Name: Roger Diriwächter

Position: Maintenance employee (electrical/technical, IT 1st level support)

Hobbies: Generally in free time deal with technology and music especially piano accompaniment in church

My highlights in the Lake Thun region: Spiezer Bucht, Mani's Coffee & Bagels and in summer Lake Thun at Deltapark for SUPing and swimming.

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Working as a maintenance employee in a hotel is not an everyday job. What are your responsibilities?

My working day is characterized by versatility. Every day is different and brings new challenges. Whether it's PCs, printers or other electrical equipment, as a maintenance employee with a focus on electrics/technology and IT support, I am the contact person when it comes to technical matters in the hotel. From repairs to extensions to installations, I take care of everything electrical. I also test and repair equipment, adjust settings on heating, ventilation and air conditioning and monitor them. Maintenance and testing of multimedia equipment is also part of my job. Furthermore, I am responsible for alarm servers and telephony in the company. Furthermore, I also act as an extended arm of external technicians and form the interface in technical matters between the hotel and the external companies. In addition, I am also responsible for providing the seminar rooms. This includes the furnishing and the technical equipment.

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How do you coordinate all these tasks and assignments in your team?

In the morning, we from the maintenance team meet in the workshop to distribute the work that needs to be done. The orders come in from the various departments in the plant via the Hotelkit system. Communication also takes place largely via this system. Not only repair orders are transmitted here, but also information about ongoing seminars and other relevant events at the hotel.

Our team works in shifts and in addition, we have a 24-hour on-call service to ensure that someone is available to help with technical problems at any time of the day or night.

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You have an enormously wide range of responsibilities, where and how did you acquire this knowledge?

Among other things, I completed training as an energy technician HF. During this training, I started working as the deputy head of maintenance at the then Gwatt Center. In the meantime, I have been employed here for 18 years, which is why I am familiar with the installations, equipment and its pitfalls. In addition, I regularly attend further training courses in the field of technology so that I am always up to date and can thus offer the best possible technical service.

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What are the biggest challenges as an employee maintenance when working in a hotel business?

In a dynamic work environment, it is sometimes difficult to work continuously on one thing. We therefore often have to set priorities, especially when different tasks overlap.

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What do you particularly appreciate about your job and your team?

I particularly like the broad range of tasks. I often work independently, but we still have close contact within the team. I have a lot to do with people from other departments and external companies, especially through the on-call service, technology and IT support. This ensures a regular exchange and I can also constantly develop my know-how.

There are a total of eight people in our team. I particularly appreciate the collegial relationship and the fact that everyone has their own area of responsibility in which their strengths are used.

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What question do friends/acquaintances often ask you about your job?

"Why are you working in the hotel industry? That's strict, isn't it?"

Yes it might be strict sometimes, but in other places the work is probably more monotonous. I really appreciate the variety and responsibility I have at Deltapark.

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Your place of work is in a wonderful location directly on Lake Thun. Do you also benefit from this location in your free time?

Yes I do. Already during my work I have a lot of movement and an incredibly beautiful environment. I especially appreciate the proximity to Lake Thun. In the summer, I can sometimes be found on the SUP after work or treat myself to a sailing trip every now and then.

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What would you like to give to anyone who is considering an apprenticeship in the hospitality industry/working in the hospitality industry?

As a maintenance specialist (the training that you can complete in our team), you can expect a very broad spectrum of tasks that is more diverse than in many other companies. This versatility allows for a wide range of training and varied work. In some cases, there are also weekend duties, which means that you have time off during the week, which also offers certain advantages. And a special tip: good shoes. With so many steps you take every day, your feet will thank you in the evening. 😉