Gstaad - Heinz Brand Receives Award For His Life's Work

Heinz Brand, President of Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG, has been recognized by Skiareatest for his life's work. Klaus Hönigsberger, head of the international ski area test, presented the award on Tuesday in a small, festive setting in the new Berghaus Eggli.

Heinz Brand from Gstaad was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Prize” on Tuesday by the Skiareatest for his achievements and his commitment to the cable car and tourism industry. Brand has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG since 2015. His commitment to tourism, the region and the mountain railways goes far beyond that. "As a grand seigneur, Heinz Brand stands for a cosmopolitan man of balance, ideas and someone who puts the employees in the foreground," says Klaus Hönigsberger, President of the international ski area test.

Practice early

Heinz Brand grew up in Gstaad and spent a happy childhood and youth in Saanenland. His parents ran a bakery and pastry shop in Gstaad, in which he worked actively from an early age. After completing his training at the “Ecole supérieure de commerce” in La Neuveville, he completed an apprenticeship as a baker-confectioner. His entrepreneurial skills became apparent early on: at the age of 19, he successfully opened his first shop in Gstaad, the “Brothüsi”. In 1978 he also took over his parents' bakery.

In addition to his professional duties in the bakery, he also held various positions on boards of directors as a young man. Working on a voluntary basis in the further development of the region has always been a matter of concern to him and a matter of course for him. In 1980 he was elected to the Board of Directors of Hotel Bernerhof AG (1980), from 1996 to 2004 he was

Member of the board of directors of Gondelbahn Wispile AG and from 2004 to 2016 of the board of directors of Zückerli AG (formerly Wispile).

Working for the community of Saanen

In 2002 he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of ENHOSAG Energie Holz AG. There, at the suggestion of the Saanen community, he actively participated in the redevelopment and development of the Saanen-Gstaad and Schönried district heating. From 2008 to 2015 he was then in office as Saanen municipal councilor. In this role, he managed the “Projects and Spatial Planning” resort. Here he mainly worked on the parking garage of the village of Saanen, the design of the village as a car-free zone and its further development (SANONA project). In addition, as the President of the Building Commission, he also pushed ahead with the project for the accommodation houses at the Gstaad Sports Center, in particular as a relief for the “Le Rosey” institute. The various projects involved investments of around CHF 40 million.

Next challenge: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bergbahnen

In 2015, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG. As president, he pushed ahead with the restructuring of the company, implemented the construction projects for the Saanersloch and Eggli mountain railways and took on the challenge of adjusting the landowner's compensation.

"I am of course honored to be able to accept such an award," said Brand touched on Tuesday. «I am delighted about this award from Skiareatest. The award is a great motivation for my further work and distinguishes my activities in the destination over the past decades. "

The entire Bergbahnen Destination Gstaad AG has proudly taken note of the award for its President. We are very happy that Heinz Brand was honored for his great achievements in recent years - in a year that was particularly challenging for the mountain railways and the tourism industry.