Zermatt Inside 2023 - 5 - English Translation and Summary

Summary of significant articles

The first-ever cross-border FIS Ski World Cup event will debut with men's downhill races on November 11-12 and women's races on November 18-19, 2023.
Following the previous year's cancellation, organizers moved the dates back and increased snow farming to better ensure the event proceeds.
The 'Gran Becca' course is largely on glacier terrain, minimizing the need for artificial snow, and will feature a new 'Matterhorn jump'.
A public spectator program with live streams, food, and entertainment will be hosted at the 'Matterhorn Plaza' in Zermatt during the race weekends.

Zermatt's continuous building boom has led to highly complex regulations governing construction noise and vehicle access.
General construction is permitted on weekdays, but heavy machinery and noisy work like drilling are restricted to specific 20-day periods in spring and autumn.
Special permits are required for extending excavation periods, geothermal drilling, and the use of nearly all combustion-engine vehicles on Zermatt's roads.
Larger projects must submit a site installation plan detailing vehicle access, traffic safety measures, and provisions for on-site parking for construction vehicles.

School Social Work (SSA) is a free, confidential service available directly within the school buildings of Zermatt, Täsch, and Randa.
It serves as a primary contact for issues like bullying, social integration, family conflicts, and the general well-being of students.
The service also focuses on prevention through classroom workshops and parent events to foster a positive and healthy school climate.
Run by trained social work professionals, the SSA is independent of the school administration and can mediate conflicts or refer cases to specialized agencies.

The association FEA Zermatt oversees five key childcare operations, including two daycares, two after-school programs, and a network of in-home family daycares.
A major reorganization is planned, with the 'Kinderparadies' daycare and after-school programs moving into the new 'Niww Walka' schoolhouse for the 2025/2026 school year.
This consolidation aims to create a 'day school' model that integrates education and childcare more closely.
The move will free up space at the current 'Marzipan' location to expand capacity for the care of younger children.

The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof is an official partner of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening, hosting a food truck on its plaza during the November race weekends.
Its culinary program recently received high praise, earning a 96/100 rating from 'Falstaff' magazine for its overall dining and its Michelin-starred Prato Borni restaurant.
The wine list at the hotel's Brasserie Lusi was honored with the prestigious Ueli Prager Prize at the 2023 Swiss Wine List Awards.
Heinrich Imboden has joined the Matterhorn Group as the new head of the technical service department, while Sven Ramsauer has been appointed hotel director of the Riffelhaus 1853.

The '360° Outdoor' project is a long-term strategy to develop the entire inner Mattertal corridor, including Randa and Täsch, into a leading year-round destination.
The plan focuses on sustainability and 'intergenerational equity,' aiming to create new economic opportunities while preserving natural resources.
Proposed developments include seven new 'experience zones' focused on activities like biking, climbing, and water sports, all connected by a sustainable mobility concept.
The project has secured financial support from national, regional, and local bodies and will use a participatory approach to gather input from residents and businesses.

Zermatt Tourism has launched a new annual advertising campaign titled 'Zermatt. Puts a spell on you,' which replaces the previous seasonal campaign format.
This new year-round approach allows for greater flexibility in promoting the destination's 365-day offerings to different international markets.
The campaign uses mystical and surreal imagery to highlight core activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, and culinary experiences.
It will be deployed primarily on digital channels, using data-driven analysis and mobile retargeting to maximize its effectiveness.

As an ecological compensation measure for recent lift construction, Zermatt Bergbahnen completed a multi-year restoration project in the Stafel glacier foreland.
The area, previously impacted by decades of construction for hydroelectric power, was revitalized between June 2021 and August 2023.
Work included dismantling old infrastructure, regrading material depots, revitalizing stream beds, and removing unused roads to restore natural landscape dynamics.
The project was deemed 'excellent and exemplary' by federal and cantonal authorities and created a surplus of ecologically valuable land for future credits.

Zermatt Bergbahnen is offering a 'First Track' experience, allowing guests to ski an exclusive run before the official opening, followed by breakfast at Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.
A unique 'Piste Preparation Live' offering lets guests ride along in a snowcat at dusk to see how the slopes are groomed for the next day.
The popular full-moon ski descent from Rothorn will return, followed by a fondue dinner at a local restaurant.
A Stöckli ski test center will operate at Trockener Steg, allowing skiers to conveniently test the latest ski models directly on the slopes.

The Gornergrat Railway celebrated its 125th anniversary on August 20, 2023, the exact date of its inauguration in 1898.
The main celebration hosted over 230 guests from politics and business and included the world premiere of a new play, 'Hallelujah, Gornergrat!', on the Riffelalp.
A key feature of the anniversary is the 'Golden Trilogy,' where three historic locomotives have been refurbished and installed as permanent photo points in Gornergrat, Zermatt, and Täsch.
The event recognized the railway's long history and its partnership with the Japanese partner railway FujiKyuko.