzerland, too? You can have a good career there.” The seasonal worker proved himself as Chef de Rang for several years before he came to Horgen in 1987 to the Hotel Meierhof. “I couldn’t speak a word of German at the time. But on the fifth floor we had a rooftop restaurant where we celebrated gourmet cuisine. And French was in demand, and luckily I knew that.” In 1995, he moved to the old Hotel Belvoir – and that’s when his great love for the house in Rüschlikon began. Not much later, he also ran into a young man: Daniel Kost, the current director. At that time, the young Kost had just been hired as an intern.

“I’m guaranteed to stay – until I retire. With my 57 you don’t start anything new. I’m part of the family.”

Massimo Gallerini, Banquet Manager Hotel Belvoir

Reunion with Daniel Kost

In 2011 – a few stations later, Gallerini was in Ticino for a long time – the two met again in the opening phase of the new Hotel Belvoir. And then it was clear to her : Massimo had to return, as head of banquet. “I’m guaranteed to stay – until I retire. With my 57 you don’t start anything new. I’m part of the family.” The Italian whirlwind is guaranteed not to get bored. Today, he is mainly responsible for banquets and events. Meanwhile, the experienced man celebrates around 25 weddings a year with his team.

Cycling to work

Massimo Gallerini lives nearby, in Adliswil. He likes to come to work by bike. “But it doesn’t work because of the hairstyle. It has to fit perfectly when I have contact with guests.” The sporty Italian could have become a ski racer if it hadn’t been for the fatal torn ligament in his knee. Above all, however, he is incredibly proud. Not only to his Hotel Belvoir, but also to his daughter Ladina for six years . “We wanted to give it a Graubünden name, because with my wife from Zurich and me from northern Italy, Graubünden is practically in the middle.” The baptism, on the other hand, could only take place in one place : in the Hotel Belvoir, of course. By the way, where had he met his wife? At the Hotel Belvoir, of course. At that time, in 1997, she was head of reception in the house.

Privately an expressionist

He’s a real turbo, Massimo Gallerini. He says of himself that he is temperamental, but at the same time he has high expectations of himself and his employees. Everything has to be right with him, especially the order. He also hates unnecessary stress, especially when it is replaced by clever Mise-en-Place could have been avoided. “Good preparation is half the battle in the catering and hotel industry.” When he has time off, he loves to paint, often late in the evening, to relax. With acrylic paints, on wood and on canvas. “But absolutely without ambitions for an exhibition or anything. I prefer to paint for my godfather.” Where does the inspiration come from , we want to know? Perhaps also from the Hotel Belvoir. “Because when a rainbow stretches across Lake Zurich at seven in the morning, when the world is still in order, it’s like a picture. A beautiful painting of nature.”