Mega expansion in Andermatt and Sedrun: US giant and Sawiris invest another 600 million francs in Gemsstock

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Fourteen months ago, American Mike Goar (65) took over the presidency of a ski resort in Andermatt RI, which had a severe ski shortage. He moved from Utah to the mountain village of Uri for his new job on behalf of ski lift owner Vails Resorts, and he has big plans there: “We want to be in black this year,” he says in an interview with Blick.

Vail Resorts is stirring things up in Andermatt and wants to invest over 110 million francs. “Our investments are primarily aimed at improving the guest experience in the areas of lifts, snowmaking, gastronomy, technology and pistes,” says Goar, who manages the Andermatt-Sedrun ski area.

Two new ski lifts are planned

One of these projects is the replacement of two old chair lifts connecting the Oberalp Pass to the Sedrun side with new six-person chair lifts. Mountain railways are currently going through the approval process. Other projects are in the planning stages and will be announced in the next few months. New projects for the winter season 2023/24 include the opening of the new restaurant in “Valtgeva” in Sedrun in December 2023 and a food truck in Gütsch.

“A total of over 600 million francs will be added in the next five years,” Raphael Krucker (44), boss of Andermatt Swiss Alps AG, told Blick. In addition to the investments on the 110 million mountain, the breakdown of planned expenditures is as follows: 350 million francs have been allocated for a new hotel, five additional apartments and new sports infrastructure. Andermatt Swiss Alps, owned by Egyptian investor Samih Sawiris (66), is building its third hotel complex after the 5-star luxury hotel The Chedi Andermatt and the 4-star exclusive department store Radisson Blue. It is planned to open in 2028 at the latest.

Cheaper accommodation options are on the way

The master plan envisages a total of five hotels and 42 apartment buildings in Andermatt. 19 of these already exist and another nine are currently under construction. “We are investing because the demand is high and the cooperation with partners works,” Krucker told Blick.

But that’s not all: with the Dieni resort on the Bünder side of Sedrun – 170 million are being invested there – the real estate developer wants to create affordable accommodation options. These are planned to be built by 2027. 13 buildings with 410 hotel rooms, including 204 hostel rooms and 206 double and triple rooms, are planned. 119 additional residences are for sale and are managed for tourism purposes. A total of 1,800 new beds will be created.

Source :Blick