Three minds. One commitment.
Champels was born from the conviction that independent hospitality deserves a partner as demanding as itself.
Born from hospitality. Trained in design.
John Gabriel grew up in the hospitality world, trained at the École hôtelière de Lausanne, then shaped by experiences in Latin America, Asia Pacific and of course in Europe and within the Martin's Hotels group. He co-founded Champels with Julie, interior architect and sensory design specialist, after identifying a striking gap in the market: studios capable of combining creative excellence with operational mastery.
Sophie joined the adventure to complete the triptych: the rigor of procurement and project management. Together, they offer a unique full-service model, one studio, three complementary expertises, one promise: guiding every hotelier from first idea to opening day.
Technology accelerates.Craft elevates.
The most advanced tools on the market, in service of an irreplaceable hospitality craft.
3D modeling, immersive visualization, advanced planning tools, digitized site tracking. We adopt the technologies that save time, secure budgets and align every stakeholder from the very first meeting.
But no technology replaces the eye of a hotelier who knows a corridor carpet lives eight years, that a poorly chosen tap exhausts a housekeeping team, that miscalibrated lighting kills a guest experience.
We put technology at the service of the craft. Not the other way around. Every tool is chosen to elevate the quality of the final result, never to replace it.
Technology accelerates the process. Craft guarantees the result.
Trained at EHL, John Gabriel brings a dual culture, that of a hotelier who understands business challenges, and that of a project director who masters every phase of a renovation. He drives client relationships, strategy and the overall vision of each project.
Julie designs spaces you feel before you see. As principal designer and studio lead, she orchestrates light, materials, scents and sounds to create a unique and recognizable atmosphere.
Sophie combines design sensitivity with operational rigor. Her distinct yet complementary approach to Julie's enriches every project. She coordinates suppliers, artisans and schedules to ensure delivery on time and without compromise.
Small team. Full service.
No junior contacts. No hidden subcontracting. JG, Julie and Sophie on every project.
Design as investment.
Every aesthetic decision impacts RevPAR. We measure it.
Your hotel, your story.
We don't create a style. We create your identity.