Skiareatest has honoured Heinz Brand, president of Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG (BDG), for his lifetime achievement. Klaus Hönigsberger, head of the Skiareatest awards, points out Brand’s outstanding services to the development of the cable cars in the region.

An international jury decided to honour Heinz Brand for his lifetime achievement. The visibly moved hounouree dedicated the award to the entire BDG: “The award I have received today does not belong to me alone. It belongs to all BDG employees!”

With heart and soul
In his laudatory speech, Klaus Hönigsberger emphasised that Brand had not only been committed to the cable car company, but had also previously shown pioneering commitment to the tourist destination of Gstaad-Saanenland as an entrepreneur and local politician. Starting as an entrepreneur who had already opened his own business in Gstaad at the age of 19, Brand served on numerous boards and, not least as a local politician, helped shape the development of the Saanenland before he was elected president of BDG six years ago. Since then, he played a decisive role in determining the fate of the cable car company.

“Heinz Brand is a cable car operator with heart and soul,” says Hönigsberger. He is a man of balance. One who always tries to bring together people with the most diverse characters in order to bring their interests and ideas to a common denominator. The almost unprecedented development that the destination of Gstaad-Saanenland has undergone in recent years has spread throughout the international cable car industry, Hönigsberger stresses.

Prize is satisfaction
“I am very touched, thank you very much!” said Brand when he accepted the crystal globe for his lifetime achievement. But what does the award mean to him personally? “I take great pleasure in this honour. It is a great appreciation for various tasks and the work that I was allowed to do for the public.”

BASED ON AVS/KEREM S MAURER