History

Krähenmann Family

It the beginning was a small dream house, initially called "White House" and then  "Mimosa House Lovers of Nature", when in 1978 Felix Dorothée Krähenmann transformed  it into the bed and breakfast “La Rocca”. A romantic garden was surrounding the house and here and there some balcony, the rooms were only equipped with sinks because there was only a shower and toilet in common. In a simple and functional kitchen, the staff ate their meals and into another corner was placed a small office. Felix cooked nearly 10 years for his guests, a good home cooking which soon became very popular. This old building, dated 1926, thanks to wonderful and professional ideas has grown on all aspects over the years. Dorothée and Felix worked during the years bringing constantly renovations to the building, which became a real jewel.

Thanks to special and loyal guests and sacrifice , it was possible to carry out this project  achieving the 4 star, with an elegant atmosphere in Ticino; also attested in 1994 by the association of Swiss hoteliers . For the joy Krähenmann’s family, in 2012 , the youngest son of the family took over the hotel with even more idealism . The new renovations have already begun , and the Boutique - Hotel La Rocca  positively looks to the future.

Since 2019, La Rocca has been restructured into an independent stock corporation to be prepared for the future, and a professional board of directors has been established for advisory purposes. We are now in the midst of detailed planning for the renovation of La Rocca. By the end of 2025, a chapter of the current La Rocca will come to an end with a major renovation project that will leave the new La Rocca shining in a charming glory, offering guests a hotel open all year round with everything a guest could wish for. The new La Rocca will offer an in-house wellness area with an infinity pool overlooking the Brissago Islands, a steam bath, sauna, relaxation area, and treatment rooms for cosmetics and massages. The restaurant will now be located on the hotel roof, where a lobby and cozy lounge with a panoramic view of Lake Maggiore will leave our guests in awe. All hotel rooms will continue to offer a unique lake view, with large balconies offering a comprehensive room service menu to guests. Large bathrooms in each room will also feature views of Lake Maggiore, and with the help of Dorothée Krähenmann, an emphasis will be placed on individualized room design with a focus on cozy yet high-quality furnishings. The new La Rocca will be your home where you will simply want to stay and never want to leave. The grand reopening is planned for March 2027, exactly on the 100th anniversary. Many surprises await you, and we are delighted to offer our guests a unique hotel, as you have always expected.

Marcel Krähenmann's career

After completing his commercial diploma, he attended the Hotel Management School in Lucerne and graduated from the Hotel Management School SSSAT in Bellinzona. He then worked as an executive assistant at the Seiler Hotel Schweizerhof in Zermatt. After gaining various experiences in Switzerland and abroad, he completed further education in management, graduating in 2013 as a Swiss certified hotel manager with a Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Hospitality Management from SHV.

In 2012, Marcel Krähenmann took over the family business and since 2013 has been the independent director and manager of the Boutique-Hotel La Rocca****. In 2019, he took over another hotel business by leasing the Parkhotel Emmaus*** in Losone, in order to offer his most important employee a year-round position, optimize costs with two hotels, and increase quality. Since 2023, a third hotel property in Locarno, the Hotel Nessi***, has been added to the company under one leadership as the "La Rocca Living Hotel Group", with the support of a competent and professional team.

Marcel Krähenmann is not only active in the hotel industry, but also engages in various committees and organizations. Here are some of his notable engagements:

• From 2013 to 2016, he was a member of the Labor Relations Commission of the Swiss Hotelier Association in Bern (HotellerieSuisse), representing the canton of Ticino.
• Since 2015, he has been a board member of Hotel & Gastro Formation Tessin, a training and education organization in the hospitality industry.
• Since 2014, he has been a board member of the regional branch of the Swiss Hotelier Association (Hotellerie Suisse Sopraceneri).
• From 2014 to 2018, he was a founding member and president of the jobs2share.ch association, which focuses on job sharing opportunities in the hospitality industry.
• Since 2016, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hotel & Tourism School SSSAT Bellinzona, and was elected president in 2021.
• Since 2016, he has also been involved in local politics and is currently serving as the finance minister of the municipality of Ronco sopra Ascona.
• Since 2008, he has been a member of the Skal Club Locarno, a professional organization for travel and tourism leaders, and was elected to the board in 2022.
• Since 2022, he has been the president of the Overarching Courses of the Vocational School of Hotel & Gastro Formation Tessin.
• Since 2023, he has been the president of the Association of Graduates of the Hotel & Tourism School SSSAT in Bellinzona.