Kate & Chris Lawler: Owner Managers of Mountain Spaces

Tell us a little bit about your business, how it started out and where you're based etc…

We were both working pretty standard 9-5 jobs in Brighton and weren't getting much out of it. Chris in engineering and me in marketing. Chris had previously lived in New Zealand and I had travelled pretty extensively and we both wanted a bit more of a challenge and to feel like we were really making the most of life.
We had thought about living back in New Zealand for a while but it wouldn't have been forever, running a chalet company had also been a bit of a pipe dream as we both love cooking, hosting dinner parties for our friends and it was over Christmas 2007 talking with family talking about what we would do if we did move away for 3-4 years then came back to the UK that we both remember the moment we decided to skip going to NZ and really go for running a chalet business, it was boxing day 2007, we both remember the conversation really clearly.

Chris knew Les Gets and Morzine from mountain biking and between us we'd been to pretty much all of the major French resorts, when we were researching ski areas and resorts to set up in we just fell in love with Morzine and the Portes du Soliel and never looked back. We started with one chalet and spent two years doing everything ourselves, cooking, cleaning, transfers and running the business. Since then we've grown slowly making sure we really look after our guests and don't dilute any of the hard work we've put in and our reputation. We're lucky that we now get a lot of repeat business and after 6-7 years we've got to the position where we work with some really fantastic companies, we've had chalets designed and built for us and we're big enough to employ staff every winter who do a fantastic job looking after our guests in the chalets leaving us to run the company.

We're now up to three catered chalets and brand new self catered chalet for this winter. We've always run the business from the point of view of offering our guests exactly what we would want from a chalet holiday. We've always aimed at the higher end of the market simply so we don't have to skimp on any of the details and can really deliver everything and more that we promise our guests.

What makes Morzine a special place to be for someone in your profession?

Morzine is a great place to live all year round, that's partly why we chose to base Mountain Spaces here. It's got loads to offer in winter and the summer. People don't realise how much there is to do in the summer in Morzine… and how warm it gets. We love the local lakes, white water rafting and biking - downhill and road cycling. It's a proper village as well as being a ski resort so there's a community here aside from the winter season. It's also a great place to bring up children, it's been amazing being able to be outside so much with our daughter.

What are the best bits about your job?

Getting to work with each other.. ha ha very cheesy!!

And the worst bits?

Working with each other….. ;-)

What is in store for the future with your business, any exciting projects in the pipelines that you can share with us?

We try not to grow too quickly and make sure we listen to our guests comments and make the right thought out decisions each year. We're always adding extra details to keep it fresh and interesting for our returning guests. We're really excited about our new self catered Chalet Les Gentianes for this winter, people have had enough of grotty small self catered apartments and we will definitely be offering some more high end self catered accommodation before long, it's not signed yet but watch this space!

What are you personal and professional goals for the future?

To make sure we keep up with the rate at which Ahlana (our 2 and a half year old) learns to ski and speak better French than us!!! Be happy and keep making our many returning and new guests happy.There's nothing better than receiving an email once a guest has stayed saying what a great time they had, it makes all the hard work worth while.

What's your favourite piste or off-piste area & top tip to go skiing?

The 'snow cross' areas in the Portes du Soliel are un-pisted but fully patrolled areas that are great fun. Essentially they are a massive un-pisted blue to red grade runs. If you've had fresh snow it's brilliant fun with kids messing around in the powder knowing you still have the security of on-piste skiing.
Off-piste, Chris' favourite is the Pointe de Vorlaz better known locally as the 'Pepsi Max' run, quite a hairy hike in but an amazing never ending North facing decent. For something a bit more accessible the Valle de la Manche is pretty hard to beat. There's no hike in, just a short traverse from one of the lifts followed by some really mellow powder fields with a pub and a bus stop at the bottom, amazing. Top tip: Massive chalet breakfast, ski hard in the morning, quick expresso around 11, late lunch and take it easy in the afternoon.

Your favourite place for lunch or dinner?

We love La Chaudanne in Morzine for all things Savoyade and for that winter cheese fix!! They do a fab tomato fondue. Also a new little place recently opened in Morzine called Bec Jaune is amazing, a little micro brewery serving IPA's, ginger beer and some mean pulled pork burgers and nachos! Great to have something a bit different in the village, making a change from the large savoyard selection.

Where will we find the best coffee or hot chocolate?

'Beanies' do the 'mega' hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows! Chris' favourite is the little hut at the bottom of the Super Morzine where you can buy an expresso that takes the same time to drink as it takes the telecabine to get to the top! perfect start to the day!

What has been your best ever day in Morzine?

We had friends and family stay at the end of a season a couple of years ago for Ahlana's first birthday, it was amazing to have all our friends with us, it was scorching hot at the end of April until we woke up the following morning to a good 4 foot of fresh powder, it didn't last much past 3 o'clock but we had some of the best powder runs that season as it was so quiet and we finished in a deck chair in the sun! You can't beat spring skiing sometimes.

Do you remember your first trip to this resort?

Ha ha, yes, we do. It was before we lived here and we were deciding whether Morzine was a contender for our company. We booked a really cheap twee little French hotel right on the outskirts and wondered why they had put carpet on the walls and chosen to put the curtains on the bed!! Very very old school.

What's your favourite thing to do in Morzine when not skiing or snowboarding?

Sledging or swimming in the Morzine pool with Ahlana

What do you do in the summer?

Road biking is our new thing, we're both hooked. Lake Leman (Geneva) is amazing in the summer. The Montreux jazz festival just round the lake is always amazing, a few hikes and some mountain biking.

Which is your favourite shop in resort?

A shop called Le Pelio does the most amazing array of local cured sauscisson and meats.

Where are we most likely to find you for après-ski?!

Le Bec Jaune is our current favourite for a laid back pint and the pulled pork is gooood.

Skiing or snowboarding? What's your preference & why?

Powder days, snowboarding every time. The skiing is coming on though and we both would really like to be up to standard before Ahlana gets too quick. It's really nice to be able to do both, a long, smooth perfectly groomed run is much more fun on skis than on a board.

If someone was coming here for the first time, what would you suggest they absolutely must do or see in resort?

Ski the snow cross areas, jump the air bag in Avoriaz, blitz the quiet pistes around Linga towards Chatel, eat in the Cremalliere in Les Linderats at lunch, take a guide to off piste down the valley de la manche and finish with apres cocktails in Beanies bar listening to the local band the buskers followed by 3 courses of food heaven in the Mountain Spaces chalet a quick hot tub and night cap and repeat all week. It's not one thing but that's what I would want someone to tell me to do if I was on holiday here!

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Mountain Spaces currently have four great chalets for you to choose from; Les Gentianes, Le Milan Noir, Doux Abri and Blue Bird Lodge. For more information about their winter and summer offer, click on the website link above.