GstaadLife

So many different perspectives can be found from a stroll onto one of the Saanenland mountains. This picture was taken recently by photographer Raphael Faux who captured, on film, the prevailing warm weather conditions. It was also interesting to see the Grand Hotel Park, Gstaad Palace and,The Alpina Gstaad all in once frame.

Editor.

Local organic dairy farmer and manager of the Wasserngrat chairlift, Erich von Siebenthal, 52, was re-elected to the National Assembly during the elections of October 23, 2011. He has served on the assembly since 2007. The Saanenland-born Bissen resident’s life in politics began when he joined the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) in 1978, ran for political office in 1994, and was first elected in 2002 to the cantonal parliament of Canton Berne.  Congratulations Erich!

Editor 

Ice skating icon, Georgette Bühlmann has just turned 81 years old. Georgette put on her first ice skates at 7 years of age.  She is not afraid of old age. Whether pirouetting on the ice, holding seminars between Courchevel, Villars and Cortina d’Ampezzo, teaching both the French and Italian teams and their coaches, her esteemed influence continues. Georgette regularly flies to Denmark and the Netherlands teaching skaters how to do the best spins in the world. Among her pupils are Caroline Kostner, Valentina Marchei and Paolo Bacchini. She has even taught the famous Bridgette Bardot how to pirouette on ice. Georgette recalls Bardot as a student who was very disciplined.

Georgette says, “The muscles are like the brain, with a good diet and aerobic exercise, they will at least age slower. I do not feel much different from when I was 60 years of age. I never say, ‘I have a certain age and certain things I cannot do.’ In my case I just slow down a little bit.” 

Georgette refers to herself as an observer of human nature. She is a Swiss German, speaks many languages, including Croatian, Serb and Russian. She married at age 41. “It took me some time to make up my mind, I’ve always been an independent spirit of a rebellious nature. I changed my mind when I met my husband, then officer in the Swiss Army, who was ten years younger than me.” Georgette lives in Allaman, along Lake Geneva. Her professional career began at the Lausanne Ecole Hoteliere. Georgette became a Swiss multiple crown champion silver medalist and competed at international championships all over the world. She invented a pirouette that carries her name. She explains the spin as a harness of the indisputable principle of aerodynamics, shortening the radius to increase the speed. “The spins are endless. I always invent a new one,” she says. With only a single incident in 60 years, a bad crash caused damage to the ligaments in her knee. None of this interrupted the training of the national team. 

She has flair for recognizing young talent and one of her pupils is in the Guinness Book of World Records.  Georgette’s magic formula is ten minutes of Pilates a day, a twice-a-week visit to the gym, and she follows a diet low in protein. “What does it take to succeed in life,” she is asked, “Discipline and always having objectives,” she replies.

by Januaria Piromallo

In 2002, the municipal assembly voted to purchase the Bircher House in the historic village of Saanen. Initially, the building was to be demolished in connection with the village development plans, specifically with the Sanona project. But according to the ISOS (Federal Inventory of Protected Local Scenes in Switzerland), it must remain. In 2010, the municipal council began a design competition. On April 5, 2011, the council made a fundamental decision: Bircher House will be a rebuild, reusing some of the meaningful old parts, and taking into account financial aspects. The building typology is to be preserved to a great extent. The preliminary project is now complete and the next steps were to have taken place in fall 2011. Funding for the project is to be approved at a December 'Gemeinde meeting'. Construction could begin as early as 2012 and end by 2012/13.

Editor

The Saanen train station is to be reconstructed. Due to longer train compositions, the platform length must be expanded to 225 meters and the longest track to 512 meters, according to Eric Trachsel, council member. He is of the opinion that the conditions for embarking and disembarking are precarious for passengers. In the future, the station will offer more comfort for guests. As in Gstaad, there will be three platforms, a pedestrian underpass and a lift. Moreover, an adaptation of the station building itself is foreseen. In order to avoid affecting traffic from the village to Rübeldorf, the construction will be performed from the east. The project will go into planning in 2011/12, and the execution will occur in 2013/14. However, the 'Gemeinde' does not have influence here, as the railroad holds the rights and Golden Pass Services is responsible for the construction and decides how the station is to be transformed. The 'Gemeinde' hopes that the station can be rebuilt during the scheduled time.

Editor

In order to ensure the future of the drinking water supply in the municipality of Saanen during peak times, additional water sources are needed. This is based on known consumption values and on predictions for population grown in the foreseeable future. In addition, an outdated source water intake must be replaced, and a water pipeline must be created. Currently, Saanen’s groundwater comes from Lauenen. In case of a serious landslide or other event, the water supply from there would no longer be guaranteed. The area to the east of the airport Saanen has, after extensive geological research, been identified as the only appropriate and productive intake location. After the completion of the privatization process of the Saanen airfield, the detailed planning could begin. The drinking water supply will be realized without interfering with flight operations.Funding credit was approved at the 'Gemeinde' meeting in June 2010. The planning application was to have been submitted in September 2011, and the building permit will be expected by the start of 2012. The design of the groundwater well should begin in 2012. The water lines should be done by winter 2013, when operations should begin.

Editor / Picture: matthmatsen / photocase.com

After the July 9, 2010 storm in the Chalberhöni, a weir (a small overflow dam) must now be built. Next to the wood collection facility on the road direction Chalberhöni, a weir with a maximum width of 50 meters will be built, according to Trachsel. The weir will be able to hold back 10,000 cubic meters of sediment. The building permit was expected in autumn 2011. After further efforts to model sediment levels, the weir is to be built during the autumn and winter months from 2011 to 2013. The hydraulic engineering measures and the bridge and road constructions will be carried out between 2013 and 2014.

Editor

A constitutional initiative calling for the introduction of a federal estate and gift tax is of concern to affluent Swiss residents and property owners. Although the new tax could be introduced in 2016, it would apply retroactively to any gifts, or estate planning measures undertaken as of 1st January 2012, making it difficult to plan today around taxes which, if at all, become law in 2016.

What is the Background and Content of this Proposal ?

In August 2011, a popular initiative requesting the introduction of a federal estate and gift tax was launched with the support of some political parties and labour unions. According to this proposal, gifts and estates would be subject to a new flat 20% tax if the donor or the deceased resided in Switzerland, or if probate proceedings are commenced in Switzerland.   Gifts or bequests of Swiss Real Estate would always be subject to this tax irrespective of the residence of the donor or the deceased.

What are the major changes?

Currently gift and inheritance taxes are based on cantonal legislation varying significantly from Canton to Canton.  Most Cantons exempt dispositions in favour of a spouse or direct descendants. In future, only dispositions in favour of a spouse or registered partner would be tax exempt. 

If accepted the tax becomes effective retroactive to 1st January 2012. To calculate the new tax, assets owned at death as well as any gifts or assets settled into trusts, foundations and insurance policies as of January 2012 are considered.

Exemptions:
· One-time exemption of CHF 2’000’000 per estate including taxable lifetime gifts;
· Gifts and bequests between spouses and registered partners;
· Gifts and bequests to tax exempt legal entities (e.g. charitable foundations);
· Gifts of up to CHF 20,000 annually per recipient.

Exemptions will be adjusted periodically to the cost of living index. Special exemptions and tax reductions will apply for farms and enterprises which continue to be operated for at least ten years by the recipients, in a way that doesn’t downsize operations or trigger job losses.  The new rules will also apply to residents taxed on a lump-sum agreement. The new federal estate and gift tax will replace the current equivalent taxes which are levied at the Cantonal level. The taxes will continue to be assessed and collected by the Cantonal authorities. Two thirds of the estate/gift tax receipts are to be used to fund the Federal Old Age and Survivors’ Pension System. The remaining third will be stay with the Cantons. 

Timing and Constitutional points to consider:

The initiative requires the support of 100,000 Swiss citizens in order to be put to a national referendum – a requirement likely to be fulfilled as the signatures have to be collected by 16 February 2013.  To succeed, the referendum requires a “double majority” meaning approval by popular vote and by a majority of the voters in a majority of the Cantons.   If approved, the new rules could become law in 2016, albeit retrospectively with respect to estate planning measures taken as of 2012. 

Does this Constitutional Initiative have any chance of Succeeding?

It is impossible to predict the outcome of this initiative.  However, currently public finances, in particular the future financing of old age pensions, are of great concern. Additional funding will be required in view of changing Swiss demographics.  Most voters are affected by the looming pension funding crisis. Considering the tax exemptions (currently 2’000’000 per estate and spousal exemption which equates to 4’000’000 per couple) the proposed tax will not take money out of the pockets of most voters and their heirs.  If gaps in pension funding can be filled by taxes levied on a small, affluent minority, by vote of a majority who would not pay going forward, but rather will benefit financially from their supporting this proposal, it is highly conceivable that this referendum will win the required political support. 

What can those who may be affected do today?

It might well be that action needs to be taken before the end of this year - 2011.  Tax free gifts to direct descendants are still possible in most Cantons this year.  If advisable, a life-interest in real estate or certain movable assets can be retained. Conditional or revocable gifts may be advisable to legally avoid tax issues which could arise in other jurisdictions. A trust settlement made in 2011 may also be a solution.   Persons concerned by the proposal should rapidly and thoroughly analyse their situation and consider implementing tax optimisation measures this year.

Source: Hélène Koller, Wealth Planning Consultant at Coutts & Co, Zurich in collaboration with David Woolley, Senior Client Partner.

In counting some blessings I recognize that I have been fortunate enough to have traveled a lot of the world as well as having had the benefit of living in both the developing and developed world. Such experience, in some cases, provides me with useful insight, whereby I recognize particularly precious occasions that exist in the daily fabric in Gstaad that are long gone in other parts of the world, and even in some cases, never to have arrived.

Our Cine Theatre Gstaad provides such precious experience. So many times have I admired the cinematic tradition that is honored by this establishment. The small and personal size of the theatre, the one person ticket office, the Saanen Molkerei ice cream on sale at intermission, the human consumption size pop-corn packets and 2 dl traditional coca- cola bottles, the coat rack in the foyer, the curtain between the theatre and the foyer, the small bins inside the theatre which rely upon each person to dispose of ones wrappers at the end of the show, the intermission itself and finally the chimes that signal the start of the show. In comparison an inner city cinema in most parts of the world delivers a dulling experience. 

Typically formatted as a cinema block within a faceless mall which has up to 15 movies showing at one time on arrival one follows the digital guides to a rack of ticket sellers, followed by a further channeling through to the sweets and goodies counter which has on offer gargantuan boxes of popcorn together with buckets of Malteesers, sold to you up front as there is no intermission. 

Depending on where you are in the world, ladies should hold tight to their handbags as hardened thieves work the aisles during the darkness, liberating from one row behind, handbags placed on the floor. Having knee’s in ones back through the seat or having eating machines resident on either side of you is not uncommon and when the lights come up at the end of the show, the amount of spilt food and rubbish lying around the seats of your fellow cinema goers is astonishing. Overall one cannot find parallel between a standard inner city cinematic experience and what is experienced at Cine theatre Gstaad, other than the movie itself.

In Switzerland it is not only Gstaad that has nurtured this precious cinema experience, Scala in Schaffhausen, Film podium in Zurich, Capitole in Lausanne and the Splendid Palace in Bern deliver as equally a charming experience, Great cinema is not only the movie itself, it is the entire cinema repertoire that makes the occasion. 

We are fortunate to have an authentic cinema here in Gstaad and as a start to a winter season of outdoor activities, fine culinary experiences and social cheer, I feel compelled to add to this list - a season of fine cinema.

By Peter Sonnekus-Williams

The curiosity  associated with the considered unveiling of the latest 5 star hotel in Gstaad in 100 years, The Alpina Gstaad, has captured the imagination of many of us resident here in the Saanenland. From the early plans which we were all privy to, through the large scale construction phase to the eventual roof wetting. The project has been a part of all of our lives for some time now and as it takes its rightful place as a part of our social, business and geographic landscape, it is good to begin to put some names and personalities together with it. The owners of the development Marcel Bach and Jean-Claude ­Mimran whose vision it is to actualise the authentic luxurious alpine boutique hotel and residence have left nothing to chance in terms of who they have placed in charge of the management of the hotel. First and foremost, Onno Poortier from Rembrandt Management Services GmbH has been appointed in the key position as owner’s representative and advisor. Educated and trained in Switzerland Mr Poortier brings over four decades of development, marketing and operational experience to the Alpina Gstaad. His extensive experience includes luxurious international hotel brands such as The Peninsula Group where he was President for 9 years.  Mr Poortier’s task list is long and involved however what excites him most about the project is the vision itself. ‘To be a part of what really is the latest 5 star establishment in Gstaad in 100 years is fabulous. To capture high quality, high design and warm genuine service in a unique Gstaad way is our goal. The Alpina Gstaad will certainly be unique in many ways, it is a great honour to be a part of this project’, says Mr Poortier.

It was Mr Poortier who recommended the appointment of Bernese native, Niklaus Leuenberger, the Alpina Gstaad’s Managing Director. Mr Leuenberger comes with over three decades of top draw hotel management experience gained in Asia, the Middle East and the USA. His experience has him understanding the discerning needs of luxury hotel guests and the challenges of working with diverse cultures. ’It is personally very exciting for me to return to Gstaad since it was a luxury hotel experience right here, 40 years ago, that decided my career choice to be a hotelier and life has now taken me full circle’, says Mr Leuenberger. The new Managing Directors extensive experience comes across in his view on the staff appointments he will be making. ‘The attitude that the hotel portrays is a big part of my job. People who are happy with what they are doing and identifying themselves with the product,  do a good job and authentic hospitality is never forgotten’, says Mr Leuenberger. ‘When all is said and done, The Alpina Gstaad would only be a great building if it didn’t have the right people with the right attitude. However it is this passion, the approach and spirit that has the potential to transform the hotel into a legendary experience, which is our aim’.  

Asking Mr Leuenberger about the exclusivity of the hotel and whether local people will feel welcome, he explains, ‘The Alpina Gstaad is a member of the Gstaad community. The hotel‘s  developers, builders and craftsmen all come from this region working hand in hand with designers from Europe and Asia under the lead architects Jaggi & Partner. We want to be a hotel for all our guests – international and regional - attracting both locals and visitors whether it be for a celebration of an anniversary, or just a good meal out of home, The Alpina Gstaad will be as welcoming to our local guests as to our out of town visitors’. 

Commenting on the unique aspects of the new hotel, Mr Leuenberger says, ‘Gstaad has gained recognition as a world renowned mountain resort with alpine authenticity as its trademark. A genuine Alpine lifestyle still prevails in the destination and The Alpina Gstaad takes great pride in respecting and nurturing these traditions whilst providing an indulgent Swiss mountain experience for our guests.  Unique views of the surrounding Saanenland Alps will be seen from the balconies of our 57 rooms and suites as from the bar lounge and three restaurants, the wine tasting room, cigar room,  ballroom and boardroom. Whilst a uniquely designed entry and covered driveway on the side of the hill, the hotel atop will welcome guests, ensure protection from the weather and keep an ambiance of peace and serenity within the grounds of the hotel’. 

Mr Poortier and Mr Leuenberger will be very busy in the coming year readying The Alpina Gstaad which will open in December 2012. With a SFr 300m investment firmly in their hands, they certainly have their task cut out for them. With their clear strategy and the extensive experience that they bring to the project, it could well be said that, ‘all is going to plan.’

By Peter Sonnekus-Williams