The beginning of the construction for the rebuilt of hotel Spitzhorn has started. After some delay due to objections concerning noise emissions of the hotel terrace, the “Basler Insurance” owner of the hotel Spitzhorn has received the permission to build by March 20 2012. A 3-star superior hotel will be built with 50 double and family rooms, in total 120 beds. Furthermore a fitness and wellness area with swimming pool, conference rooms, as well as a gourmet restaurant with lobby and bar and a garden terrace, are planned. The aim is to have a hotel for families and seniors, which is also suitable for conferences and offers guests good value for money.

In addition to the new hotel resort, the new buildings will consist of 17 residential apartments. The apartments will be ready in summer 2014 and will comprise of 2 - 5.5 rooms and include hotel service as well as hotel management if required. The current tenants Dolly and Martin Riedi who have managed the hotel Spitzhorn for many years with success, decided to take over the hotel Alpin Nova in Schönried and re-open it as “Ristorante Pizzeria La Vinoteca”. A new tenant is needed for the hotel Spitzhorn of which the proceedings are already in progress.

By Peter Sonnekus-Williams

On March 11, Swiss voters decided to restrict, on a national basis, the construction of holiday homes to 20 per cent of residential areas and of the total surface area within each commune. A people's initiative, titled "End the unlimited construction of secondary residences," was launched by Helvetia Nostra, a foundation created by Franz Weber. Weber, an environmentalist and his supporters made the following points from which the initiative is based: A square meter of land in Switzerland is lost to construction every second. At present 8,000 secondary residences either houses or apartments are built in Switzerland yearly. Not only is open space disappearing, many of the constructed houses and apartments are empty 300 days of the year. The nationwide vote resulted in a 50.6% agreement with the initiative. The result in Canton Bern was 54.9% in favour of the initiative however 82.8% of the public within the community of Saanen voted against the initiative. In the community of Saanen where holiday homes represent 49% of all dwellings at present, the idea of a dramatic shift away from the economic reliance on construction and second home related economic activity certainly brought the community together in terms of a common point of view regarding the initiative. In practical terms this vote results in a moratorium on all new secondary home construction in Switzerland. How secondary homes will be defined and controlled and when this restriction gets implemented still remains to be seen. A conference including Cantons, parties, Swiss unions and organizations took place on 18th June with the aim of finding solutions for the still open questions and defenitions. It is proposed that all questions and definitions are to be resolved by the end of the summer holidays. Aldo Kropf council leader of Gstaad has requested from the federation that they clarify and define what "cold beds" are. These "cold beds" have been one of the main arguments of the initiators however they also state that vacation homes which are in commercial use shall not be affected. They suggest that communities with a number reflecting more than 20 percent secondary homes shall accept only those building requests which will provide "warm beds". They define secondary homes as not being in use as domicile In the community of Saanen a group has been founded who oppose this new law and wish to fight for the protection of private residential property development, ownership and the continuum of related places of work in mountain regions. Hanspeter Spychiger, president of "Gewerbeverein Saanenland" confirms that the union already comprises of more than 600 members. His main fear is that within two years the region will feel the economic and social consequences of the law and he estimates that a third of the current work and job market will be lost. Spychiger says that the targetted "cold beds" generate a considerable amount of money. ‘Further when the secondary residence owners are in the region they use local infrastructures extensively by supporting local restaurants, stores and businesses. Further many of them financially support local sporting and cultural activities. The new initative will not only result in jobs lost but also a decrease in tax incomes for the community. ‘It's doubtful if expensive infrastructures like the "Bergbahnen" will have enough finances to be continued’ - he says. The new law generates many questions. The definition of "secondary residence" is still open and a particularly sensitive point relates to whether or not construction applications can be accorded until the end of this year. As per an intergovernmental conference of the "mountain Cantons", who have accepted that construction applications can still be accorded until the end of 2012, Senior civil servant Christoph Neuhaus says that the 20 percent law will come into force only in January 2013. In essence this means that buildings which were acquired or built before 11th March 2012 still fall under the rules of the old law. Furthermore the community of Saanen points out that building applications which were pending during the acceptance of the new law will be treated according to the old law. A different opinion is held by the organization, the "Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung - ARE " who has published a press release based on the outcome of investigations done by a federal work group who is responsible for the clarification of open questions regarding the initiative. ‘ARE’ say this constitution regulation shall be in force from 11th March 2012. Their suggestion, therefore is to suspend the building applications which are in question until the question of law is clarified. If the decision should be that the initiative comes into force from 11th March 2012, then "ARE" can't tell what judicially is going to happen with the building applications submitted after that date. For the communities in Canton Bern this suggestion remains just that, a suggestion and the final decision relating to the acceptance of building applications, or not, until end 2012 stays with the local building authorities. It has been confirmed however by ‘ARE’ that it seems likely that existing main residences can continue to be rented or bequeathed as secondary residences. This defining topic for the Saanenland, has taken up much debate and speculation over the past months, shortly there will be clearer definitions and this will more than likely lead to further debate and more negotiation. According to the huge difference between the national and local vote however it is clear that the Saanenland has a particularly unique case and deep investigation into this matter and how to resolve it is required.

The abolishment of the flat rate taxes or it’s tightening in combination with the secondary residence initiative, is “a death blow in instalments” for the mountain regions – summerizes Hans Wanzenried, president of “IG Arbeitsplätze im Berggebiet“  Therefore he wants to fight for two no’s regarding the two initiatives and for the counter proposal. ‘We have to inform and demonstrate what the consequences are for our Canton and particularly for the mountain regions’, he says.

It is planned that a vote regarding an amendment to the laws of flat tax will take place on September 23 2012. If the initiative is approved only foreigners who have a taxable income lower than SFr 400’000, will be able to take advantage of the flat tax option.

This lower limit is unacceptable for “IG Arbeitsplätze im Berggebiet“ who are for a flat rate taxation in its present form. This new proposal is equal to an abolishment, says IG president Hans Wanzenried. We assume that from those 200 concerned people in the Canton Bern only 55 will still be flat taxed. The rest of them will be taxed ordinarily. Around 40% of the concerned people in the municipality of Saanen will not be affected as their income is around the new proposed limit of SFr 400’000.

 But the remaining Oberland would loose its affected people. And moving away wouldn’t be a problem for them – points out Aldo Kropf, council president of Saanen. The Zurich example shows how easily people change their domiciles. Approximatly 50% of the concerned people left Zurich and other Cantons welcome them with joy. The Canton Bern would only be collecting the simple official property tax for those who keep their houses and apartments in Bern.

 The tax revenues however remained the same in Zurich after the abolishment of the flat tax and the moving away of the concerned people. But Berner Oberland and Zurich are not comparable – says Aldo Kropf. Zurich is a metropolitan economic area. If attractive properties around the “Goldküste” are available, it does not take long until a CEO or a banker will take it over. This way missing taxes can be compensated. Such people will not come to peripheral regions; they will need to stay close to metropolitan areas. Hence we cannot replace the flat tax population this easily.

 IG’s priority in this battle for the flat taxes is the preservation of jobs– says Hans Wanzenried. According to a survey done by Credit Suisse, the building industry will lose 30 percent of its jobs due to the secondary residence initiative. Accumulated with the abolishment of the flat tax this number would increase to 50 percent.

 Not only in Saanenland are jobs in danger but companies in the whole Canton of Bern. Half of the sales we generate locally, result in companies of the “Bernerunterland” – says Wanzenried. The fact that a trade unionist as Corrado Pardini gambles with places of work is inapprehensible – says Aldo Kropf.

 They wish to target rich people but they strike the weakest – he points out. Especially jobholders from European countries, which are affected by financial crisis like Spain, Portugal and Italy are going to suffer from that new law. In their country of origin they currently do not have any chance of finding a job. With their loss of places of work, the Canton will also loose a lot of its tax income and social contributions.

 The whole Canton benefits from a booming economy in Saanenland – says Kropf. He cannot understand why one should gamble with this with the current tense economical and financial situation. Saanen pays a lot into the finance and equalisation of burdens, which finances a large part of the Oberland communities.

 An average taxpayer in Canton Bern pays SFr 4’500 a year, a flat tax payer SFr115’000. The initiative to reconsider is supported by the same circle as the secondary residence initiative – but obviously the two initiatives contravene each other. People who benefit from flat taxes live in primary residences and this percentage we are trying to increase – Kropf confirms. Again there will be voting without being conscious about the consequences. And afterwards, like with the secondary residence initiative, many questions will occur. 

HSBC private bank has had a presence in Gstaad for the past eight years, mainly through their sponsoring at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad. In mid 2010 HSBC private bank opened a branch in Gstaad in order to strengthen their presence in the Swiss market. A change of strategy has now led to the closure of this very branch only one and a half years later. Their spokesman points out that the closure has nothing to do with the location of the finance centre, rather that with the international adjustments. With the undertaken measures HSBC private bank tries to reduce their costs. 

Important milestones on the way to create new housing for elderly people in Saanen took place recently. The demolition of the Thomet-house started and the official groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new eldercare center in Saanen also took place. President of the Alterszentrum Saanen AG, Bethli Küng, thanked all those involved in the actualization of the project so far. Specific mention was to the team at Heinz Fahrni Architects for their constructive and pleasant cooperation, the friends of the Hospital Saanen, Markus Iseli for his efficient management of the Alterszentrum Saanen AG, the public who voted for the construction of the project and last but not least Georges Pereira for the generous financial support. Now Bethli Küng is next looking forward to the inauguration ceremony and hopes that the planned opening date for the end of 2013 will be achieved.

 
During our down season time about 60 people gathered in the auditorium in the school building Feutersoey to discuss the demolition of the existing gymnasium in Gsteig. The present building is in poor condition and is to be demolished and replaced by a new multi-purpose hall to the east wing of the school. “The school itself has to comply with regulations regarding earthquake, security and safety and is not likely to be upgraded," said Ueli Perreten-Kihm, who addressed those present. For the time being there are only rough plans. A further question is whether an architectural competition is to be announced. If credit is granted, design plans will be submitted to the Municipal assembly in December. If everything goes according to plan, the multi-purpose hall will be completed in 2015.