Newsroom

The Engadin Ski Marathon is getting a new start procedure: Instead of 8 categories, it will be restarted in 29 waves. The “wave start” creates significantly more space for individual participants and shorter waiting times before the start; the scramble for a starting position in the front rows is now a thing of the past. The new start mode is a result of the pandemic.

The success story of Bündner company and school tests is coming to an abrupt end for now: The Omicron wave triggered an avalanche of tests that the laboratory was no longer able to cope with. “pooling,” one of the success factors of the test strategy, was her undoing.

The Omicron virus variant has significantly changed pandemic events and public perception. The case numbers, and with them the number of employees who are absent, are skyrocketing to previously unknown levels. The result is outages in tourist supply and excessive demand. For guests — and therefore for tourism providers — transparent communication is now particularly important.

In order to minimize the risk of infection, some schools in the region are starting the new year remotely. All students are tested and face-to-face teaching only starts next week. The “Corona II Engadin” task force has prepared an overview with the municipalities and schools.

The Omicron variant appears to be steering the pandemic in a new direction. More contagious than any previous variant, it will probably be the dominant variant in Südbünden as well in the next few days. It is possible that the number of cases will rise faster than ever before. Companies in all sectors should prepare for this.

Reader K. from Montreal receives the newsletter from the “Corona II Engadin” task force every week. He finds it too long. We understand that, but it has to do with the turtle... (A kind of Christmas story)

Klinik Gut has received building permission from the municipality of St. Moritz for the construction of its parent house in the spa area in St. Moritz-Bad. This means that construction can begin in spring 2022. The new clinic is scheduled to open in late autumn 2023.

Tourism in Südbünden in winter 2021/2022 will largely depend on whether guests have access to the full range of tourist attractions and how complicated travel across national borders will be. As in the previous winter, the ability to plan holidays and leisure time and the guests' sense of security are also decisive factors. Disturbing uncertainties arise not only from the development of the pandemic itself, but also from sluggish decision-making and unclear intentions on the part of national policy makers.

'Bap e Figl' is the name of a new cooking and photo book by Dumeng and Gian Giovanoli about the specialties and nature of the Engadin. The chef and former ski racer and the photographer show traditional recipes, landscape and animal pictures and tell stories from the Engadin and Bergell.

The European Helicopter Association EHA has elected Swiss Christian Müller as its new President and Technical Director. EHA is the umbrella organization of the European helicopter industry. Müller advises aviation companies in various countries on legal regulations, safety and training. He is a member of the board of the Swiss Helicopter Association.

The Graubünden Cantonal Hospital Foundation is the new owner of Klinik Gut AG. Klinik Gut will continue operations at the two inpatient clinics and six practice locations as before. The 250 jobs will be retained.

Klinik Gut continues to improve its range of advice and treatment for patients in Chur and Nordbünden. On November 1, a new practice for consultations and outpatient X-ray guided infiltrations and pain management opens on Masanserstraße in Chur-Nord. It replaces the previous practice on Lürlibadstraße.

The “hut hosts” Anja and Hans Jörg Zingg are leaving the El Paradiso Hospitality Group and handing over their duties at the el paradiso Mountain Club, the Hotel Restaurant Lej da Staz and the La Rösa Guesthouse. They had rebuilt El Paradiso in 1998 and then managed it as a host couple for 23 years. A new plant management will be appointed shortly.

Construction of the exploratory tunnel under Brienz slip in the Graubünden municipality of Albula/Alvra has begun. The tunnel explores the possibilities of draining the Brienz slide from below and thus slowing it down. The work is expected to take one and a half years and cost around 14 million francs.

Construction has begun on a new protection project against floods and debris flows around the Graubünden village of Bondo. Over the next four and a half years, protective dams will be built, new bridges and roads will be built, and a high-voltage line will be laid in the ground. The project costs 42 million francs. It is financed by the federal government, the canton of Graubünden, the municipality and from donations.

Davos is setting out to be Switzerland's first climate-neutral holiday resort in 2030. Guests and companies will join forces with the “myclimate climate fund Davos”, which supports local climate projects. It is operated by the destination organization, the municipality and the myclimate foundation.

110 children and young people between the ages of five and fourteen fought in St. Moritz on Saturday in the Pho3nix Kids Triathlon by Nicola Spirig. The Swiss Olympic Champion personally welcomed her to the finish line.

The experts say that water is the lubricant of Brienz. A clayey layer allows the village of Brienz/Brinzauls and the slope above it to slide down the valley. What if you could drain the water from the landslide? Would that slow down or even stop the slide? The geologist Reto Thöny and his team have searched for similar examples all over the world.

The “Serletta Süd” project for a clinic and a hotel in St. Moritz can be realized. The Federal Supreme Court dismissed the appeals filed by residents against the partial revision of the local planning in full. The hospital building is now to be built first.

The Engadin Corona Task Force has been working on solution-oriented teamwork between business, healthcare, destination organization, municipalities and the canton for a year. However, the birthday is not celebrated. The party is only celebrated when the task force can be disbanded.

The municipality of Albula/Alvra also wants to participate in the Landwasserwelt project. On Friday evening, the municipal assembly approved a commitment loan of 510,000 francs. Following the approval of Bergün Filisur and Schmitten, three of the four local municipalities have thus accepted the project. Davos is due to decide on its participation in the launch costs this summer.

If the Graubünden mountain village of Brienz/Brinzauls had to be evacuated for safety reasons, the Albula Volunteer Fire Brigade and First Responders would take on important tasks. Fire Commander Roland Farrér relies on a well-trained team, as he says in an interview.

In three scenarios, the Federal Council outlines possible developments of the pandemic in summer and autumn. They are used to prepare for the coming months and the outlook for winter. The “Corona II Engadin” task force assesses them from the perspective of tourism in Grisons.

A new suite hotel with restaurant is being built in the dairy on Lake St. Moritz. The episcopal estate from the Middle Ages is only slightly enlarged; the historic buildings and the landscape worth protecting are protected. The public restaurant will be retained for locals and guests from the region.