Is the chalet girl a myth in 2024?

It would be easy to assume, because life runs at a slower pace in the mountains, that things rarely change. Thankfully, this is not the case, in fact in many ways mountain resorts stand at the forefront of change – consider the technology involved in the operation of a ski resort, the environmental developments taking place across the Alps, as well as the constantly evolving sports designed to help us get the best out of gravity. Apparel and food trends seemingly always work their way up to the mountains too, as a stroll down Morzine’s Rue du Bourg and a glance at its many shop fronts and menus will confirm.

Yet, after so much progression and a span of more than 50 years since the ‘Chalet Girl’ job was created, the phrase is still bandied around and adopted by the media. Here at AliKats’, we thought it was time to debunk the myths surrounding this outdated stereotype in an effort to hopefully boot it into the dust, once and for all!

Chalet hosts are mostly girls

Years ago, chalets may have been run by mostly female staff, nowadays the ratio of females to males is more even. In our chalet company, last year we employed 50/50 males and females.

Chalet hosts are usually young and on a gap year

If you’ve ever been on an AliKats’ holiday, you’ve likely spent time chatting to our hosts, and will know that they come from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, as well as all corners of the globe. Most of our hosts are over 21 years of age, and this coming season we will have team members in their 40s, 50s and 60s. It’s just that when it comes to hosting; personality, life experience and social skills are important. We look for fun, friendly individuals to join our chalet team; but also ones who display mature attributes, such as honesty and the ability to work well as a team.

Chalet hosts will inevitably gain 5 pounds by the end of the season

This assumption is based on several outdated ideas: first that chalet menus remain full of rich, heavy food that would make any nutritionist baulk, secondly that leftovers are at the ready after every meal, and thirdly that chalet staff eat the same menu as the guests do.

None of these things are true in our chalets. From the on-set we avoided the typical chalet menu of hearty classics like lasagna, stroganoff and tartiflette on repeat, and favoured a menu that speaks of creativity and balances delicious flavours with the nutrition and energy needed to ski. As a sustainable business we are also careful about food portions, our menus are designed to create zero food waste, therefore, leftovers from our kitchen are uncommon. Lastly, whilst there will always be cake and wine around, we try to make sure our team has access to plenty of healthy and nutritious food as well.

Chalet hosts are overworked and underpaid

It’s no myth that chalet work can be hard. Yet we have found ways to make these days bearable, and over the course of the season we ensure our chalet team get the rest and time on the mountain they need to enjoy their time here. We are constantly evaluating our employee practices to prioritise engagement, fulfilment and well-being. Our team receives 2 days off per week and 2-3 hours rest during change over days. We also employ flexi-hosts to take the pressure off our hosts, and support employees who wish to use their holiday entitlement during the season and ensure they know they will be adequately covered (so teammates are not impacted). We also make sure our wages are fair, and our package includes a full PDS ski pass, accommodation, team days out, ski /board equipment hire, full training and uniform, plus French language lessons.

Chalet host jobs are all cooking and cleaning

Whilst there’s no escaping food preparation and cleaning as part of the chalet host role, there are many more elements that make it a rounded position, and our goal is always to help our employees develop skills and explore opportunities in the local area and beyond. Responsibilities in the host position include managing shopping, laundry, maintenance of stock levels within budget, as well as learning about and adhering to our strong sustainability practices including recycling and waste reduction. Many of our staff have gone on to achieve year-round employment with us or other companies located in the Alps, while others have taken away valuable skills and a solid reference for gaining employment elsewhere in the world. Many of our employees are attracted to our sustainable ethos, and some have followed this passion to further training and employment in areas of sustainable business. All-in-all ski season employment can set you up for future careers in hospitality, customer service and other areas.

Chalet hosts live in dank accommodation

Dirty plates piled high in the sink, bedbug infestations and 5 seasonaires crammed into one room: whatever your perception of chalet staff accommodation, rest assured AliKats’ staff house in Montriond is both comfortable and convenient. We understand how difficult and expensive it is to find accommodation in Morzine and the surrounding areas so have taken steps to ensure our employees have a nice comfortable place to live whilst working for us. Our staff bedrooms are either doubles, twins or singles – there are no bunk rooms. The majority of rooms are ensuite, and the few that are not will only share with a maximum of one other bedroom.

Onwards and upwards

Much has changed in the Alps hospitality industry since the chalet host role emerged in the 60’s and became know as the ‘chalet girl’.  By breaking the norms of the industry – known for poor pay and long working hours – we have transitioned away from high intensity seasonal employment towards a more rounded way of existing. Great companies form a community around their employees, with a shared mission and support for everyone’s goals. We are proud of our team and what we have achieved over the years, and look forward to forging more connections, and getting closer to our vision in the exciting seasons to come.

A shared purpose and strong company vision

Here we have captured our company values, purpose and mission

Our core values

Our planet needs to heal and we must play a role in it’s healing
Spending time in nature is an essential part of being custodians of a thriving planet

We want every guest to have an excellent experience
Our team’s hard work should be rewarded and their time off protected

We strive for continual improvement through the rigorous pursuit of feedback

Our Purpose

To create joyful mountain experiences for all whilst protecting the health of the planet

Our Mission

Our driving ambition is that by 2035 we will have invested €1 million of company profits in protecting the planet.

AliKats’ is a luxury chalet company based in Morzine, France, in the heart of the Alps. We have a variety of ski season jobs available during the winter months where we need exceptional chalet hosts, drivers, chefs, housekeepers and resort managers to join our high performing team. Please apply via our website, or get in touch for a friendly chat or more information.

Main image credit: https://unsplash.com/@igor_and_teti