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The many faces of Ch...
27 June 2024
The many faces of Chillon #5 Jessica
We’d like to paint a picture of just some of the people who bring Chillon Castle to life. We’ll be taking a slightly quirky, offbeat peek behind the scenes of the fortress on Lake Geneva. So, ready to take a tour?
The fifth person to take on the challenge is our Ticket Office Manager, Jessica.
The fifth person to take on the challenge is our Ticket Office Manager, Jessica.
We’d like to paint a picture of just some of the people who bring Chillon Castle to life. We’ll be taking a slightly quirky, offbeat peek behind the scenes of the fortress on Lake Geneva. So, ready to take a tour?
The fifth person to take on the challenge is our Ticket Office Manager, Jessica.
Jessica at the Chillon Castle ticket office
Hey Jessica, what brought you here to Chillon, supervising the ticket office? Was it a love of booking tools? Or did you lose a bet?
A former colleague and friend saw the vacancy and shared it with me, saying ‘this is so you’. Plus, having already worked at Montreux Jazz Festival, the Chaplin’s World museum… it was only logical that I work at the castle…
What does a typical day at the castle look like for you? How does your job differ from that of the cashiers?
I don’t know if there’s such a thing as ‘typical’ here. Being the Ticket Office Manager is a bit of a juggle, which I love! My work is split into two major areas, making every day exciting and unique.
On the one hand, I’m out on the floor, right there on the front line with the team. Picture me as a super-heroine of customer service, always on hand to step in and resolve any issues. Whether it’s finding a quick solution for an unhappy customer, or if it’s all hands on deck to support my colleagues, my aim is to guarantee all our visitors a seamless, enjoyable experience…
On the other hand, I’m in the driving seat behind the scenes. That means all the team planning and organisation, making sure we have enough staff to meet demand, which can fluctuate quite heavily. I also keep track of our finances, receipts, invoices, which means keeping my beady eye on money coming in and going out to make sure everything is in order. And then we have our ticket partnerships – negotiating, managing relationships, building fruitful connections that will help the castle continue to thrive.
Hey Jessica, tu supervises le fonctionnement de la billetterie de Chillon. Qu’est-ce qui t’a mené là ? Un amour des outils de réservation ? Un pari perdu ?
Chillon entrance bridge and ticket office
Has anything unexpected happened since you took on the role?
I only joined in November 2023 and there hasn’t been anything too surprising. Maybe after this I might have more to tell you 😉, but I do have a nice anecdote; our internal extension for the ticket desk is 911… I once tried to call them but, in the heat of the moment, I called from my mobile phone and the police picked up!
What are your thoughts on the ideal entry ticket? Something nice to look at, or ugly but practical?
For me, the ideal ticket would be equal parts pretty and practical. A nice-looking ticket catches the eye, creating an enjoyable experience from the very first interaction. And customers can keep it as a souvenir. But practicality is also important – it needs to be easy to understand and informative. So, the ideal ticket would be the best of both worlds – beautiful and functional.
If you had a magic wand, what is the ONE thing you would change about Chillon?
I’d like visitor numbers to be a bit more consistent throughout the year… more visitors in winter and slightly fewer in summer 😉…
Une ancienne collègue et amie a vu le poste et me l’a partagé en disant « C’est tout toi »
De plus, après avoir travaillé au Montreux Jazz Festival, au musée Chaplin’s Wolrd… travailler au Château était une évidence …
C’est quoi ton quotidien au château ? En quoi ton job est différent de celui des caissières et caissiers ?
Je ne sais pas si on peut parler de quotidien. « Être responsable billetterie, c’est un peu comme jongler avec plusieurs balles à la fois, et j’adore ça ! Mon travail se divise en deux grandes facettes qui rendent chaque journée unique et passionnante.
D’un côté, je suis sur le terrain, en première ligne avec les équipes. Imaginez-moi comme une super-héroïne du service clientèle, toujours prête à intervenir pour résoudre les problèmes. Qu’il s’agisse de trouver une solution rapide pour un client mécontent ou de soutenir mes collègues en cas de coup de feu, mon objectif est de garantir une expérience fluide et agréable pour tous nos visiteurs …
De l’autre côté, je suis le pilote derrière les coulisses. Cela englobe toute la planification et l’organisation du personnel, où je m’assure que nous ayons les ressources humaines nécessaires pour répondre à la demande qui est très fluctuante. Je m’occupe aussi du suivi financier des recettes, de la facturation, ce qui veut dire que je garde un œil de lynx sur les entrées et sorties d’argent pour m’assurer que tout est en ordre. Et puis, il y a les partenariats billetterie – négocier, gérer les relations, et développer des collaborations fructueuses qui bénéficient au rayonnement du château.
Further reading
The Many Faces of Chillon #5 Philia
The next person to take on the challenge is Philia, our Human Resources Manager.
Quiz about the collections
To help you get to know the monument and its historical objects better, why not take our quiz?
Chillon Bazaar: an eyewitness to tourism on the banks of Lake Geneva
Just opposite Chillon Castle, you’ll find a gift shop. But not just any gift shop. The history of this building dates back to the golden age of Swiss tourism, when middle-class European families would sojourn to the banks of Lake Leman, near Montreux in the canton of Vaud.