Hello Zivoslav, how long have you been in the Gstaad region?
My name is Zivoslav, but everyone calls me Zivo 😀 I’ve been working here in the beautiful Saanenland since 1984.

How did you come to work as a porter?
I started as a minibar porter at the former Steigenberger Hotel, and after a year I got the chance to work as a chauffeur and porter. I was really pleased because it’s a varied job and I enjoy having contact with guests.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
In five years’ time, I want to be retired and living in my home country of Serbia.

What are your typical tasks? What does a normal working day look like for you?
In addition to the chauffeur work, I am also responsible for the conference rooms. I start my day by checking these rooms and checking the technology, such as projectors, loudspeakers and the coffee machines for the coffee breaks. Then I collect our mail and distribute it to the respective departments.
In the morning, I plan the day together with reception: are regular guests arriving today, do we have to pick up guests at the station or take them to the station? If we have groups in the hotel, we go through the itineraries together so that no coffee breaks are forgotten.
In the afternoon, I help reception with arrivals, luggage, key coding and welcoming guests. On days when we have fewer arrivals, I check our vehicles and the hotel entrance in the afternoon and make sure that everything is in order.

What do you like about your job? Would you recommend it to others and what would they need?
What I like about my job is that it is so varied and the contact with people is also very important to me. I would definitely recommend my job. You just have to be very flexible and responsible. You should always be motivated to come to work and take the initiative to make things better.

What is your favourite thing to do in your free time?
Switzerland has so many lakes, mountains and rivers to explore. So in my free time, I’m always travelling to a new place with my wife.

Do you have any tips for people who are new to Gstaad for work?
People need to realise that Gstaad has a lot to offer, but it’s not a city. You definitely have to like the mountains and the village life with the locals and the celebrities you meet in Gstaad.
Thank you, Zivo!