30 years of ChaletsPlus: from one apartment to an established name in the Alps

The beginning: an investment that set everything in motion

The story actually begins before those 30 years. In 1977, Yvonne and her husband Ton bought their first studio apartment in Königsleiten. Not with the intention of starting a business, but simply as an investment. They had lived abroad, saved money, and were looking for a good way to invest it. Through an advertisement, they came across a small studio apartment in Austria. Fully furnished, modest, but with potential. “It was exciting,” Yvonne recalls. “My first thought was: what are we getting ourselves into? But Ton always had a vision. He saw opportunities.” They hardly used the studio themselves, perhaps once a year. So before long, the logical next step presented itself: renting it out.

Renting without the internet – simply by post

Back then, renting out accommodation was completely different from how it is today. No websites, no booking systems, no emails. The first guests came through small advertisements in magazines such as Ski and the ANWB Kampioen. Everything was done over the phone. Contracts were printed, sent by post and returned signed. And the key? It was simply mailed to the guests in an envelope. The local tourist office had initially tried to manage the rentals, but without success. “Then Ton said: we’ll just do it ourselves.” And it worked. Slowly, the first bookings started coming in. Not many, but enough to realise there was demand.

Growing demand, new insights

In the years that followed, something important changed. Guests wanted more. No more small studio apartments, but space. Comfort. Holidays with several couples, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. The demand was there – but the supply hardly existed. That insight became a turning point. In 1988, a major step followed: the construction of the Jan Senn Hütte. A private chalet in a beautiful location in Königsleiten. It was an investment that involved risk. “It really was a gamble,” says Yvonne. “But Ton dared to take that step. He was an entrepreneur.” The chalet perfectly matched the changing demand: more spacious, more comfortable, and therefore immediately popular as a rental property.

1996: the moment everything changed

Although the rentals had already been running for years, the real turning point came in 1996. During a stay in Austria, Yvonne was asked whether she would also like to rent out other apartments, including those of De Sterngucker. That sparked an idea. “I thought: if I put my own phone number underneath, I can manage it myself.” And that is exactly what happened. With her own mobile number listed in the advertisements, Yvonne started managing rentals for several accommodations under the name YTJ Vakantiewoningen, completely independently. The enquiries came flooding in, literally. “You were constantly on the phone. On Sunday evenings, you’d just be sitting at home and the phone would ring again.” Around the same time, the first website was created. Not an interactive environment like today, but a simple page with photos and information – built by Ton using his IT background. Progressive for its time. And effective.

From an attic room to a company

In 1997, the family settled in Gouda. A room on the top floor of their home was converted into an office. What had initially started as something “on the side” gradually developed into a serious full-time occupation. Yvonne ran the business entirely on her own and gave it a new name: ChaletsPlus. The workload increased. More accommodations, more enquiries, more administration. But also more structure. This is where the foundation of today’s company was laid: personal contact, quality and in-depth regional knowledge.

The first stage of growth: no longer alone

In 2002, the first employee outside the family joined the company: Annet. An important milestone, as ChaletsPlus evolved from a one-person business into an organisation. The growth continued, and in 2005 another milestone followed: the first real office at the Kattensingel. What had once started at the kitchen table and in an attic room had now gained a professional foundation.

Entrepreneurship with vision

If there is one common thread running through this story, it is vision. The ability to look ahead. From purchasing a studio apartment in 1977 to recognising the growing demand for larger chalets at an early stage. From advertising in magazines to launching one of the first websites. And from placing a phone number beneath an advert to building a growing company. But relationships also played a major role. In Austria, where trust and personal contact are essential. “Handschlagqualität,” as Ton used to call it. Once trust is established, you continue building together.