Who Are Jacques and Jessica Moretti, Owner of the Le Constellation Bar That Destroyed in Fire?

The deadly New Year’s Eve fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana has thrust Jacques and Jessica Moretti into the international spotlight. The blaze, which tore through the crowded basement nightclub shortly after celebrations began, left at least 47 people dead and more than 115 injured, making it one of the worst nightlife disasters in Switzerland in recent decades. As investigators work to establish how a venue described as elegant and festive became the scene of mass tragedy, attention has inevitably turned to the French couple who owned and operated the club.

Jacques and Jessica Moretti were not obscure figures in Crans-Montana. Over the past decade, they had built a reputation as energetic entrepreneurs within the Swiss hospitality sector, particularly among French-speaking visitors to the Alps. Their establishment, Le Constellation, was well known for its youthful clientele, loud celebrations, and permissive age policy that allowed entry from 16 years old. That popularity, once an asset, has now become part of a broader examination into whether safety standards, crowd control measures, and building conditions were sufficient for a venue that routinely hosted hundreds of people in a confined underground space.

As families search for answers and authorities comb through the wreckage, the Morettis’ professional rise and personal background are being scrutinised alongside the technical causes of the fire itself. Their story is now inseparable from questions about responsibility, oversight, and how such a catastrophic loss of life could occur in a country known for strict regulations and safety enforcement.

From French Entrepreneurs to Alpine Nightlife Figures

Jacques and Jessica Moretti are French nationals who first encountered Crans-Montana in 2011, visiting the resort during a period when it was actively reinventing itself as a destination for younger, more international visitors. At the time, the resort was seeking to balance its traditional image of luxury chalets and family skiing with a more vibrant après-ski and nightlife scene. The Morettis saw opportunity in that transition.

In December 2015, they opened Le Constellation in what had previously been an abandoned building. Local tourism brochures later described the venue as an “elegant space” offering a “festive atmosphere,” language that aligned neatly with the couple’s branding ambitions. The bar quickly became known as one of the liveliest nightlife spots in Crans-Montana, drawing seasonal workers, tourists, and local teenagers celebrating holidays and special occasions. Its basement layout, combined with loud music and dense crowds, contributed to its reputation as an intense, club-like experience rather than a conventional alpine bar.

The couple’s rise did not stop with Le Constellation. Swiss media reports indicate that they went on to open or invest in additional hospitality ventures in the region, reinforcing their image as a driven husband-and-wife team with an instinct for what younger clientele wanted. They were often portrayed in positive terms, described as enthusiastic, ambitious, and deeply involved in the day-to-day running of their businesses. Their efforts were credited with enhancing Crans-Montana’s appeal among French tourists, a valuable demographic for the resort.

Jessica Moretti’s background added to that cosmopolitan image. Her social media profiles indicate she studied at the University of Glamorgan in south Wales, completed a programme at the International University of Monaco, and attended Montpellier Business School in France. These credentials suggested a grounding in international business and hospitality management, reinforcing perceptions that the couple were well-equipped to operate high-profile venues in competitive tourist destinations.

New Year's Fire Kills 40 at Swiss Ski Resort Bar

Must Watch

A fire broke out around 1:30 a.m. on New Year's Day at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Killing at least 40 people and injuring 119, mostly young partygoers aged 16 to 26.#SwissFire #CransMontana pic.twitter.com/s2XWMc2En4

— Sumit (@SumitHansd) January 3, 2026

Despite their business interests in Switzerland, the Morettis reportedly lived primarily on the French island of Corsica with their son, managing their Alpine establishments across borders. That lifestyle, once seen as emblematic of success, now forms part of a broader narrative about absentee ownership and the extent of hands-on oversight exercised at Le Constellation.

The Night of the Fire and Immediate Aftermath

On New Year’s Eve, Le Constellation was packed with revellers welcoming 2026. According to investigators and witness accounts, the fire began in the basement area of the bar, where most patrons were gathered. Early testimony suggests that birthday-style champagne sparklers were being used as part of the celebrations, a practice that has since come under intense scrutiny.

Footage circulating online appears to show a waiter standing on another person’s shoulders while holding a flaming sparkler close to the ceiling. Within moments, decorative material above the dance floor ignited. Witnesses have told French broadcaster BFM TV that the ceiling caught fire “in a couple of minutes,” fuelling suspicions that highly flammable foam or fabric had been installed overhead. Smoke spread rapidly through the confined space, and panic followed almost immediately.

Read : Who is Tahirys Dos Santos, the 19-Year-Old Soccer Player Severely Injured in Deadly Fire at Le Constellation Bar?

Survivors described a chaotic rush toward what many believed was the only available exit: a narrow staircase leading up from the basement. As flames and thick smoke advanced, people fell, were trampled, or became trapped as the crowd surged upward. Police commander Frédéric Gisler later confirmed that a crush formed on the staircase, significantly hindering escape efforts. While some patrons managed to flee in time, dozens did not.

In the immediate aftermath, scenes of desperation unfolded across Crans-Montana. Parents and relatives searched hospitals and morgues for missing children, many of whom had been allowed into the club due to its minimum age policy of 16. Emergency services worked through the night and into the following days, treating burn victims and those suffering from smoke inhalation, while forensic teams began the painstaking task of identifying the dead.

Reports indicate that Jessica Moretti was inside Le Constellation when the fire broke out and sustained burns to her arm. Her husband, Jacques, was reportedly working at another of their establishments at the time. Sources close to the couple have said they are “completely in shock,” a statement that reflects personal trauma but has done little to quell public anger and grief.

Scrutiny, Responsibility, and Unanswered Questions

As the scale of the tragedy became clear, the focus of investigators expanded beyond the immediate ignition source to encompass broader issues of safety and compliance. Central among these are questions about the building itself, which had previously been abandoned before being converted into a nightclub. Authorities are now examining whether structural modifications met Swiss fire safety codes and whether appropriate inspections were conducted and updated over time.

Read : 26-Year-Old New England Patriots Defensive Tackle Christian Barmore Accused of Throwing Girlfriend to the Ground

One of the most pressing issues is the number and accessibility of exits. Survivors’ accounts consistently point to a single narrow staircase as the main escape route from the basement. Investigators are seeking to determine whether additional exits existed, whether they were clearly marked, and whether patrons were aware of them. Crowd density on New Year’s Eve, combined with low visibility and panic, appears to have turned this architectural bottleneck into a deadly trap.

The use of champagne sparklers indoors is another focal point. While such practices are not uncommon in nightlife settings, they are often tightly regulated or banned outright due to fire risk. Investigators are assessing whether Le Constellation had permission to use pyrotechnic effects, whether staff were trained in their safe handling, and whether flammable decorative materials were appropriately treated or certified.

These technical questions inevitably lead back to the role of ownership and management. As proprietors, Jacques and Jessica Moretti are under scrutiny regarding the policies they approved, the safety culture they enforced, and the degree of oversight they maintained. While Swiss authorities have not yet announced any criminal charges, officials have made clear that the investigation is ongoing and complex, involving fire experts, building inspectors, and forensic specialists.

Public debate has intensified around the ethics of operating a high-capacity, underground nightclub that admitted teenagers, particularly on a night known for heavy crowds and alcohol consumption. Critics argue that such venues demand especially rigorous safety planning, while supporters caution against drawing conclusions before the investigation is complete. For now, the Morettis’ once-celebrated entrepreneurial story has been eclipsed by a far darker association.

As Switzerland mourns the victims of the Crans-Montana fire, the case of Le Constellation stands as a grim reminder of how quickly celebration can turn to catastrophe. For Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the coming months will likely determine not only their legal fate but also how their legacy in the hospitality world is ultimately defined.