What Remains When Someone Leaves

A Story About Culture, Employer Branding and an Olive Tree

On my last day at Baur au Lac, my team overwhelmed me. With words, gifts, moments.

But one gift continues to grow to this day: an olive tree.

It stands on my terrace by Lake Zurich. And every time I walk past it, I think about that time. The good moments — and the challenging ones. Everything we built together. From the leather DND sign to the Baur au Lac honey to the amenity kit for dogs.

But above all, I think about the people.

And the warm words from the ownership and the director that showed me: what we built here left a mark.

Culture isn't decided. It's cultivated. Every day. By people who choose to mean it.

And that is employer branding. Not the career page. Not the slogan. But what remains — when someone leaves.

Want to go deeper? Together with SHL Swiss Hotel Management School Lucerne, we are continuing our event series for hoteliers — Industry Talks, Employer Branding Crash Course and on-site workshops.

Next date: 2 June 2026.

Find out more ↓