From Oswestry to Arosa
The Story Behind Home Arosa
I grew up in Oswestry, Shropshire, where I completed my GCSEs and A-levels. Although I held Swiss nationality, I had grown up in England and spoke no German. Nevertheless, Arosa had already become a familiar and special place to me. From the age of twelve, I regularly spent my summer holidays here with my grandparents.
When the opportunity arose to complete an apprenticeship at Vögt Innendekoration in Arosa, I decided to pack my bags and begin a completely new adventure. Moving to Switzerland without knowing the language was certainly a challenge, but it became the starting point of a journey that would shape both my personal life and my professional future.
During my apprenticeship, I specialised in interior decoration and reupholstery, developing the practical, technical and creative skills required for the profession. Alongside my training, I was also given the opportunity to attend courses in computing and office administration, providing me with valuable knowledge that would later help me to manage my own business. In 1996, I successfully completed my final examinations.
After finishing my apprenticeship, I completed my Swiss military service before returning to Vögt Innendekoration. There, I continued to deepen my craftsmanship and expand my creative experience.
In 1998, everything changed unexpectedly when my employer, Mr Karl Vögt, tragically passed away following an accident. I was suddenly faced with an important decision: whether to allow the business to close or take responsibility for continuing what had already been built.
I decided to take the step into self-employment. In October 1998, Home Sweet Home Innendekoration was founded.
At the time, two apprentices had already begun their training under Mr Karl Vögt. It was important to me that they could continue and complete their apprenticeships, so I undertook the necessary training to become a qualified apprenticeship instructor. Taking responsibility for the company and its apprentices at such a young age was a major challenge, but it laid the foundations for the business we have today.
My then girlfriend, and now wife, Annette Woodward-Räber, joined the company in 1998. We married the following year and continued building the business together. Our original shop and workshop were located in Haus Silvana. As the company developed, we decided to move to premises in the Havannahaus, which offered a more central location in the village and greater visibility.
In 2002, our son Kay was born. From an early age, he grew up surrounded by the family business and the many ideas, projects and challenges that came with it.
Another important milestone followed in 2009, when Werner and Monika Bassi gave us the opportunity to acquire the Hassi Bassi property. This allowed us to expand Home Sweet Home and provided a new foundation for the future. At the same time, we were pleased that Mrs Ursula Blumer continued operating Hotel Touring as its tenant.
A major turning point came in 2016 when Mrs Ursula Blumer retired. We decided to completely renovate the hotel and transform it into a modern boutique hotel. This marked our first step into the hospitality industry and the beginning of Home Hotel Arosa. Entering an entirely new sector was both exciting and demanding, but it also opened the door to new ideas and possibilities.
In 2020, Kay became increasingly interested in the family business and joined the team while starting his law studies at the University of Bern. After taking over his mother’s shares, he became even more closely involved in shaping the company’s future.
Together, we then made the decision to open Charlie’s – an inspiring restaurant centred around relaxed hospitality and culinary flavours from around the world. Charlie’s added a new dimension to our business and brought together many of the values that have accompanied us throughout our journey: creativity, craftsmanship, quality and a genuine enjoyment of welcoming people.
Today, Home Sweet Home Innendekoration, Home Hotel and Charlie’s come together under the name Home Arosa. What began with an apprenticeship, a move to a new country and the courage to continue a small local business has developed into a diverse family enterprise.
Our story has always been shaped by new opportunities, bold decisions and a willingness to take on unfamiliar challenges. We are proud of what has been created so far, but we remain just as excited about the many plans and possibilities that lie ahead for Home Arosa.