Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen's Georg Bliem Appointed As Commercial Councillor

Dir. Georg Bliem, Managing Director of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen GmbH, was awarded the professional title "Commercial Councilor" for his services in the lift co'industry. The decree was presented to him on July 4, 2023 in the Federal Chancellery in Vienna by Federal Minister Karoline Edtstadler in a ceremony.

Georg Bliem, a graduate of the Schloss Klessheim Tourism Academy, started his professional career with international travel companies in Germany and Austria as well as with the Dachstein-Tauern regional association. In 2004 Georg Bliem was appointed State Tourism Director of Steiermark Tourismus GmbH to Graz.

He has been managing Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen GmbH since 2012. Significant investments in the infrastructure were made under his leadership and together with his colleagues he made the company one of the leading mountain railway companies in Austria. With around 430 employees in winter and around 300 in summer, the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen are one of the largest employers in the Schladming-Dachstein region.

His vision and commitment have not only driven the company's growth, but have had a lasting impact on the entire region. With an added value of around 304 million euros per year, the Planai-Hochwurzen railways are the central economic and tourism engine of the Schladming-Dachstein region and beyond.

In addition to his work as managing director of the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, Georg Bliem also volunteers in the cable car industry. Among other things, he held the office of Ski amadé President from 2017 to 2019 and was Chairman of the SEM (cable car experience exchange group) from 2016 to 2020. There are also activities in the committees of the Chamber of Commerce. In 2018 Georg Bliem was named Cable Car Operator of the Year, and in 2020 Georg Bliem and his management colleagues accepted the award for "Best Cable Car Management".