Harry John is the new president of the Grand Tour of Switzerland association

On September 28, 2017, the members of the association supporting the Grand Tour of Switzerland elected Harry John, Director of BE! Tourism, as a new member of the board and as the new president. Born in Upper Valais and a proven tourism expert, John has been Director of the Bernese promotional organization since 2013 and was previously responsible for the management of Montreux-Vevey Tourism. Like his predecessor Sturzenegger, Harry John is also a representative of the RDK (Regional Directors' Conference). According to the association's statutes, the RDK has the prerogative to appoint the president.

Martin Sturzenegger, Director of Zürich Tourism, is stepping down after two years as President and handing over the association to his successor with secure funding until 2021. Under Sturzenegger, who has been a board member of the association since its inception and President since 2015, the Grand Tour of Switzerland strategy was developed and successfully implemented.

Further new members of the Executive Board - management unchanged

Hansruedi Müller (President of Swiss Athletics, the Swiss Athletics Association, since 2006 and former professor of tourism at the University of Bern) and Otto Jolias Steiner (tourism product developer and owner of the consulting firm Steiner Sarnen Switzerland) were also elected as new board members at the general meeting.

The management of the Grand Tour of Switzerland Association will remain with Switzerland Tourism and in the hands of Maria Sägesser.

The Grand Tour of Switzerland Association is supported by the RDK and Switzerland Tourism. Its purpose is to pool interests, maintain the route and secure the financial resources to ensure that the vacation route can be maintained and marketed.