2023-12-07 05:40:00
A little over a year following the purchase of the Uranian ski resort of Andermatt by the American group Vail Resorts, 7:30 p.m. visited the site to draw up the economic assessment of this operation.
Last week, the largest operator and owner of ski areas in the world announced that it was purchasing the Crans-Montana area.
>> Reread: The American group Vail Resorts buys the Crans-Montana ski area
If the Swiss flag still flies over the Andermatt ski area, behind the scenes the Americans are now at work. And they think big!
A year following purchasing these highly loss-making ski lifts, the giant Vail Resorts has already invested 12 million francs in them.
“We were able to buy two new snow plows. Without the takeover by the Americans, we would not have been able to make these investments”, indicates Ignaz Zopp, director of the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski lifts, in the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Numerous projects and investments
For the head of the ski lifts, from the area, American Santa Claus has been there. He shows off the brand new snow cannons. These are “the latest models”, he rejoices.
And that’s just the beginning. One hundred and ten million francs of total investments are planned, with an avalanche of projects over the coming years: new chairlifts, new restaurants, etc.
For the facilities director, the Americans take things seriously.
“With them, we adjust investments as closely as possible. We look at what the added value is for customers and the ski area. We don’t rush,” explains Ignaz Zopp.
New customers and skills
In one year, the station became more professional and gained a new American clientele. A step forward also made possible by the integration of Andermatt into the Epic Pass. This is a membership that provides access to 41 Vail Resorts resorts, from the United States to Australia.
Americans don’t just bring money and customers to Andermatt. They also bring all kinds of skills, like the ski school and sports store owned by the new owner of the area.
Although the new American clientele delights the village’s merchants, it also worries them regarding the potential competition it represents.
“Vail Resorts has its own sports store and naturally, we feel it too. It would be a lie to say otherwise. Ultimately, I believe that a destination works thanks to the diversity of businesses, outside of a ‘resort’ company “, opines Ursina Portmann, director of Meyer’s Sporthaus SA in Andermatt.
When contacted, Vail Resorts said it shared this opinion.
In Andermatt, the main objective of the American company is to find the black numbers as quickly as possible.
TV subject: Julien Guillaume
Adaptation web: juma
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