Some career changes feel like liberation. Melissa's is one of them. After a brilliant career in Parisian fashion and luxury, she left it all behind to move to the Alps. And since she's been working at the reception of the Jeu de PaumeThe entire hotel benefits from his careful attention to detail, his sense of service, and his natural elegance.
From Fontenay-aux-Roses to Chamonix: the call of nature
Melissa was born in the Paris region, in Fontenay-aux-Roses. The city, the hustle and bustle, the collections, the workshops — for years, the rhythm of fashion dictated her life. Then something changed.
I was craving nature and the outdoors.
A year and a half ago, she settled in Chamonix. Not to take a break — to start over. In the valley, she found what she was looking for: the outdoors, the landscapes, the hikes, the wild animals… Another way of inhabiting the world.
An extraordinary career path: Chanel, Hermès, and an eye for detail
Before arriving here, Melissa worked in environments where every millimeter counts. She was an assistant pattern maker for Chanel leather ready-to-wear, an assistant product manager for women's collections distributed internationally, and a showroom hostess at Hermès — all experiences that forged in her a rare level of expertise and impeccable interpersonal skills.
This experience in the biggest fashion houses taught him something that no hotel training can truly teach: the art of receiving a clientele that demands the best, with a smile, without it ever being obvious.
Then came a period in Parisian real estate — transactions, negotiations, monitoring complex cases. Once again, rigor, service, human contact.
The mountain as a playground, the hotel as home
In Chamonix, Melissa found her rhythm. She hikes — no skiing, no snowboarding, but trails, viewpoints, marmots, the mountain at human scale.
The outdoors, the scenery, the hikes, the wildlife…
It is this sensitivity to the environment, to the beauty of simple things, that transspaIt's evident in the way she welcomes customers. She knows what it's like to search for a place to truly recharge. She was looking for it herself.
Why the Jeu de Paume ?
After an experience at the Novotel in Megève and the Rocky Pop in Chamonix, Melissa joined the Jeu de PaumeWhen asked why, his answer says it all:
The environment is pleasant, the establishment is welcoming, you don't feel like you're at work!
That's exactly what we aim to be — a home, not a hotel. A place where the staff are as welcome as the guests.
What does she love about her job? She answers without hesitation: customer contact, providing service, ensuring customers have a good time, the organization, and having to manage multiple pieces of information simultaneously. The perfect profile for a 4-star reception.
Would you like to meet Melissa and the rest of the team at Jeu de Paume ? Book your stay in Lavancher, a stone's throw from Chamonix, come and discover our 4-star hotel in the heart of the Alps.
