A conversation with the makers of Boutique Boatel

Until now, it was always said that the idea of Boutique Boatel was born over an after-work beer. Can you confirm this?

Hans Hofstetter: Richard Hurni, a friend of mine, had a dream - he wanted a houseboat. However, I had to disappoint him straight away because houseboats are not permitted in Switzerland. But I knew that there was an old cargo ship for sale on the Broye Canal in Sugiez, the MS Attila. While having a beer together after work, I had the idea of converting this boat into a small cruise ship. I drew up the first sketches based on converted cargo ships that sail the canals in France. Richard Hurni was immediately enthusiastic. That's how the project came about.

At what point was it certain that this project could actually be realized?

Hans Hofstetter: The decisive factor was the approval of the OCN Navigation Office, which approved the project according to our plans and confirmed that registration as a passenger ship was possible. Once the financing for both the conversion and the first year of operation had been secured, confidence grew that the first cruise ship on Swiss inland waterways could be put into service for guests in May 2021.

Beat, you joined later. What fascinated you about this project?

Beat Kläy: I've been part of this project since the beginning of March 2020. The idea of a cruise ship on Swiss lakes is unique. I've also had very close ties with the 3 Lakes region since childhood. For me, it is one of the most beautiful regions in Switzerland. This starting point, together with the fact that I had to convert a ship, develop sales, marketing and communication and take over the entire project management, inspired me from the very first moment. It was also very important to me that we create sustainable added value in the region and work closely with numerous local partners. Everyone we contacted as part of our project was immediately enthusiastic. We can count on broad support. That's something to say thank you for!

The commitment is enormous, how do you implement such a large and unique project?

Beat Kläy: It takes a lot of passion and intuition. We are a start-up and are therefore naturally dependent on financial support. Thanks to the now more than 40 shareholders, Bank CIC (Schweiz) AG and the economic and tourism promotion of the Canton of Fribourg, the project is sufficiently financed. All investors, partners and service providers are supporting us in a fantastic way. This is probably because our enthusiasm has enabled us to infect them with the "Attila virus". A pleasant experience in the current coronavirus environment.