Bergbahnen Wildhaus Achieves Respectable Result After Unpredictable Weather
A challenging financial year lies behind Bergbahnen Wildhaus AG. A changeable summer with exciting events, followed by a winter characterized by a lack of snow instead of electricity kept the mountain railways in Wildhaus busy. Nevertheless, important operational investments were made and the planned projects were implemented. The financial year, which was below average overall, can still be described as satisfactory in view of the very challenging external circumstances.
A changeable summer 2022
A summer 2022 like in a picture book - nice and warm until the end of August. Bergbahnen Wildhaus AG were on record course. "Thanks" to a wet and cold autumn, the past summer/autumn season is not at a record level, but at the level of the summers before Corona. Numerous events, primarily in the musical field, can be mentioned as true highlights of the warm season. The music and hiking experience "Migros Hiking Sounds" and the "Wildhaus Open Air" particularly stood out here. Both formats were able to attract many guests to the upper Toggenburg.
Snow instead of power shortage in winter 2022/23
Many winter sports areas in Switzerland and thus also the Bergbahnen Wildhaus AG can look back on a winter with an unusual course of the season. After the first snowfall at the end of November and a successful start to the season on the weekend of 17/18 December 2022, the warm temperatures and rainfall up to high altitudes in December and early January were followed by disillusionment. Only thanks to extensive technical snowmaking and using all available resources was it possible to always offer a range of slopes down to 1,250 m above sea level. ready. This feat was worth it: despite the very challenging conditions, we counted no fewer than 107 operating days.
Stable business development in the gastronomy division
The course of business in the gastronomy division is more stable. The result achieved from gastronomy and accommodation is at the good level of the previous year. Club and family events generated important sales and the pre-corona level was reached again in accommodation. The numerous school and snow sports camps that were held made a significant contribution to the good occupancy rate. With over 6,500 overnight stays per year, Bergbahnen Wildhaus AG is one of the most important hosts in Toggenburg.
Extensive investments despite challenging business development
The most visible investment for our young and old guests was certainly the new magic carpet in Oberdorf with over 95,000 rides last winter. In addition, numerous other operational investments and projects could also be realized. Particularly worth mentioning is the relaunch of the website www.wildhaus.ch, the fiber optic network from the Thur valley station to the Gamsalp, the replacement of the hoisting cable of the Oberdorfbahn, the partial renewal of the piste guidance and access systems, the purchase of three new snow-making units, and the control system the heaters in the snowmaking shafts, investments in the company's own transformer stations and the purchase of a used PB 100 snow groomer.
Operating result: CHF 1 million
In the reporting year, which lasted from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023, total sales amounted to CHF 7.30 million, with the catering and accommodation division contributing CHF 3.2 million (43 %) to this. The company's total income is one million francs below the excellent previous year. Under the circumstances, the operating result (EBITDA) is a very respectable CHF 1.0 million. After depreciation, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses of CHF 85,000, the bottom line is an annual loss of CHF 329,546.75. According to the Board of Directors' proposal to the General Meeting, this should be offset against the profit carried forward from the previous year in the amount of CHF 663,885.07.
The general assembly of Bergbahnen Wildhaus AG will be held on September 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the ice sports center in Wildhaus.
