FA Held From March 20th To 22nd, 2023, Grindelwald,
From March 20th to 22nd, 2023, decision-makers and executives from the mountain railway industry and alpine tourism met in the world-famous destination of Grindelwald. The organizers could look forward to a top-class field of participants and a multiple award-winning ensemble of speakers in a dynamic and hospitable destination.
«NEW ENERGY» power plant mountain and house
Exactly at 10 a.m., the TFA was opened by moderators Roland Zegg and Edgar Grämiger and host Bruno Hauswirth, Managing Director of Grindelwald Tourism. With "Energy for a new world", Noah Heynen, CEO of Helion, provided a powerful start to the day and René Dobler, CEO of the Swiss Foundation for Social Tourism (Youth Hostels) underlined with his presentation that a consistent energy strategy in the accommodation sector phenomenal results. Perseverance and courage are particularly important for large-scale projects. Urs Kessler, CEO of Jungfrau Railways, emphasized this with his presentation on the construction of the V-Bahn generation project. At the end of the morning, the participants were welcomed by Florian Spichtig, Managing Director of Grimselwelt,
«NEW ENERGY» For a new understanding of leadership
The second part of the day focused on employees and company management. Rüdiger Maas, generation researcher, started the afternoon impulsively and showed how Generation Z can be better understood. Top-class and with exciting insights into practice, things continued with Silvana Schlösser, hostess at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel Arosa, and with Regina Gujan, head of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. Reinhard K. Sprenger, bestselling author and management expert, provided a provocative conclusion to the first day of the forum with his presentation on a single sheet of flipchart.
«NEW ENERGY» management of mountain, ski and bed
Klaus Schanda, Head of Marketing Bayerische Zugspitzbahn, got off to a brilliant start on the second day of the forum with an authentic insight into the world of the Zugspitze, and Reto Trachsel, CEO Pricenow, and Alex Singenberger, Head of Marketing & Sales, Bergbahnen Toggenburg and Chäserrugg, discussed the hot topic of "Dynamic Pricing". Beno Suter, Head of Accounting & Controlling Weisse Arena Group, on stage. The entry of the Vail Resorts in Andermatt caused a big surprise last year. Mike Goar, Managing Director Skiarena Andermatt-Sedrun, exclusively presented the ideas and motivations of the Vail Resorts for this at the 32nd TFA. A DMO should also give impetus to a destination. This was impressively demonstrated by Christian Gressbach, Managing Director of Toggenburg Tourismus, in his presentation.
«NEW ENERGY» worlds of experience
lateral thinking. Make. To surprise. Brigitte Trauffer, hostess of the Trauffer Bretterhotel, provided a refreshing start to the afternoon, followed by an interesting insight into the world of the Säntis. Remo Brülisauer, Hotel/Gastronomy Manager, and Urs Dähler, Commercial Manager, presented various measures to increase the frequency of the Säntis suspension railway. Urs Kessler, CEO of Jungfrau Railways, then gave an exclusive look at the corporate strategy of Jungfrau Railways. Stephan Siegrist, professional alpinist and multiple climber of the Eiger North Face, closed the event with his impressive presentation of the ascent of the world-famous Eiger North Face.
Evening programs of the extra class
Unique evening programs were available for the TFA guests. On Monday evening, the concourse of the Eigergletscher station was converted into the "Networking Place" of the TFA family. In addition to a tasty «Flying Dinner», the participants were rewarded with a beautiful sunset in view of the north face of the Eiger. The evening program on Tuesday was all about magic. Instead of going to Las Vegas or Monaco this year, participation in the 32nd TFA was enough to experience a world-class magician and illusionist. Peter Marvey caused astonished and beaming faces in the audience. After dinner at the Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald, the evening ended in a convivial atmosphere at the TFA Bar.
Exclusive insights behind the scenes on the last day of the forum
On the last day of the forum, the traditional forum tours took place again. Led by Bruno Hauswirth, Managing Director of Grindelwald Tourism and Anita Gschwind, Managing Director of Ibex Fairstay, the participants on the hotel tour were introduced to the diverse hotel industry in Grindelwald. The second forum tour went high. Together with host Urs Kessler and Adrian Schmied, Sales Manager Greater China, the guests were given an insight into the brand new terminal - including logistics and the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe.
The think tank of the Alps is stimulating, networking and young at heart
Founded and managed by Roland Zegg, the TFA has been an international think tank for the mountain railway and alpine tourism industry for more than three decades. It is an Alpine-wide concept for success for inspiration, content and networking in the German-speaking Alpine regions. Roland Zegg and his TFA team managed to put together a unique program and bring together the alpine tourism industry in a world-famous destination. «We are very pleased to welcome so many international tourism industry leaders to Grindelwald. The top-class keynote speakers and the exchange among industry colleagues is always very enriching.» says Bruno Hauswirth, Managing Director of Grindelwald Tourism.
No other specialist forum of this quality has established itself as a purely privately funded concept that is independent of associations and politics over the past three decades.
And with this spirit for knowledge and networking in the Alpine tourism industry, the TFA TourismusForum Alpenregionen is making great strides towards its 33rd edition. The new date has already been published: March 18-20, 2024. The destination will be announced shortly.
