Micro Mag · Volume One
"M-m-m-my Norrøna!"
An @sisitravels exclusive: The Omnia
Welcome
This micro-magazine explores the peaks and valleys of mountain living, where design meets wilderness and tradition collides with innovation. Expect sharp reviews of the tools that define the lifestyle — precision skis, mountaineering gear, fishing setups, rugged utility vehicles — as well as insider coverage of Michelin-starred alpine dining and luxury travel experiences from Zermatt to Deer Valley and beyond.
The feature
"Lost in the majestic grandeur of the Swiss Alps."
Atop the Zermatt ski resort lies Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe, reaching an elevation of 3,855 metres. This icy marvel welcomes skiers to vast snowfields and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers.
Not just another high-altitude viewpoint — up here the air thins, the crowds scatter, and a large crucifix takes the atmosphere to another level. Below, skiers carve through year-round snow on the Theodul Glacier. It's cold, surreal, and absolutely unforgettable.
@sisitravels exclusive · The Omnia
A look inside Alexander Schaerer's design hotel in Zermatt.
The Swiss have a certain knack for building greatness — from solvent banking institutions, to Vacheron Constantin timekeeping, to perfectly scaled Swissmar Stelvio raclette sets. The passion project of Swiss businessman Alexander Schaerer, The Omnia hotel is a magnum opus to alpine engineering and excellence. Chairman of the Board of USM, a manufacturing business begun by his great-grandfather in 1885, Schaerer has embedded loads of intellectual property, quite literally, into the hotel. His high-end furniture and shelving design peppers the property in all the right places.
While the legacy firm began as a hinge manufacturer, Schaerer's father, Paul, transformed the business in the '60s when it began producing a modular steel shelving storage system. Fast forward to 2023, USM Haller can be found in leading and elite businesses across the world, from Parisian banks to Japanese hospitals to St. Tropez yacht clubs. In 2001, in recognition of its unique flexibility and durability, USM Haller was included in the New York Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Make no mistake, the Schaerer dynasty is Switzerland's "first family" of smart, modular interiors, and it's no surprise The Omnia is such a high-functioning hotel. Zermatt is home to some of the most innovative and stylish hotels in the world. Among them, this high-design gem stands out as a shining example of modern luxury. Uniting breathtaking natural beauty with cutting-edge contemporary aesthetics, The Omnia is quickly becoming the most talked-about design hotel in town.
"Omnia means 'Dream' in Arabic, and in Latin 'everything, the whole, the comprehensive.'"Christian Eckert, Managing Director
But it's the service culture that keeps bringing people back. "The experience for every guest should be perfect all around — from A to Z, same as our room numbers," Christian Eckert, Managing Director, tells us. "Our management team embodies the Omnia spirit and teaches each team member these service values. Every team member should think ahead, create 'wow effects' for guests."
While Zermatt can be a pain to access from the west coast of the US, I still regard the train journey from Zurich as one of the most spellbinding in the world. Nestled in the heart of the romantic Visper Valley, The Omnia offers easy access to Zermatt's most beguiling hiking…
First published in Jetset. [The carousel panel ends here — paste the remainder of the piece and I'll flow it in.]
Glacial gastronomy
The fine-dining experience at The Restaurant at The Omnia offers an exquisite showcase of culinary artistry, with meticulously crafted dishes that delight both the palate and the eye.
Gear we trust
Lyngen Down850 Hooded Jacket
The Norrøna Lyngen Down850 Hooded Jacket boasts the best warmth-to-weight ratio in Norrøna's midlayer line. Packed with 850-fill power down, it has an exceptionally light weight while remaining super packable.
Established in 1929 by Jørgen Jørgensen, Norrøna is a family-owned Norwegian brand specializing in high-end outdoor apparel and equipment.
Contributors
Co-founder · host & cinematic eye
A veteran of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors' Equity Association, Doug has built a three-decade career across The Wire, HBO's Emmy Award-winning Something the Lord Made, hundreds of Kennedy Center performances, and national campaigns for Toyota, Ford, and Walmart. He now channels that into Alpine Analytics, born of his and Si Si's shared passion: the high-alpine and travel lifestyle.
Co-founder · editorial voice
A cultural polymath, Si Si reports on prestige travel, design, and lifestyle worldwide. Executive Travel Editor of Jetset since 2010 and a Maxim contributor since 2019, she has reported on the Great Gatsby cast from Cannes, played tennis with Roger Federer in Paris, and interviewed Bode Miller at the Yellowstone Club.