The average advance booking time - the number of days between ticket purchase and the actual ski day - has tripled this season. On average, tickets are booked online more than 20 days in advance. And instead of the previous 3 percent, 15 percent of skiers have now bought their ticket for the area online instead of at the ticket office.
According to Matthias In-Albon, head of Gstaad's mountain railroads, families in particular make use of the flexible prices. "They are generally more price-sensitive and are also able to book ski tickets well in advance." Due to the dynamic prices, consumers tend to book several days of skiing, explained In-Albon. This season, more multi-day tickets with more days of validity have been sold.
According to the report, instead of saving money, lower prices lead to increased consumption. The cut-off date for the interim report was January 31. Gstaad did not yet want to disclose details of turnover. However, this is "clearly" above the previous year.
"Price increase through the back door"
The dynamic ticket prices are criticized by Swiss Consumer Protection (SKS). President Sara Stalder says that they disguise the true price structure. Almost all the feedback she receives is negative. "Many skiers perceive dynamic pricing for what it is: a price increase through the back door.
Various ski resorts are already using dynamic price models. No destination has yet reversed this decision. (hae/SDA)
Since 2006, the domain Gstaad.com has no longer been owned by the tourism organization. Anyone accessing the address would be directed to the website of a luxury chalet rental company. Thanks to a settlement agreement, the domain must now be transferred back to GST within the next 30 days. The parties are keeping the details of the negotiations confidential.
"I am delighted that the domain now belongs to the vacation destination of Gstaad again. I consider this agreement to be very important for the international and success-oriented marketing of Gstaad," says Tourism Director Sébastien Epiney. "Gstaad Saanenland Tourism is extremely pleased that an agreement has been reached." Anyone accessing Gstaad.com in future will once again land on the website of the vacation destination Gstaad.
In the long-running dispute over the domain, the municipality of Saanen also joined GST as a co-plaintiff. (pd/hae)
Gstaad is known as a sophisticated and distinguished place for celebrities from all over the world. But Gstaad is so much more than that. Gstaad is an alpine lifestyle for all those who value natural enjoyment and the truly beautiful things in life. The village thrives on the contrasts that seem to magically attract each other here. These also form the common thread running through the twelve-page special supplement that the Gstaad vacation region created together with Erdmannpeisker for various newspapers in August. In the newspaper supplement, the editorial team got to the bottom of the spirit of Gstaad and combined this spirit with specific tips and offers from the region. The finale is a type test in which readers can playfully find out what type of Gstaad person they are - directly linked to an online competition.
To the Sonderbund on Issuu.com
Erdmannpeisker, Gstaad's new lead agency, together with Panta Rhei PR, is responsible for the concept, layout and realization of the special edition.
Responsible at Gstaad: Andreas Wandfluh (Head of Marketing), Kerstin Sonnekalb (Head of Marketing Communication), Franziska Domann (Marketing Manager). Responsible at Erdmannpeisker: Gabriel Peisker (Creative Direction), Patrick Fawer, Daniela Karrer, Julia Bazzini (Art Direction), Thomas Zulauf, Selina Helbling (Consulting), Reto Wilhelm, Panta Rhei PR (Concept/Text), Mark Nolan (Photography), Amadeus Waltenspühl (Graphics), Mediafactor (Media Planning).
Erdmannpeisker won the mandate from Gstaad Marketing in a nationwide agency pitch and will now accompany the tourism destination in terms of communication for the next few years. The aim is to further stage the well-known claim "Come up, slow down" transmedially and to fill it with life. According to the press release, the first measures will already be seen this summer.
Due to press reports about Fondueland with its giant caquelons, curator Charlotte Trümpler became aware of this special feature of Gstaad. She contacted Gstaad in mid-2016 and met with open ears. Two of these giant caquelons were already installed in the Gstaad region at that time, one on Schlittmoos near Schönried, the other on the Wispile. A third was being considered. The inquiry from Frankfurt was the initial spark for project "No. 3".
Thanks to a silent sponsor
With remaining funds from the project phase of Gstaad2020 plus and thanks to the generous support of a sponsor who does not wish to be named, the necessary funds for the construction of the exhibit came about. Reto Burri of Chaletbau Burri Lauenen, co-initiator and manufacturer of the two previous models, was very pleased with this follow-up order. Plans and construction experience were, after all, on call and so, in the course of the first weeks of 2017, the wooden representative of Swiss cheese and picnic culture was created for the exhibition in Frankfurt.
Free admission on Swiss National Day
The Swiss Consulate General in Frankfurt also found such an authentic setting exciting and invites the people of Frankfurt on August 1 to a free admission to the museum as well as to a raclette picnic with alphorn sounds at the Caquelon. Among other things, products and information from Gstaad will contribute to the festivities. Preparations for this event have also already begun in Gstaad. At the same time, the company Gstaad Marketing, which has been founded in the meantime, also took care of the transport of this piece of Swiss handicraft. It is scheduled for the end of April.
"Swiss Made" from the plans to the painting:
Support also from Switzerland Tourism
Because the robust exhibit also beautifully reflects Switzerland Tourism's annual theme of "Back to Nature," Switzerland Tourism Germany has agreed to place a series of deck chairs alongside the giant caquelon. They will invite visitors to the Museum Angewandte Kunst to linger in the museum's Metzler Park. The exhibition will be officially opened as early as May 5. It explores the fascination of picnicking across different times and cultures.
He replaces Jürg Schwenter, who could not be re-elected due to term limits. Bommes, head of the Bernese event agency Appalooza Productions, is connected to the Saanenland as the owner of an apartment in Schönried, according to a press release issued by Gstaad Marketing on Wednesday.
Gstaad Saanenland Tourism brought Bommes on board because of his expertise in the organization, planning and implementation of events as well as his good contacts. Despite his ties to the Saanenland, the 56-year-old from Bern will also "bring an enriching view from the outside", it continues.
GST closed the 2015/16 season with a loss of CHF 45,000. The reasons for this are lower public contributions and around three percent lower visitor tax income. This lower income is due to the temporary closure of a hotel in Saanenland. This temporary closure of the largest four-star hotel in the region also meant that the number of overnight stays fell by three percent in 2015/16. In the luxury hotel sector, however, there was an increase of four percent. (SDA)
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.