From the Emmental to hospitality. And somehow back to property.

A boy from the Emmental who learned to get things done early.

I grew up near Worb, on the edge of the Emmental. My father was an entrepreneur through and through. His working day rarely ended after eight hours, and he preferred getting things done to talking about them.

Because he ran a property company, I discovered the industry early. While other children spent their weekends differently, I often helped out, repairing something here and organising something there. I learned that problems rarely solve themselves, and that initiative goes a long way.

From secondary school to hotel school.

After school I completed my academic secondary education. University would have been the conventional next step. But I could not quite embrace spending years mainly studying things I wanted to experience in practice.

My real passion was elsewhere: in hospitality and gastronomy.

I like people. I like being a host. Few things feel better than seeing someone completely at ease because everything behind the scenes works.

So I chose Belvoirpark hotel school in Zurich and graduated successfully. I then worked in the industry for a while, gaining practical experience.

MY EDUCATION

Hospitality learned from the ground up.

My hotel and restaurant management diploma means more than a piece of paper to me. It represents training in an industry that remains close to my heart.

View full-size diploma ↗

Back to my roots.

Eventually my path led back to property. I joined my father’s family business and took on increasing management responsibility.

Today I manage several apartment buildings with more than 200 residential units.

Property management is fascinating, varied and sometimes challenging. But I began to miss hospitality: contact with guests and the feeling of giving people a pleasant stay, not just managing living space.

Then I had an idea.

One studio became more and more homes.

My first Airbnb Superhost title followed the studio. Then came a 2.5-room apartment, followed by a 4.5-room apartment. With every property, I learned more.

Which furnishings work? What makes a good listing? How important is pricing? Above all, how do you keep guests happy while making the rental financially worthwhile?

I realised I could bring together two worlds that had long been part of my life: property and hospitality.

A SPECIAL MILESTONE

My first Superhost title.

Airbnb’s original congratulations were a lovely confirmation that the work, late key handovers and personally cleaned apartments had been worth it.

Between us, if I could, I would love to furnish all 200 homes we manage and turn them into little holiday apartments.

Of course that is neither realistic nor my goal.

Housing is more than a return calculation. Existing tenants should not be displaced just because a holiday rental might earn more.

I am interested in existing opportunities: empty homes, second homes, holiday properties and owners who do not want to rent permanently.

That is how mSeelhofer came about.

Over time I realised that not every owner wants to be a host themselves.

Furnishing, creating listings, setting prices, looking after guests, organising cleaning and answering messages can quickly become a second job.

For me, that is exactly what I enjoy.

So I began helping other owners rent out their properties professionally through Airbnb and other booking platforms.

A small personal experiment became the idea behind mSeelhofer.

Today I combine property management experience, hospitality training and hands-on hosting.

One thing remains particularly important: every property deserves individual attention, and every owner deserves a contact who knows first-hand what successful letting involves, rather than simply making promises.

I am Matthias Seelhofer. Raised with property, a hotelier by passion and a host through and through.

Perhaps I can soon help make your property something special too.