City Council President Aldo Kropf and Roland Zegg of the consulting firm Grischconsultaannounced good news at the informational session. “Winter 2014/2015 is secured for BDG,” stated Aldo Kropf. 

But after this winter, the attack plan for rendering operations economically viable is still unclear. At the assembly in November, the proposed plan to secure a permanent solution for BDG was not approved and the voters officially sent the measure back to the City Council. Now, the Council will have to create yet another plan for restructuring and rehabilitation.

 

Transitional Plan in Place Now

A transitional plan with loan consideration was accepted, and will remain in place through the Winter 2015/16 season. The public expressed concern over several areas of the transitional plan. Namely, the CHF 12.9 m credit necessary for continued renovation was deemed unusually elevated. The temporary solution also raises taxes from 1.3 to 1.4 points, which is not popular among voters.

Stating the importance of keeping the installations running this winter, Christian Hoefliger, President of the Hotel Association Gstaad-Saanen made clear that the Hotel Association "does not always agree with the work of BDG.” Yet, it didn't stop the association from agreeing with the transitional plan and loan application, to make certain operations continued without suspension of any lifts or cable cars. 

Calming stakeholders and bringing a bit of peace to the inflamed discussions was stressed by Emanuel Raaflaub, Municipal Council and BDG Chairman. He refuted the allegations that funds of uncommon largesse were earmarked for operations rather than investments.

That said, criticism was harsh for Dr Roland Zegg, who remains on the Board of Directors, and whose company, Grischconsulta, remains the primary consultancy for BDG’s rehabilitation project. A citizen had demanded to know how much Grischconsulta was paid for their work, yet after three requests the information still had not been made public.  

Ernst B. Frautschi of the Spitzhorn association criticised BDG in the discussion, claiming that concerns voiced by the project’s former consulting firm, Trimea AG were not being heard. 

“For nine months we have made several attempts to show that without painful, self-supported, internal measures, BDG is in danger of bankruptcy,” Frautschi quoted from Trimea’s resignation letter, dated September 2013. He added, “It is now important to accelerate the rehabilitation process, instead of artificially prolonging it.”

Projects for both sectors of BDG had been discussed for the strategic plan, and although the final decision remains up in the air, here are summaries of some of the most likely renovations to be made.

 

East Sector Projects

Expansion in Zweisimmen is a crucial point, as 36% of all guests were day visitors (the day passes are the most expensive on offer). This could be achieved by expanding parking facilities and tightening management, they believe. Ernst Hodel, City Council President of Zweisimmen was in agreement with the BDG’s strategic proposal in this regard, which does ask the town to make certain concessions.  

An eight-person gondola could replace the Lengebrand shuttle, and the slopes at Chaltebrunnetal-Parwengsattel-Lengebrand and guarantee artificial snow cover.

But at the heart of this plan is the replacement of the Saanerslochgratbahn, including the base terminal and central station. Although the central station is expensive to operate, the BDG says it is imperative to maintain the viability of local ski schools, which could bring possible future guests to the area.  

Replacement of the Berghaus Saanerslochgrat by an authentic mountain restaurant is also on the list of five key projects BDG hoped to develop in the next five years. In total, these projects would amount to a cost of CHF 64 m. Yet one project would bring in a significant operational savings – the closure of the Gstaad-Eggli gondola and the Wispile.

 

West Sector Projects

Investments in the West sector (Gstaad to Rougemont) were organised into four projects. Highlights included guaranteed artificial snow cover on the front slope of Eggli-Chalberhöni. This would ensure that the connection between Eggli and La Videmanette remains attractive. In Saanen (Rübeldorf) a winter sports centre would be built, which means the ski school for nordic and alpine training and racing, events, and night skiing would be concentrated in one location. As such, the ski school would be moved from Wispile to Saanen.

An additional investment of CHF 5 to 7 m would be necessary if a new restaurant were to be built on the future path at the Eggli, and since La Videmanette is not a core area of BDG, any surplus or shortfall would be settled directly with the community of Rougemont.

BDG management had been confident the total financing of CHF 81 m would be reached in the next five years from repositioning capital, donations, help from SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs), banks, and by the cantons of Bern and Vaud. But now, with another rejection by the voters, an alternative plan with a new budget will have to be developed and approved by the City Council, before it goes yet again to the voters.

It looks like this year, snow isn’t the only thing that’s late in coming, as voters will continue to wait patiently for another strategic plan approved by the City Council sometime in 2015.