How can we make tourism in the Alps future-proof?

Graubünden Ferien is the tourism marketing organization of the canton of Graubünden. Together with their partners, they pursue the goal of attracting more guests to Graubünden and making the industry sustainable and fit for the future. The Graubünden heraldic animal, the ibex, is their trademark and they live its characteristics – proud, sure-footed and team-oriented.

The Alpine habitat is undergoing continuous change and is coming under increasing pressure due to advancing climate change, intensive tourism and the expansion of infrastructure. Finding a balance between value creation through future-oriented energy and infrastructure construction and appreciation of the Alpine region is associated with many challenges. BKW offers solutions in the areas of buildings, energy and infrastructure to keep prosperity and the environment in harmony in an environment worth living in. We make living spaces worth living in.

Patagonia is a renowned outdoor apparel company that stands out for its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. With a focus on quality and durability, Patagonia designs and produces a wide range of outdoor clothing and gear for activities such as trail running, climbing, skiing, and surfing. Beyond its products, Patagonia is known for its advocacy work on environmental issues, promoting fair labor practices, and supporting grassroots environmental organizations.

Beth Thoren is a respected environmental leader. She joined Patagonia from her position as Deputy Chief Executive at Client Earth, an environmental NGO using the power of the law to create systemic change.  Before that, she spent a sabbatical as a crew member of the Sea Shepherd campaign ship.

Beth grew up in Tokyo and studied marine engineering.  She holds a Masters in Business Administration at Harvard and worked as a marketing director for nearly ten years before moving into the environmental sector.

Martina Hollenstein Stadler is a passionate tourism expert and has been advocating for the diverse natural and cultural landscape of Switzerland’s mountain regions for over ten years. She knows what it takes to position a destination for the future. At Graubünden Ferien, she is responsible for implementing the sustainable transformation together with partners to make tourism in the canton future-proof.

Regula Adank is a Sustainability Manager at BKW and is driving forward the company’s sustainability transformation. BKW’s ambition is to create spaces for life by offering solutions in the areas of energy, buildings and infrastructure. Regula has extensive experience in sustainability roles at Swiss Post and the Federal Office for Spatial Development. She holds a Diploma in Natural Sciences and her education includes advanced studies in digital transformation and social management.

Nicholas Bornstein received his Ph.D. in political science with a dissertation on Swiss environmental policy. He worked in EU affairs at the Federal Office of Public Health in Bern and represented Switzerland’s interests at the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels. Upon his return to Switzerland, he spent four years at the think tank W.I.R.E. in Zurich before joining Public Affairs consultancy furrerhugi.

He founded Protect Our Winters Switzerland in 2017 bridging his love for the outdoors with his passion for environmental protection.

Carmen Carfora is a communications and ESG professional. Andermatt Swiss Alps Group and Andermatt-Sedrun Sport AG have set out to transform Andermatt into a model Alpine community, offering a distinctive and sustainable habitat for generations to come.

Carmen spearheads Andermatt Responsible, the companies’ initiative for climate-friendly and sustainable tourism in the Andermatt region. She serves as the liaison for diverse stakeholders within the regional tourism sector. She holds a Master’s degree in German, English and Media Studies and an MAS in Communication Management and Leadership. Since 2017 she’s been a member of the board of the Swiss NGO Solafrica.

Franziska Heidenreich was a member of the executive board of the myclimate foundation and head of carbon offset projects for more than 10 years and now builds programs for bilateral carbon offset for myclimate. Franziska holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations, a master’s degree in Environmental Science, and a postgraduate degree in Development Policy.

Martin Meili took part in the first Earth Day in 1970 as an exchange student in the USA and was already confronted with the problems of climate change and the “point of no return”. With his commitment to Clima Now, he wants to ensure that suitable solutions are finally promoted and appropriate measures are taken.