Destination Gstaad
FACTS & FIGURES
The destination Gstaad impresses bons vivants and adventurous holidaymakers alike with its extensive range of offers. Relaxation away from the hectic pace of modern life with a touch of exclusivity and in a unique atmosphere, as well as holiday experiences in a landscape which is full of tradition and stories. Whether well-being, sport, cuisine or culture – young and old alike will find what they are looking for according to our philosophy: come up – slow down!
Contents 1. General information about the region Gstaad ...... 4 1.1. Situation...... 4 1.2. Geographic Details...... 4 1.3. Communes in numbers ...... 4 1.4. Climate ...... 4 1.5. Time zone ...... 5 1.6. Currency ...... 5 2. Population ...... 5 2.1. Residents per commune ...... 5 2.2. Language ...... 5 3. Education ...... 5 3.1. General learning opportunity ...... 5 3.2. Primary schools ...... 6 3.3. International Schools ...... 6 3.4. Other Schools ...... 6 4. Economy ...... 6 4.1. GDP (gross domestic product) ...... 6 4.2. Added Value from tourism ...... 6 4.3. Employee circle Saanenland ...... 7 5. Public transport ...... 7 5.1. Postal car ...... 7 5.2. Railway MOB - Golden Pass Line - BLS ...... 7 6. Overnight stays ...... 8 6.1. Overnight stays in hotel business ...... 8 6.2. Total of overnight stays inland/abroad (2016/17) ...... 8 6.3. Total of overnight stays destination Gstaad (2016/17) ...... 8 7. Hotel business ...... 8 7.1. Hotels in the destination Gstaad ...... 8 7.1.1. Division according stars ...... 8 7.1.2. Division according Location ...... 9 7.2. Total of hotel beds in the destination Gstaad (2016) ...... 9 7.3. Total of hotel beds according Location (2017) ...... 9 7.4. Origin of guests (only facts of hotel business) ...... 9 8. Holiday apartments ...... 10
8.1. Rented holiday apartments via Gstaad Saanenland Tourism ...... 10 8.2. Bed & Breakfast ...... 10 8.3. Group accommodations ...... 10 8.4. Mountain huts ...... 10 8.5. Camping ground ...... 10 9. Gastronomy ...... 11 9.1. Restaurants ...... 11 9.2. Night life: bars, discos ...... 11 10. Culture ...... 11 10.1. Museums ...... 11 10.2. Galleries ...... 11 10.3. Library / Bookshop ...... 11 10.4. Kino ...... 12 11. Wellness und baths ...... 12 11.1. Public wellness facilities and baths ...... 12 11.2. Wellness facilities hotels ...... 12 12. Sport programmes ...... 13 12.1. Summer ...... 13 12.2. Winter ...... 13 13. Cable cars ...... 14 13.1. Summer ...... 14 13.2. Winter ...... 14 14. Arrival ...... 14 14.1. Train ...... 14 14.2. Car...... 14 14.3. Plane ...... 14 15. Gstaad Saanenland Tourism ...... 15
1. General information about the region Gstaad
Situation • Ten Chalet-villages from von 945 m above sea level till 1‘320 m above sea level • Situated in southwest of the canton of Bern • Boards at the canton of Vaud, Fribourg and Valais • 4 communes (Saanen, Lauenen, Gsteig, Zweisimmen)
Geographic Details • Surface: 315 square kilometres • Lowest point Laubeggfall 890 m above sea level • Highest point Wildhorn 3‘247 m above sea level
Communes in numbers Saanen1 Gsteig2 Lauenen Zweisimmen3 Total area (km2) 120 62 59 73 Therefrom productive (km2) 111 50 9 Therefrom productive (%) 93 80 16 Therefrom forest (km2) 40 21 13 20 Therefrom forest (%) 33 33 22 27 Settlement area (km2) 3 0.9* 0.2 Settlement area (%) 3 1* 0.4 Agriculture (km2) 68 23* 30 43 Agriculture (%) 57 37* 50 59 unproductive (km2) 9 13* *Commune area not finishes measuring yet
Climate • In summer, very agreeable and mild climate of alps • In winter very agreeable and ideal temperatures for perfect snow conditions
1 To the commune Saanen belongs: Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Gstaad, Kalberhöni, Saanen, Saanenmöser, Schönried, Turbach. 2 To the commune Gsteig belongs: Gsteig, Feutersoey 3 To the commune Zweisimmen belongs: Blankenburg,, Grubenwald, Mannried, Oeschseite, Reichenstein, Zweisimmen
Time zone • Central European Time (GMT +1 hour) • Summer time (+ 1 hour) End of March till end of October
Currency • Swiss Francs • Payments with Euro and US-Dollar are possible in some big shops and in hotels. • Credit cards are accepted
2. Population
Residents per commune (Level: January 2019)4 • Saanen 7‘445 • Gsteig 998 • Lauenen 847 • Zweisimmen 3‘036
Language • Swiss German and German • The region boards to the French speaking part of Switzerland • French and English popular
3. Education
General learning opportunity • Commercial school Thun / Gstaad • Secondary school Interlaken / Gstaad • International schools • Volkshochschule Obersimmtental – Saanenland with courses offered
4 Source: Gstaad Saanenland Guide 2019, Müller Marketing & Druck AG
Primary schools • School complex Gstaad, Rütti • Schoolhouse Saanen, Zennetsmatte • Schoolhouse Schönried • Schoolhouse Turbach • Schoolhouse Bissen • Schoolhouse Gruben • Schoolhouse Zweisimmen • School IBEM, integration and special measures, Gstaad • Oberstufenzentrum – OSZ Gstaad/Ebnit • Curative remedial school Gstaad
International Schools • Institute Le Rosey • John F. Kennedy International School
Other Schools • Music school Saanenland-Obersimmental
4. Economy
The most important economy sectors are the building industry, the tourisme, the commerce and the agriculture.
GDP (gross domestic product) Circle Obersimmental-Saanen: 1’092 million Francs (2017) +0.9% p.a. between 2007 - 2017
Added Value from tourism The added value from tourism 2011 Region Gstaad (Gsteig, Lauenen, Saanen, Zweisimmen): 325 Mio. (Therefore direct effects: 198 Mio. indirect effects: 127 Mio.), contains a part of 46.4 % of GDP from the region (direct: 28.3%, indirect: 18.1%)
Employee circle Saanenland5 Compare Pt. 1.3 and 2.1 Saanen6 Gsteig7 Lauenen Zweisimmen8 Employees 3‘723 709 588 3‘065 Therefore foreigner 1‘183 166 Therefore in agriculture and forestry 192 70 240 In manufacturing and building industries 479 275 326 In services sector incl. tourism 1‘301 349 1‘182 others 1‘751 15 Not employed 843 289
5. Public transport
Postal car Lines from Gstaad Gstaad – Saanen – Schönried - Saanenmöser Gstaad – Feutersoey – Gsteig – Col du Pillon Gstaad – Lauenen (summer till Lake of Lauenen) Gstaad – Turbach
Railway MOB - Golden Pass Line - BLS Lines from Gstaad Gstaad – Zweisimmen – Lenk i. Simmental Gstaad – Château d’Oex – Montbovon – Montreux Gstaad – Zweisimmen – Spiez – Bern
5 Source: Gstaad Saanenland Guide 2019, Müller Marketing & Druck AG 6 To the commune Saanen belongs: Abländschen, Bissen, Ebnit, Gruben, Grund, Gstaad, Kalberhöni, Saanen, Saanenmöser, Schönried, Turbach. 7 To the commune Gsteig belongs: Gsteig, Feutersoey 8 To the commune Zweisimmen belongs: Blankenburg, Grubenwald, Mannried, Oeschseite, Reichenstein, Zweisimmen
6. Overnight stays
Overnight stays in hotel business Total destination 379‘231 Gstaad 151‘086 Saanen 95‘690 Schönried 58‘380 Saanenmöser 46‘881 Gsteig 259 Lauenen 9‘595 Zweisimmen 17‘340
Total of overnight stays inland/abroad (2017/18) Swiss guests: 245‘456 Foreign guests: 133‘775
Total of overnight stays destination Gstaad (2017/18) Hotel business: 379‘231 Holiday apartments: 801‘197
Total: 1‘180‘428
7. Hotel business
Hotels in the destination Gstaad Total hotels: 47
7.1.1. Division according stars 5-stars: 6 4-stars: 10 3-stars: 14 2-stars: 2 Not classified (incl. pensions): 15
7.1.2. Division according Location
Location Total hotels 5* hotels 4* hotels 3* hotels 2* hotels Not classified Gstaad 15 5 6 4 0 0 Saanen 7 0 1 4 0 2 Lauenen 2 0 0 1 0 1 Schönried 4 1 1 1 0 1 Saanenmöser 8 0 2 2 1 3 Zweisimmen 7 0 0 2 0 5 Abländschen 1 0 0 0 0 1 Gsteig 3 0 0 0 1 2
Total of hotel beds in the destination Gstaad (2018) Total beds: 3’152 5-stars: 804 4-stars: 846 3-stars: 687 2-stars: 42 Not classified (incl. pensions): 773
Total of hotel beds according Location (2018) Gstaad 1‘189 Saanen 764 Lauenen 68 Schönried 327 Saanenmöser 508 Zweisimmen 197 Abländschen 63 Gsteig 36
Origin of guests (only facts of hotel business) 2017/18 245‘456 Switzerland 14‘894 Germany 17‘318 France 16‘949 Great Britain 11‘991 Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
29‘695 Left Europe 14‘296 USA and Canada 8’772 Golf states 19’860 Others
8. Holiday apartments
Rented holiday apartments via Gstaad Saanenland Tourism Total apartments rentable on www.gstaad.ch 225 Beds 1‘098 Remark: Divers other apartments are rentable privately.
Bed & Breakfast summer winter Total rooms 40 40 Total beds 84 84
Group accommodations summer winter Total group accommodations 32 31 Total beds 2‘033 1‘874
Mountain huts summer winter Total 17 14 Therefore SAC-huts 10 10 Total beds 876 566
Camping ground summer winter Total camping grounds 5 5 Total campsites 456 456
9. Gastronomy
Restaurants Total over 100 restaurants Therefore with GaultMillau-points 19 (total 2021: 260 points) Therefore with Michelin stars 2 (total 2 stars)
Night life: bars, discos Total bars winter 17 Total bars summer 17 Total snow bars 15 Total discos 2
10. Culture
Museums • Museum of agriculture of Saanen in the village of Saanen • Obersimmentaler Heimatmuseum in Zweisimmen • Menuhin center Saanen in the village of Saanen
Galleries • Galerie Bel-Air Fine Art, Gstaad • Galerie Buchs, Gstaad • Galerie Simple, Gstaad • Giovanella Kunstglaserei, Saanen • Patricia Low Contemporary, Gstaad • Restaurant Galerie Hüsy, Blankenburg • SAMHART Gallery, Gstaad • Urs von Unger Gallery, Saanen
Library / Bookshop • Papeterie Cadonau, Gstaad • Papeterie Pfander, Zweisimmen • Papeterie Matti, Spiel & Sport, Zweisimmen
• Library Saanenland, Gstaad • Library, Gsteig • Bookshop Au Foyer, Saanen • Library, Zweisimmen
Kino • Cinema Theatre Gstaad
11. Wellness und baths
Public wellness facilities and baths • Sports centre Gstaad • Open air pool Le Bijou, Saanen (only in summer) • Open air pool Palace Gstaad (only in summer) • Open air pool Zweisimmen (only in summer)
Wellness facilities hotels Public wellness facilities in hotels: • Gstaad Palace • Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad • Park Gstaad, Gstaad • The Alpina Gstaad, Gstaad • Ultima Gstaad, Gstaad • Ermitage Wellness- & Spa Hotel, Schönried • HUUS Gstaad, Saanen • Hotel Arc-en-ciel, Gstaad • Hotel Gstaaderhof (only massages public), Gstaad • Hotel Alphorn, Gstaad • Alpine Lodge, Saanen • Golfhotel les Hauts de Gstaad & Spa, Saanenmöser • Hotel Hornberg (only massages public), Saanenmöser • Rinderberg Swiss Alpine Lodge, Zweisimmen • Hotel Garni Sonnegg (only massages public), Zweisimmen • Vista Resort Hotel, Zweisimmen
12. Sport programmes
Summer Hiking trails 300 km Mountain biking & cycling 150 km Nordic Walking trails 22.5 km 18 hole golf course 1 Mountaineering & climbing 14 Bathing lakes 4 Tennis courts 20 Beach volleyball facilities 10 High-rope park 1 River rafting providers 1 Equestrian centre 1 Fishing 4 fishing water state-owned, 10 private fishing waters Paragliding 7 official launch sites
Winter Altitude snow sports region 1000 – 3000 m above sea level Slopes 200 km Black 25km Red 55 km Blue 120 km Lighted slopes approx. 4.5 km Snow parks 2 Snow sports schools 10 Cross country slopes 180 km - classics 92 km und skating 88 km Winter hiking trails 162 km Snowshoe trails 70 km Sledging trails 30 km, 6 slopes Ice skating rinks 2 nature- & 2 artificial ice rink Curling 1 hall Ski tours Different routes Winterbiking Allowed on several winter hiking trails and on the Sparenmoos
13. Cable cars
Summer Total lifts and cable cars: Total: 8 3 cable cars, 3 gondolas, 2 chair lifts Mountain restaurants 15
Winter Total lifts and cable cars: Total: 42 16 ski lifts, 14 chair lifts, 9 gondolas, 3 cable cars Capacity of lifts and cable cars: 42‘288 persons/h Mountain restaurants: 21
14. Arrival
Train • From Zürich to Gstaad approx. 3 hours • From Bern to Gstaad approx. 2 hours • From Geneva to Gstaad approx. 3 hours
Car • From Zürich to Gstaad approx. 2:30 hours • From Bern to Gstaad approx. 1:30 hours • From Geneva to Gstaad approx. 1:45 hours
Plane • Via Zürich-Kloten, therefrom further by car or train • Via Genf-Cointrin • Via Bern-Belp - is the nearest airport. By car approx. 1:30 hours to Gstaad, by train approx. 2:10 hours to Gstaad.
15. Gstaad Saanenland Tourism
Gstaad Saanenland Tourisme (GST) has the goal to develop the tourism in the destination Gstaad and adjacent areas to keep in line with international standards at an absolute top level.
Gstaad Saanenland tourism provides services in various fields such as in destination marketing via Gstaad Marketing GmbH, guest relations, reservations, guest programs and operation of infrastructures.
For further information please contact: Antje Buchs, PR Project Manager Tel. +41 33 748 81 43, [email protected]
Additional media texts and images at www.gstaad.ch/en/service/media-documents/basic-information