Zermatt Inside 2022 - 1 - English Translation and Summary

Summary of significant articles

The Glacier Express offers a scenic eight-hour train journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and passing through 91 tunnels.
A new, high-end "Excellence Class" has been introduced, providing a luxury experience with guaranteed window seats, a dedicated concierge, and a seven-course gourmet meal.
All 28 panoramic cars in the Glacier Express fleet have been recently refurbished with modern interiors in an "Alpine Chic" style.
The train was recently featured on a digital billboard in New York's Times Square as part of a promotional campaign with Switzerland Tourism.

The deadline to file 2021 tax returns is March 31, 2022, and paper returns must now be sent directly to the cantonal tax office in Sion.
Employees who worked from home due to COVID-19 can only deduct actual travel and meal expenses for the days they physically went to their workplace.
Property owners are reminded that all income from renting out holiday homes, including through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, must be declared.
A new system for paying 2022 taxes in five installments throughout the year is being introduced.

Sexten, a small mountain community in the Dolomites of South Tyrol, Italy, is Zermatt's official sister town.
Both communities share a deep connection to their iconic mountains—the Matterhorn in Zermatt and the Drei Zinnen (Three Peaks) in Sexten—which have shaped their economies and mountaineering history.
The partnership originated in the 1980s between tourism and ski school leaders who recognized the similarities between the two destinations.
The article calls for strengthening the friendship through joint projects in education, sports, and tourism to foster greater cultural and economic exchange.

The "Tageseltern Nikolai" program offers family-based childcare in a provider's own home, serving as a flexible and personal alternative to larger daycare centers.
The service is managed by the "Familienergänzende Angebote (FEA) Zermatt" association, which coordinates placements and handles administrative and legal tasks for parents and providers.
The program operates across the five municipalities of the Nikolai Valley, addressing the need for childcare that can accommodate irregular work schedules common in the tourism industry.
The article stresses that all providers must be licensed and registered, and warns that engaging in unregulated childcare is illegal.

The Riffelhaus 1853 hotel's restaurant has been awarded 14 Gault&Millau points for its cuisine under Chef de Cuisine Alain Kuster.
Gault&Millau also named the historic hotel number one in its "Hot 10" list of Switzerland's most beautiful ski-in/ski-out hotels.
The menu emphasizes regional Valais dishes and local products, with a focus on creating fresh, seasonal, and authentic cuisine.
Julia Vetter took over as the new director of the hotel, which is operated by the Matterhorn Group, in December 2021.

Zermatt Tourism held its first-ever hybrid General Assembly, allowing members to participate in person or via video conference.
Despite a 3.8% decline in overnight stays, the organization closed the fiscal year with a balanced budget, crediting rigorous cost controls.
The organization acknowledged delays in its digitalization projects but affirmed its commitment to developing a digital marketplace and other online services.
Future priorities include enhancing guest information, improving the autumn season's appeal, and targeted marketing to encourage more overnight stays.

The Zermatt Unplugged music festival is scheduled to return to its full format in April, with headliners including Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Ellie Goulding.
The Gornergrat Zermatt Marathon will celebrate its 20th anniversary in July, marking a milestone for one of Europe's most challenging alpine races.
The traditional Folklore Festival will take place in August with a new schedule, moving its grand parade from Sunday to Saturday.
Other major events for the year include the Patrouille des Glaciers military ski race, the Matterhorn Ultraks trail run, and the Zermatt Music Festival.

Founded in 1968, Air Zermatt's primary purpose was to provide reliable helicopter-based medical access and rescue services for the Zermatt population and its guests.
The company became a global pioneer in mountain rescue, developing the long-line rescue technique and performing the first direct hoist rescues from the Eiger North Face.
As early as 1973, Air Zermatt was the first helicopter company to add medical professionals to its standard flight crews for rescue missions.
The company's expertise is recognized worldwide, leading to its involvement in establishing a rescue station in Nepal and performing record-high rescues in the Himalayas.

After 58 years of operation, the Zermatt-Furi pendulum cable car will be dismantled in the summer of 2022.
The lift will be replaced by a modern, higher-capacity 100-person cable car that will operate without an on-board attendant.
The project includes a complete reconstruction of the Schluhmatte valley station, which will also house new, consolidated offices for the Zermatt Bergbahnen administration.
The new station is designed to optimize guest and luggage flow in anticipation of the completion of the "Matterhorn Alpine Crossing" to Italy.