Gstaad establishes its own marketing organization
Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus (GST), Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad (BDG AG), the Gstaad Saanenland Hoteliers' Association and the Saanenland Trade Association have founded Gstaad Marketing to optimize the marketing of the Gstaad vacation region.
The new company will commence operations on November 1, 2016. It pools the marketing budgets of the tourism organization and the mountain railway company.
The management position was filled by Andreas Wandfluh following a multi-stage selection process. The 28-year-old will start work in Gstaad on July 1, 2016 and will be appointed Managing Director of the new marketing company from November 1, 2016. According to the press release, he intends to use the time until the company's operational launch to align the personnel and content of the newly founded company with the destination strategy together with the various stakeholder groups. "My aim is to further develop the internationally renowned Gstaad brand and thus support the sustainable success of the tourism destination and its service providers," says Andreas Wandfluh.
Experience in industry and professional football
Andreas Wandfluh, who grew up in Frutigen, graduated from high school in Thun and went on to complete a Master's degree in business administration with a focus on marketing at the University of Bern. He joined the industrial company Fischer in Herzogenbuchsee as assistant to the managing director and later took over as head of marketing. He then became a member of the management board of FC Thun, where he was in charge of marketing. Andreas Wandfluh is a member of the Board of Directors of the Wandfluh company in Frutigen.
Alignment with the destination strategy
"We have set a milestone," agree GST Director Martin Bachofner and BDG Managing Director Matthias In-Albon. "This alliance sends a strong signal that destination interest is now moving to the fore in the long term," Martin Bachofner is convinced. Matthias In-Albon is also very positive: "One goal, one brand, one team, one company, one joint strategy - we are looking forward to the consistent and efficient implementation." The destination strategy, which will serve Gstaad Marketing as a guideline for its operational activities, is expected to be finalized in August in collaboration with all stakeholders in the region. The new company will be formed from the marketing teams of GST and BDG AG. Andreas Wandfluh's first major project is the implementation of the 2016/17 winter campaign for the destination.
