Sawiris and Ticketcorner launch dynamic prices at Andermatt-Sedrun

The price war in the Swiss mountains is fierce - and fought with all means. Saas-Fee set an example last season with crowdfunding developed by Matter Gretener Lesch: for 222 francs, a season pass was available if the funding target was reached. The model worked, Saas-Fee looks back on a successful winter season 2016/2017 (Werbewoche.ch reported).

The campaign was well received by visitors, the media and the advertising world. But by no means everyone enjoyed the successful crowfunding. As Ticketcorner boss Andreas Angehrn told the Switzerland at the weekend says, the many Saas-Fee subscriptions are at the expense of the surrounding ski resorts. If others were to follow suit, he predicts, there would be ruinous competition.

The first are already doing so - Brigels, for example, is copying the Saas-Fee action with its own crowdfunding for discounted season tickets.

Angehrn believes that the mountain railroads must find new ways - and refers to the dynamic pricing model that Ticketcorner has developed together with Samih Sawiris, the president of Bergbahnen Andermatt-Sedrun.

Prices are calculated daily, fully automatically, and are influenced by weather data, booking time and season. "We are pushing automation the furthest," Angehrn tells Schweiz am Wochenende with conviction.

Guests influence the price themselves

"With flexible pricing, we are launching a pricing model that gives guests the opportunity to influence the price of their ski tickets themselves," Franz-Xaver Simmen, chairman of the board of Andermatt-Sedrun Sport, said in a statement. In Andermatt-Sedrun, ski tickets are available for adults from 37 francs, for young people from 25 francs, for children from 13 francs and for students/seniors from 34 francs. Families and groups receive an additional 10 percent discount. Except for annual season tickets and single rides, there are no longer any fixed prices.

The prices in the new flexible model depend on various factors. For early bookers and families, skiing will generally be cheaper. On weekdays or in the off-season, guests of the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun will also benefit from significantly lower prices. On the ten weekdays from January 8 to 12 and 15 to 19, 2018, the day pass will cost a flat rate of just CHF 10 for everyone.

"The new low entry-level prices in the SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun aim to better utilize low-frequency periods. In addition, more guests should book online," explains SkiArena CEO Silvio Schmid. There are no price changes for the annual passes.

Laax, Pizol and Blatten-Belalp are also testing ticketing with dynamic prices. Arosa-Lenzerheide, Zermatt and Flumserberg offer hourly tickets with different prices.

Angehrn says the dynamic pricing model does not necessarily lead to increased sales - it depends on how the mountain railroads use the instrument. On the other hand, he considers the previous system with the same prices for day passes to be a fundamentally wrong approach. Depending on the weather and capacity utilization, the customer is offered a different experience - and the fact that he always has to pay the same is not really correct, he thinks. (hae)