Our Journey Through Time
Three decades of crafting unforgettable mountain escapes
Look, we're not gonna pretend we've been here since the dawn of time. Kythral Quintaris opened its doors back in 1992, and honestly? We were pretty small potatoes back then.
Just a modest 18-room lodge with big dreams and an even bigger love for these mountains. The founders - Margaret and Thomas Kythral - weren't hospitality moguls or anything fancy. They were mountain people who'd spent years guiding climbers and skiers through these peaks, and they figured... why not create a place where folks could actually relax after conquering the slopes?
The name "Quintaris" came from an old indigenous word meaning "place of five peaks" - because yeah, you can see five distinct summits from the original property. Still can, actually.
Margaret and Thomas opened the original 18-room lodge. No spa, no fancy restaurant - just good beds, warm fireplaces, and homemade breakfast. Guests loved the simplicity of it all.
Word spread faster than we expected. We expanded to 45 rooms and added our first proper restaurant. The chef back then, Henri, taught us that good food isn't about being fancy - it's about respecting what comes from the land around you.
Margaret's daughter Claire joined us after studying holistic therapy in Switzerland. She convinced us to add a small spa - just four treatment rooms. Turns out people climbing mountains all day really appreciate a good massage. Who knew?
This was our biggest leap. We basically rebuilt half the resort, adding the tower suites and expanding the spa to what it is today. Some old-timers worried we'd lose our soul, but we kept what mattered - that feeling you're visiting friends in the mountains, not checking into some corporate hotel.
We installed our geothermal system and started the farm-to-table program with local producers. Thomas always said these mountains gave us everything - seemed right to give something back. Now 80% of our energy comes from renewable sources.
We're now at 87 rooms and suites, a full wellness sanctuary, and yeah, we've won some awards. But what we're most proud of? Half our staff has been with us for over a decade. Some started as seasonal workers and now run entire departments. That's the real story here.
Here's the thing about hospitality - buildings don't make memories, people do.
Our concierge Maria has been here 16 years. She knows which trails have the wildflowers blooming and which restaurants in town actually use fresh ingredients (not all of them, trust us). Our head chef Lucas grew up in these mountains and forages mushrooms on his days off - sometimes they end up on your plate that same evening.
Thomas passed away in 2021, but Margaret still comes by most mornings for coffee in the main lounge. She'll probably chat with you if you're there early enough. Claire's running things now, along with her brother David who handles our adventure programs.
We've got housekeepers, spa therapists, maintenance folks, and front desk staff who genuinely care whether you had a good day on the mountain. That's not corporate talk - we're small enough that everyone knows everyone, including our regulars who come back year after year.
"We don't do 'luxury' because it's trendy. We do it because after a hard day exploring these mountains, you deserve somewhere that feels like the best version of home. That's always been the whole point." - Claire Kythral, Managing Director
These mountains aren't just our backdrop - they're our responsibility. Every decision we make considers the environmental impact. It's not about being perfect, it's about being thoughtful.
No fake smiles or scripted greetings here. We hire people who actually like people. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how rare that is in this industry.
We'd rather have really good linens than gold-plated faucets. Rather serve incredible local food than molecular gastronomy that looks pretty but leaves you hungry. That's just how we roll.
We've got room for your chapter. Come see what three decades of mountain hospitality looks like.
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