Gstaad Mountain Rides invests SFr 25 million

This week Gstaad Mountain Rides (BDG), the local ski lift operator, presented its plans for the immediate future. While their SFr 164 million investment plan remains in the negotiation phase, the operators expect to invest SFr 25 m this summer (for more GstaadLife.com articles on the subject, click here). After receiving a lot of bad press last winter, the Chaltebrunne-Parwenge/Saanersloch chairlift will be replaced. Construction of the new SFr 13 m four-person chairlift is to begin in August, and should be completed in time for the winter season. The second major project is a new artificial snow system between Chübeli, Büetli and Rinderberg. Depending on negotiations with the local communes, the SFr 7.5 m project will be either partially or fully completed this summer.

Above: Barbara Rubin, responsible for ticketing services at Gstaad-Saanenland Tourism, shows off the new range of ski-passes

As well as these major projects, BDG has also announced some smaller changes. The company has started to phase in a new ticketing system, replacing the 1994 SkiData machines. It is already in operation on Glacier3000 and on the Rellerli. GMR is also revising the ski-bus service. Next winter the new timetable will connect the hotels to the slopes. Finally, following the success of the White-Bull train last winter, the service will be extended to either Bern or Solothurn.