Story: When hospitality and inclusivity become one

Find yourself in an oasis of peace

At the Bigatt Hotel & Resturant, no one feels excluded. Sustainable tourism passes through this corner of peace, where there is a project that combines professionalism and social commitment.

Staff wellbeing and a warm welcome for guests are at the very heart of the experience offered by the Bigatt Hotel & Restaurant in Lugano-Paradiso. The facility is run by Cooperativa Area, a pioneer on Ticino’s hotel scene, which strives to combine entrepreneurship with social enterprise. Lorenzo Steiger, the dynamic operations director, has no doubts. The future of tourism will be increasingly inclusive and sustainable.

THE CHARACTER

Lorenzo Steiger, director of the Bigatt Hotel & Restaurant

We support the local area and circular economy: everyone wants an experience that is as local as possible.

“Wonder” is the adjective that best describes the feeling visitors experience when arriving at the Bigatt. Just a short distance from Lugano, on the green slopes of Monte San Salvatore, this fully restored former 18th-century farmhouse offers breathtaking views over Lake Lugano. Extensive grounds with vineyards, olive groves and luxuriant organic, natural and synergic vegetable gardens surround the hotel. The sense of amazement also continues inside, from rooms with frescoed ceilings to a local produce shop that houses an ancient press. At the Bigatt there is a relaxed atmosphere, the staff are smiling and friendly, and work is done but not rushed, because the hotel’s philosophy is to focus on the wellbeing of its employees, as well as that of its guests, of course.

THE COMPLETE STORY

Bigatt Hotel & Restaurant, Lugano-Paradiso

Half of the staff are professionals, the other half are people involved in a professional integration project who are given an opportunity to return to the workplace at the Bigatt. Lorenzo handles sometimes delicate situations on a daily basis in order to balance the operational side of the hotel with the more social aspect.

For Lorenzo, the greatest satisfaction is when guests compliment the work done by the staff: “Their happiness is our main goal and we all work hard to ensure they have an unforgettable stay”. As hotel professionals, they want to show that hospitality can be combined with the spirit of a social enterprise.

The Bigatt doesn’t set out to be exclusive. We welcome everyone.

After a three-year restoration project, the facility opened its doors in May 2020, at the height of the global pandemic. “Paradoxically,” smiles Lorenzo, “despite the complex period, it also proved a great opportunity. We had an amazing outdoor terrace and Swiss guests could only travel domestically due to the restrictions. We therefore managed to make a name for ourselves and began to be appreciated.”

And how could anyone not value this facility that operates in close partnership with the local area and promotes it by means of a sustainable philosophy? Where possible, the restaurant serves seasonal fruit and vegetables grown in the gardens. The hotel also works with regional artisans and farmers, enabling guests to discover local flavours.

The wine list is entirely from Ticino and includes some wine made here, as well as promoting small local wineries.

Pro tip

In Ticino dialect “Bigatt” means silkworm. There was once a “bigatteria” (silk farm) in the vicinity of today’s complex, where they worked silk and from which the name of the facility derives.

The origins of the Bigatt Hotel & Restaurant can also be seen in the hotel's logo, which depicts a green silkworm.

The restoration work of the complex used local materials, such as granite from the Onsernone Valley for the swimming pool. There are also plenty of EV charging stations.

Guests at the Bigatt can also benefit from numerous offers, some of which are run in tandem with other partners, such as Monte Tamaro and Monte Generoso as well as the Villa Sassa Hotel, Residence & Spa. Future plans also include creating a fitness trail through the estate’s organic vegetable gardens and orchards.

There is no doubt about it: the Bigatt has made its way into people’s hearts as...