Dating back to the late 19th century, the hotel has undergone an extensive period of careful restoration by the Pro Binntal co-operative since 1987. It now shines in all its former splendour and is managed by Regula Hüppi.

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine: Maria Schmid had already given birth to nine children when she moved into the newly-built Hotel Ofenhorn in 1883. Five more children would follow. With a bare minimum of staff and her lively brood of children in tow, she ran the show summer after summer, while her husband led guided tours of the nearby mountains for guests. 

Before the British aristocrats could get to Binn to dig for minerals, they had to travel by ship to the continent, take the train to Brig and ride by stagecoach to Fiesch. From there, they hiked two and a half hours with their luggage to Binn. “And we think our lives are tiring,” chuckles Regula Hüppi.​ “Maria Schmid must have had something about her, a maternal aura, a real flair for hospitality,” says Regula.​ As a result, the British flocked here in ever-increasing numbers. In 1897, the hotel underwent an extension and the roll call of guests included the young Winston Churchill. An annex was added in 1906. 

Thankfully, in 1985, the Pro Binntal co-operative acquired the historic building and breathed new life into the only hotel in the valley with vision and courage. Between 2007 and 2016, the co-operative lovingly restored the hotel with a keen eye for historic detail. Pine flooring was exposed, old art nouveau paintings were dug out and the former “Petite Salle” was dressed with original furniture from the Belle Epoque. The wallpaper in the breakfast room was reconstructed based on original fragments and recreated in an elaborate six-colour printing technique. Before long, the gem was once again regarded as one of the most beautiful historic hotels in Switzerland.

Still in her twenties, Regula was just coming to the end of her studies at Thun hotel school and had no idea of where she wanted to go next.​ She decided to go to Binn and manage the hotel for a season. She is now in her third year at the hotel – and is happy there. ​“The people here are very open and incredibly supportive.”

On the odd occasion, a guest has come up to me and asked for the “man of the house,” recounts Regula and laughs: “When that happens, I just send a male employee to reception and enjoy the scene being played out in front of me.” In such situations, she also thinks proudly of Maria Schmid and her other female predecessors, of their strength and hospitality – and of the quote (the origin of which she can no longer remember): “Women are most successful in the absence of a man.”​