Alban Mounier: Owner & Manager of Chalet Mounier 4 Star Hotel & Spa

The hotel has always been run as a family business, and the head of that business Alban Mounier takes time out to tell us a bit more about the hotel, how excited he was to hear the plans for the connection between Deux Alpes & Alpe d'Huez and some of his favourites places to go when he's not at work..

Tell us a little bit about your business, how it started out and where you're based etc...

Hotel Mounier started in 1879, and from generation to generation has evolved from a farm hotel to a family run 4 star hotel.

How long have you been in your current role and how long have you been with the company?

I've run the hotel since 2001 and I'm the 5th generation of the Mounier family to own the hotel. I am 37 years old.

What makes Les Deux Alpes a special place to be for someone in your profession?

Les Deux Alpes is such this great place to do this job because of all different people from all over the world that we welcome every year.

Because we really do our best for the guests, we also have a very good “rebound rates” which means that around 50% of people come back from one year to another, which is quite a lot. So the mix of the regular guests and the new ones makes a very pleasant atmosphere for the staff to work in.

What are the best bits about your job?

The best bit about the job is probably to have the opportunity to meet very interesting people from different countries and to serve them the best we can.

And the worst bits?

The worst side of this job… you don’t want to know… otherwise I am going to talk about politics!

What is in store for the future with your business, any exciting projects in the pipelines that you can share with us?

Continuing to invest in the hotel to make it better, for example: renovate the main restaurant next year, making new suites instead of regular rooms, and maybe to extend the spa area in the park…

What are you personal and professional goals for the future?

Professional goal is to upgrade the hotel as much as I can for the next generation of Mounier. Personal goal is to be able to stay a good husband and a good father throughout the years, that is not a very glamorous thing, but still the more important one.

What's your favourite piste or off-piste area & top tip to go skiing?

The best regular slope in Les Deux Alpes must be ”Le Diable” which is a black one but very interesting in the way it is shaped. And of course about the off piste, because we do have the biggest off piste areas in France just after Chamonix, I am split between “Chateauborel” on Les Vallons de la Meije and L’Olympique on Les Vallons de la Selle.

Where would send someone who was after that something 'something special' in resort, to stay, eat or drink?

A nice place to go if you like having a good food is going to the Diable Au Coeur which is a restaurant at 2400 metres high on the slopes, there is music there and very nice food. Of course it takes second place after the gastronomic restaurant within the Chalet Mounier called P’tit Polyte [This is the highest star-rated restaurant in the Isère region]. For a drink I Would say either the Windsor Pub or The Motown Pub. Finally, if you want to dance, go to the discotheque l’Avalanche.

Where will we find the best coffee or hot chocolate?

Three places to get a good coffee or hot chocolate: Diable au Coeur, Chalet Mounier or the famous “Crêpes à gogo” on the main street of Les Deux Alpes.

What has been your best ever day in Les Deux Alpes?

The best day, besides the day that I had my children, was when I knew that Les Deux Alpes and L’alpe D’Huez ski area were going to be connected… Just amazing! The second biggest ski place behind les Trois Vallées.

Do you remember your first trip to this resort?

That journey is ongoing as I've been coming to Deux Alpes all my life!

What's your favourite thing to do in resort when not skiing or snowboarding?

When I am not skiing, I really like to hike around the place especially in summer time and sometimes I do a bit of mountain biking as well.

Which is your favourite shop in resort?

My favourite shop in Les Deux Alpes would be Schuss Sport or Dode Sport to get some nice ski clothing. For boot fitting which I need once in a while, I think Jacques Sport is the best ever. One place which is very nice for young people is the Billabong shop in the centre of resort.

Where are we most likely to find you for après-ski?!

No special place.. except the Chalet Mounier of course!