Otscherlifte & Hochkar Bergbahnen Merge

Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Tourism Provincial Councilor Jochen Danninger were able to announce an agreement with Markus Schröcksnadel today on the two ski areas Hochkar and Ötscher, which the state of Lower Austria has been using for several years via ecoplus Alpin (40 percent each) and the Schröcksnadel Group (60 percent each) lead together. The state of Lower Austria will take over the shares of the Schröcksnadel Group after the approval of the respective bodies responsible for the shareholders and merge the two ski areas. The synergies achieved through the merger of the mountain railways on Ötscher and Hochkar should enable the state of Lower Austria and ecoplus Alpin to operate the ski area in Lackenhof for two more business years. This would save the region time to develop and implement new concepts for tourism in Lackenhof. The state of Lower Austria and the Schröcksnadel Group have agreed that - as soon as the weather permits - snow-making in Lackenhof will start and the lifts will be put into operation. All tickets that have already been purchased remain valid.

“The last few days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for the region, but also for the country. With this decision, today is a great day of joy that the lifts in Lackenhof will continue to operate. But it is also clear that from tomorrow we will have to work on a sustainable future for Lackenhof in order to ensure a revitalization of tourism in the region, ”emphasized Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and thanked the Schröcksnadel Group and the responsible Provincial Councilor Jochen Danninger, who have jointly achieved a good solution for Lackenhof and winter sports in Lower Austria.

For the governor, it is clear that Lackenhof am Ötscher is a traditional tourist destination, but that alone is not enough to run a ski area. “The fact is that the number of guests has fallen sharply in recent years. Due to the poor results of the last few seasons and the prospect of an economically difficult coming winter season, the end of the Ötscher lifts was understandable. But since this decision something has started to move: We have been in constant conversation with the Schröcksnadel family over the past few days. And in the process, they have grown to understand the great emotions that Lower Austrians have with the Ötscher ski area. Peter and Markus Schröcksnadel have therefore paved the way for a solution, which would have been unthinkable a few days ago. They have agreed to sell their shares in Lower Austria's flagship ski area, the Hochkar, to the State of Lower Austria. This means that we can now merge the lift operations on Hochkar and Ötscher in one company. With this solution we will enable our compatriots to ski in Lackenhof this year and next year and give the region time to tackle the long-term challenges. "

Peter Schröcksnadel explains the history of the commitment on the Ötscher: “We have managed the ski area in Lackenhof am Ötscher for over 20 years and have invested 15 million in the lifts during this time. We continued to operate the Ötscher lifts for years, even with increasing losses, because, in the interests of skiing and the region, we simply didn't want to give up the mountain. We are pleased with the plans that the state of Lower Austria is now tackling in precisely this spirit and have therefore gladly approved this solution. "

Markus Schröcksnadel for the Schröcksnadel Group underlined: “The great emotions associated with the Ötscher lifts and the Hochkar in Lower Austria have encouraged us to enable a Lower Austrian solution for the two ski areas. The transfer of the Ötscher lifts and the prospect of an economic merger with the successful Hochkar enable the state to take these important steps for skiing and the entire region ”.

Tourism Councilor Jochen Danninger is delighted: “I promised: The state will not let Lackenhof down. The last few days have been characterized by intensive negotiations. This commitment has more than paid off for the region and for winter sports in Lower Austria. However, this does not change the fact that a ski area at 800 meters is unfortunately not snow-sure in times of climate change. In the previous year, the lifts only turned on 67 days. Over the past 30 years, overnight stays in Lower Austria have increased by around 21 percent, and in the same period they have decreased by 43 percent in Lackenhof. The lift alone does not allow the site to develop in terms of tourism. New offers are therefore needed for guests. We will support Lackenhof with a task force in its touristic repositioning.

Danninger will convert the funding that the state promised the local businesses as "emergency aid" into host funding. The funding is to start at the end of the winter season 2021/22. “Because it is urgently necessary to bring the partly very outdated accommodation providers up to date. There are a little more than 800 beds in around ten hotels and some private room rental companies. The majority of them in the one- and two-star segment. A segment that we know is in less and less demand. I can therefore only expressly invite all hosts to modernize their rooms in the coming months. We can only address new groups of guests by investing in quality. "

In addition, Danninger continues: “Today I invite everyone who has spoken up in the last few days and who wants to contribute constructively to Lackenhof with know-how and ideas, but above all with deeds and investments. By taking over the Hochkar, we bought Lackenhof time to reposition the place. ”Another traditional winter sports resort in Lower Austria, St. Corona am Wechsel, has already achieved this feat. When the state dismantled the lifts in St. Corona am Wechsel eight years ago, there was great excitement. It took two years and the place had a new concept. “Today the St. Corona adventure arena is sensational at the change. Mainly thanks to the courageous entrepreneurs and the communities in Feistritztal who dared to

Markus Redl, Managing Director of ecoplus Alpin, emphasizes: “The takeover of the shares in the Schröcksnadel Group and the merger of Ötscherlift-Gesellschaft mbH into Hochkar Bergbahnen GmbH enable a structured process of repositioning Lackenhof am Ötscher for tourism. The task now is for the task force to work out results together with the region. In the last few days, interested parties have come forward with different ideas, with whom we will have discussions in the next few days and weeks. "