2023-10-04 13:28:46
An episode of the CMA sale soap opera: In Crans-Montana, the Belgian flag should not fly over the station
“We do not comment or speculate on future opportunities”
Vail Resorts is not unknown in Switzerland. In 2022, the American ski giant became the majority shareholder of the company Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG, which operates the ski lifts of the resort straddling the cantons of Uri and Graubünden. First foothold on the Old Continent, which will lead to other investments, particularly in Crans-Montana? While she thanks us for the interest in the company, Vail Resorts tells us that “we do not comment or speculate on future opportunities.” But he added all the same: “We will be happy to keep you informed of the company’s announcements if you are interested.” Affirmative answer.
Will these announcements from Vail Resorts have a link with Valais and Crans-Montana? According to our information, this would indeed be the case and they might intervene in the coming days. But the sale of the ski lifts would be conditional on a second agreement which concerns the car parks located at the bottom of the slopes. Vail Resorts does not seem interested in these dilapidated parking lots – or even, for one of them, unusable – in the heart of the resort, and it would be up to the municipalities to buy them. If this second sale does not take place, it might call into question that of the ski lifts.
Eyes on 2027
Everything is not yet done regarding the sale of CMA. And let’s not forget that the last word will go to Czech billionaire Radovan Vitek, who has surprised his world more than once with his brilliance. We remember in particular that in April 2018, in the midst of the Easter holiday boom and while the resort was full of tourists, he ordered the closure of the ski area due to a financial conflict with the three municipalities of Crans- Montana, Icogne and Lens.
On the Haut-Plateau, all eyes are on 2027 and the organization of the World Ski Championships. There is no doubt that many of the resort’s stakeholders hope that the ski lift drama will come to an end quickly, in order to organize and host this global event as calmly as possible.
Our portrait of Radovan Vitek, published in 2019: Radovan Vitek, the Czech billionaire and white gold
1696430208
#CransMontana #ski #lifts #American #hands
