Arosa Bergbahnen celebrates result and expands BoD

Arosa Bergbahnen has reason to rejoice, because like many other competitors, they look back on an extremely successful business year 2021/22. Despite SARS-CoV-2, favorable constellations dominated the winter half-year, which ultimately gave us a perfect business year with a top result that I myself would not have thought possible," Lorenzo Schmid, Chairman of the Board of Directors, began his speech at the Annual General Meeting. He added that the result was right to be seen as an outlier on the upside. "Euphoric praise is out of place, let's keep our feet on the ground and remain realistic," warned Lorenzo Schmid with a view to the new challenges ahead.

With a turnover of 33.034 million francs, of which 20.131 million with transport revenue (summer and winter) and 8.756 million francs with catering, the best overall performance in the history of the company was achieved. After this outstanding business year, the Board of Directors of the mountain railway company activated the dividend policy and proposed a distribution of 4 francs per share (total 625,000 francs) to the General Assembly. In doing so, the Board of Directors deliberately wanted to send a positive signal that an investment in the company and a participation in a possible next capital increase can also be rewarded with a return. The shareholders followed the proposal with unanimous approval.

Performance development on the mountain

"After last year's investment pause, performance development on the mountain is picking up again with targeted projects," says Philipp Holenstein, managing director of Arosa Bergbahnen AG, with an outlook on the 2022/2023 financial year that has just started, in which a total of CHF 6.64 million is earmarked for new projects. "The terrain correction with the replacement of the old snowmaking system for 3.4 million francs makes up the main part. The construction work will soon be completed," said the mountain railway boss. In mountain gastronomy, Arosa Bergbahnen invested in a new terrace with food container at the Brüggerstube for a continuous take-away offer in summer and winter and in improved room acoustics of the 360° panorama restaurant Weisshorngipfel.

Expansion of the Board of Directors

Chairman of the Board of Directors and jubilarian Lorenzo Schmid, for 30 years successfully at the top of the mountain railway company, was confirmed for a further term of office of 3 years. The existing members of the Board of Directors were also re-elected: Adrian Altmann, Peter Bircher, Christian Laesser, Markus Lütscher, Ludwig Waidacher, Werner C. Weber. The ten-member Board of Directors is completed by three newly elected members. "I am very pleased that we have been able to recruit Dr. Götz Bechtolsheimer, Barbara Janom Steiner and Pascal Jenny, three proven personalities, to the Board of Directors," said Chairman Lorenzo Schmid.

Mayor Andreas Brunold, who has been on the Board of Directors since 2014 as a representative of the civic community of Chur, was bade farewell from the Board. Chairman of the Board of Directors Lorenzo Schmid praised the commitment of Andreas Brunold, who as the representative of the largest landowner in the ski area supported numerous projects and helped them to be realized.