Balance sheet 2024: characterised by closures and new openings

Since mid-October, the Schilthorn summit has not been accessible from Birg due to the construction of the new aerial cableway. The closure is directly reflected in the frequency of the cable car and the turnover of the affected restaurants and shop. The remaining catering establishments, the hotels industry and winter sports, on the other hand, paint a positive picture. Highlights of the past year were the opening of the world's steepest cable car and Switzerland's first Funifor cable car in mid-December.

Last year was characterised by two special events: On 13^th October 2024, the cable car between Birg and Schilthorn ran for the last time. Due to construction work on the new aerial cableway, the Schilthorn summit was not accessible for several months. Since then, Birg has been the end of the line and the summit building has been used as a construction site hotel. Exactly two months later, on 14^th December, the steepest cable car in the world was opened between Stechelberg and Mürren. On the same day, Switzerland's first Funifor cable car between Mürren and Birg also went into operation. The opening of both cableways marked a major milestone in the SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX project.

Closure characterises the statistics

The closure of the Schilthorn summit and the 360°-Restaurant Piz Gloria is directly reflected in the statistics: compared to the previous year, the number of visitors travelling on our cable car has fallen by 5.2 per cent. At the restaurant, on the other hand, the figures remained at the previous year's level until the closure in autumn due to construction work. The Bistro Birg was able to increase by a full 11 per cent, which is due to the catering for the construction workers. The shops fell behind: The sales area of the Top Shop on the Schilthorn had to be greatly reduced during the construction phase and is now closed. The small temporary shop on Birg cannot make up for the shortfall, resulting in a 19 per cent drop in sales. In the temporary shop in the Hotel Blumental in Mürren, sales were the same as the previous year.

Positive effect on other restaurants and hotels

During the intensive construction phases at the stations, businesses that were not directly affected by the building work benefited: The Panorama Restaurant Allmendhubel experienced another record season with a 10 per cent increase in turnover. This result is also reflected in the frequency of the funicular railway, which recorded an increase of 5.7 per cent on the previous year and 8.3 per cent on the five-year average. The Gimmelen restaurant also stands out: it recorded a 55 per cent increase in turnover, which indicates the good snow conditions – without artificial snow! The Hotel Alpenruh recorded a 17 per cent increase in both accommodation and restaurant sales. The Hotel Blumental remained at the previous year's level.

Winter sports with a plus

Winter sports are also a clear winner at the end of the year. Thanks to the early start to the season on 28^th September 2024 with Pända Snowpark Sessions in Engetal and the start of public winter sports operations on 2^nd November, the cumulative number of visitors to the winter sports facilities was up 24 per cent by the end of December.

Outlook for the current year

The new Funifor cable car between Birg and Schilthorn will open on 15^th March 2025, allowing the 360° Restaurant Piz Gloria and the Top Shop to resume operations in their familiar size. The second track of the Funifor cableway Mürren-Birg will open on 28^thNovember. The old cableway still runs parallel to the first, new track during the winter months and will be removed in spring. However, other construction projects are also planned for the summer independently of the 20XX project: Firstly, the construction of the new staff house in Mürren with 13 residential units (the company has reported) and secondly, the completion of the AURO project on the Winteregg chairlift, which will result in the lift operating without staff. The third edition of the Swatch Nines from 7^th to 12^thApril 2025, when the top-class freestyle scene meets in the Schilthorn region for exclusive sessions, is clearly an event highlight. The General Assembly of the Schilthorn Cableway Ltd. will take place this year on Friday, 20^thJune in Mürren. According to the Federal Tax Administration, the tax value of the Schilthorn Cableway Ltd. share for the 2024 tax year is CHF 1,250 (previous year: CHF 1,340)