Floral Design with Character: How Monique Reber Brings the Hauenstein Hotels Life

Flowers welcome guests, connect spaces, and lend every hotel a special atmosphere. That’s why at Deltapark Vitalresort, they don’t just create bouquets and floral arrangements—they develop entire floral concepts for various properties within the Hauenstein Hotels. Monique Reber and her team are responsible for this—they’re creative, full of ideas, and have a keen sense of colors, materials, and the personality of each hotel.

A bright yellow in the lobby that reappears later on the breakfast tables. A seasonal arrangement that transforms a space without drawing attention to itself. Or a bouquet of flowers waiting in a hotel room for someone special: Floral design creates moments that often seem effortless, yet are carefully planned.

Many of these threads come together at the Deltapark Vitalresort. Here, Monique Reber and her team develop floral concepts, prepare decorations, and coordinate their implementation across the various properties of the Hauenstein Hotels.

‍

A passion that began in a flower meadow

Monique's journey into floristry didn't begin with her choice of career. Even as a child, she collected and picked flowers, gave away small bouquets, and wove hair wreaths and bracelets out of wildflowers and daisies.

When she was required to complete an internship during her school years, she chose a flower shop. She quickly realized that she enjoyed the hands-on and creative work more. She was able to begin her apprenticeship at the same shop, thereby laying the foundation for her professional career.

After completing her training, Monique wanted to explore other creative fields. Among other things, she worked as a prop master at the Hamburg State Opera and later in Switzerland at the Thunersee Festival. These experiences continue to shape her work to this day. After all, anyone who builds sets and props thinks not only in terms of flowers, but also in terms of shapes, spaces, and structures.

Monique therefore works just as naturally with wood or metal as she does with plants. Together with her team, she develops structures, designs containers, and combines handcrafted elements with floral materials.

Monique has also continued to develop her professional skills: She recently earned her Swiss Federal Certificate in Floristry. Along the way, she received support from the Deltapark Vitalresort. That’s because at the “ Hauenstein Hotels ,” employees are specifically encouraged and actively supported in pursuing continuing education. For Monique, this support was a key factor in helping her take the next step in her professional development.

‍

Floral design at a hotel is more than just arranging bouquets

It is precisely this versatility that Monique loves about hotel floristry. Unlike in a traditional flower shop, the focus isn’t primarily on making individual bouquets for walk-in customers. At the hotel, she can help design spaces, create seasonal themes, and develop ideas over the long term.

She describes her personal floral design style in two words: imaginative and creative.

A classic bouquet can be beautiful. Monique, however, is particularly interested in what else is possible: combining unusual materials, designing her own vases, incorporating floral elements into structures, and creating arrangements that don’t feel generic.

The decoration should make it clear that it was created specifically for this location.

‍

A workday spent between the workshop, hotels, and catering to guests' requests

The workday begins at seven o'clock with a brief meeting. What's on the agenda? Which orders need to be completed? Which building will the work be done in? And which seasonal projects are currently a priority?

The team then divides up the tasks. Sometimes everyone works at Deltapark; other times, part of the team travels to another location. Many of the decorations are prepared in the floral workshop and then transported to their final destination.

The weeks leading up to a seasonal change are particularly busy. Easter, summer, and Christmas decorations need to be ready several weeks in advance. This doesn’t just include indoor arrangements; outdoor areas are also replanted or decorated with fir branches, ornaments, pinecones, and other seasonal materials.

In addition, the florist regularly fulfills individual guest requests. Perhaps a bouquet should be waiting in the room for a partner. Perhaps it’s a birthday celebration and the table needs a personal touch. Bouquets, floral arrangements, and small table displays are also created for weddings, baptisms, cocktail parties, and other events.

The requests are coordinated with the restaurant and event team or directly with the guests. The color scheme, favorite flowers, style, and occasion form the basis for the design.

‍

Inspiration comes from everyday life and from working as a team

Monique finds inspiration everywhere: in an idea that has been brewing in her mind for some time, in images and impressions from everyday life, or in discussions with her team. Once a week, they gather ideas, discuss them, and develop them further together.

A single idea can give rise to a complete concept. If, for example, a Christmas decoration is to incorporate blue while still looking natural, Monique doesn’t just think of blue ornaments. She mentally associates the color with peacock feathers, fir greenery, eucalyptus, pinecones, and moss. Dark blue accents and golden vases ultimately create an elegant effect.

Monique particularly enjoys working with natural materials—twigs, grasses, and summer flowers. She appreciates their natural forms and the opportunity to cut materials right on the grounds of the Deltapark Vitalresort.

Still, her favorite season for flowers is Christmas.

Candlelight, fir branches, and ornaments create a warm and cozy atmosphere with relatively few elements. But spring also has its own charm: After the subdued winter months, the first blossoms and colors return, opening up new design possibilities.

‍

Flowers Set the Mood

For Monique, flowers are much more than just a decorative touch. They shape how a space is perceived—often from the moment guests first step into the hotel.

A floral arrangement behind the reception desk can serve as a surprising focal point. If the same flowers or colors reappear later in the restaurant and on the breakfast tables, it creates a unifying design theme. The establishment comes across as harmonious, well-thought-out, and high-quality.

Each design is tailored to the character of the respective facility. At the Deltapark Vitalresort, the floral arrangements are modern and rather minimalist. At the Belvédère Strandhotel, they take on a more classic and elegant look, while at the Solbadhotel Sigriswil, they are designed to complement the chalet style. At the Schönberg Clinic, the focus is on cheerful and uplifting decorations that contribute to the patients’ well-being.

It is precisely these differences that make Monique's work so exciting. The floral arrangements should create a unique atmosphere in each home while still bearing a distinct signature style.

‍

Regional, seasonal, and thoughtfully curated

Whenever possible, the team works with regional and seasonal flowers. The grounds of the Deltapark Vitalresort offer a particular advantage: plants grow in the resort’s own flower garden and at various locations throughout the park that can be cut directly for floral arrangements.

Thus, materials are available in various shapes, lengths, and stages of development.

The season should also be reflected in the arrangements. In summer, light, natural, and pastel tones dominate. In winter, colorful flowers bring cheer to indoor spaces, while nature outside is still in hibernation.

Many materials are reused. Ferns, grasses, and other plants are dried and later incorporated into new floral arrangements. Vases and decorative elements can be shared among homes, rearranged, and used over several seasons.

After events, small bouquets and table arrangements are designed—whenever possible—so that guests can take them home. Any flowers left over are given a new home in the hotel or restaurant.

‍

When Flowers Become Personal Memories

For Monique, whether an arrangement is successful is not determined solely by its form, color, or technique. What matters most is the reaction of the person for whom it was created.

She finds this particularly rewarding when it comes to bridal bouquets. Through one-on-one conversations, she learns which colors and flowers the bride prefers, what she definitely doesn’t want included, and what style best suits the bride, her dress, and the wedding as a whole.

The most beautiful moment is the presentation: that first glance when the bride sees her bouquet and immediately senses that her vision has been understood.

For Monique, an arrangement is a success when someone can say, “That’s exactly how I imagined it. Or even better.”

Monique also has particularly fond memories of designing the suites at the Waldhaus in the Deltapark Vitalresort. On this project, she was given a great deal of creative freedom and was able to develop decorations that complemented the rooms. For her, the assignment was not only exciting from a design perspective, but also a special sign of trust in her work.

‍

We welcome personalized flower requests

In addition to seasonal decorations, the team also fulfills guests' individual requests. Whether as a surprise in the room, for a birthday, a wedding, or any other special occasion, floral arrangements can be ordered directly through the front desk.

Behind every arrangement is an idea, a lot of handiwork, and the goal of creating something special for that particular person and moment.

‍

A labor of love at the Thun Market

In addition to her work as a florist at the hotel, Monique Reber devotes her time to her personal passion project, “dat Lüttje.” On select Saturdays, she sets up shop with her market cart—a lovingly converted small trailer—at the Thun market in Bälliz, near the Postbrücke.

There, she sells her own floral arrangements. At dat Lüttje, too, Monique prefers to work with natural and long-lasting materials such as dried flowers, as well as seasonal natural materials.

Learn more about dat Lüttje: www.datluettje.ch

‍

‍