Biglen
ZermattI come from Biglen near Bern, trained as a cabinetmaker and have lived in Zermatt since the early 1990s. For more than 25 years I have worked in hospitality, tourism and real estate.
Today, through my private office ARM, I bring together investors, developers, operators and communes.
In 1861 Friedrich Arm founded a reed-making workshop in Biglen. Over five generations it became a maker of treadle and pattern looms, until the 1980s. Arm AG is our family company. After my apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker I worked there in production, sales and administration.
In the early 1990s I came to Zermatt as a ski instructor and, with friends, founded the first private snowboard school in the village. I stayed for the work and the mountains, and later for my family.
In 2014 I took over Arm AG and by 2020 had converted the factory site into studio apartments. Today the company is my private office in Zermatt. The name has stayed.
2015–2020
Conversion of the former loom factory: 3,000 m³ into studio apartments, volume CHF 8m. As owner I was responsible for the business and financial plan, the architectural concept, cost, schedule and quality. Together with the architecture magazine Hochparterre we accompanied the conversion with events on site. The property has been sold.
2008–2021
Relaunch and repositioning of the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps: marketing and sales strategy, online distribution and sales trips to Europe, North America and Asia. From 2014 to 2020 I also sat on the board of Gornergrat Experience AG, the joint venture of BVZ Group and Matterhorn Group.
2008–2021
Repositioning of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof and its restaurants, rebranding of the Riffelhaus 1853. For the Matterhorn Group hotels also a central reservation system and group-wide reporting, with 21% more revenue in 18 months.
2014–2015
Roadmap and partnership concept for the 2015 anniversary. For the Hörnli hut, rebuilt at the time, the communication, the partnerships and the website. During the rebuild a base camp stood at 2,880 m.
2024–2026
With Quant AG: business and operating plan for Camping Täsch, use evaluation for the Turbina site in Zermatt, roadmap and space programme for Rifugio by CERVO in Täsch.
2001–2002
Deputy project manager for Swisscom at the Swiss national exhibition, project controlling of a CHF 74m engagement.
With ARM (Arm AG, Zermatt) I bring together investors, developers, operators and public institutions, in Switzerland and internationally. The focus is on managed real estate: hotels and resorts, serviced apartments and managed residences, branded residences, workation and mixed-use sites, as well as location and destination development.
The work starts with research. Who owns a property, who decides, where is something moving? Then I approach the people directly.
In August 2023 I rode from Zermatt to Bern over all 124 official Swiss road passes of the time.
Read the 21-day diary (in German)
In the mountains: 21 four-thousanders and the Patrouille des Glaciers. In Zermatt I coach the MTB youth team.
E-mail is the easiest way.