Despite many challenges, the board members of Kleinwalsertaler Bergbahnen are optimistic. The company is embarking on a path toward a "positive and sustainable future."
Kleinwalsertal, June 19, 2023 – On Monday, June 19, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Michael Lucke welcomed the shareholders of Kleinwalsertaler Bergbahn AG to the annual general meeting. He summarized the 2021/22 fiscal year with "unity and a new beginning": "All employees are pulling together and we are working together on a sustainable future for our company and the region," he explained. This is despite the issues of climate change, the energy crisis, the shortage of skilled workers, and the constant changes in the tourism sector currently being very challenging.
Corona Winter 2021/22
Thanks to the "careful – safe – gentle" Covid-19 safety concept, which had already been tested last year, the season kicked off on December 8th with great anticipation: "The total cancellation of the 2020/21 winter season did not lead to a abandonment of skiing in the Alps, but rather increased the desire to ski and thus the anticipation of 'normal' winter sports activities. We felt this on all the mountains of the OBERSTDORF · KLEINWALSERTAL BERGBAHNEN," said CEO Dr. Andreas Gapp. While the winter ended on schedule, Kleinwalsertaler Bergbahnen AG fell short of its summer sales target by 4.4 percent. Total annual sales from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2022, amounted to approximately €9.5 million.
Investments in Sustainability and Guest Comfort
KBB continued to invest in the 2021/22 fiscal year: "Thanks to the newly positioned bus turnaround at the Parsenn mountain station, we were able to improve the quality of skiing and reduce private traffic in Kleinwalsertal. In addition, commuter bus service between the ski areas was expanded, and a new parking guidance system was introduced. With the new parking guidance system, we are noticeably reducing traffic searching for parking spaces, a further step towards minimizing CO2 emissions," says Johannes Krieg, also a member of the KBB board. Further energy-saving measures, such as the new snowmaking management system, were also implemented as part of the MyMountainNature sustainability program.
Difficult tourism year 2022/23
According to initial forecasts, 2022/23 will also be a challenging tourism year due to various challenges (Ukraine war, weather, inflation). The winter season was approximately 8 percent lower than the previous year. "Despite all the current challenges, we are constantly working to provide strong momentum to the guest market and shape a positive and sustainable future on all of the OBERSTDORF · KLEINWALSERTAL BERGBAHNEN mountains," reports Dr. Andreas Gapp.
Further information on the 2021/22 financial year can be found on the OBERSTDORF · KLEINWALSERTAL BERGBAHNEN website at https://www.ok-bergbahnen.com/unternehmen/aktionaersinfos/aktionaersinfo-kleinwalsertaler-bergbahn-ag/
