Gstaad, Switzerland, June 25, 2012 – Stefan Schaer has been appointed the Director of Sales and Marketing for The Alpina Gstaad, the first luxury hotel to be built in 100 years in the charming alpine village of Gstaad.

A 22-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Mr. Schaer has extensive experience in sales and marketing with several of the industry’s top hotel companies as well as with promoting luxury resorts in the Swiss Alps.

Mr. Schaer will be responsible for all the sales and marketing efforts for The Alpina Gstaad, a $337 million luxury development that includes private apartments within the hotel and two chalets.   On schedule to open December 1, The Alpina Gstaad is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Swiss architecture incorporating authentic local materials and time-honored alpine style.  The hotel will have 56 rooms and suites, three restaurants, including the first European outpost of MEGU and a traditional Swiss stübli, a 21,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa, two pools, a cigar lounge and a private cinema.

Prior to joining The Alpina Gstaad, Mr. Schaer was Director of Sales and Marketing for the Radisson Blue Hotel in Zurich where he also underwent intensive training in The Business School @Rezidor.   Previously, he was Resident Manager of Cresta Hotels in Davos, the largest resort in the Alps and served as Deputy Director of the Lucerne Tourist Office.  Mr. Schaer began his career at the five-star Grand Hotel Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz and moved to the five-star Palace Luzern, a member of the exclusive Victoria-Jungfrau Collection, where he quickly moved up from Front Office positions to Director of Sales and Marketing.

“Stefan’s experience with international hotel brands that have been recognized for their strong sales and marketing will be invaluable to us,” explained Nik Leuenberger, Managing Director of The Alpina Gstaad.  “He has an in-depth understanding of our target markets, our discerning clientele and has the contacts for the important global travel trade and marketing alliances.  We know that Stefan will be a vital part of the team as we aim to be one of the finest luxury properties in Switzerland,” said Mr. Leuenberger.

Commenting on his appointment, Stefan noted, “I am delighted to be directing the sales and marketing efforts for The Alpina Gstaad in our quest to create a new experience for today’s luxury travelers.  The bar is already high in Gstaad, and we are excited about setting a new level of distinction,” he explained.

Mr. Schaer received an Executive International MBA from the University of Salzburg Business School in Salzburg.  He has a degree in business from École supérieure de Commerce in Neuchâtel and received a marketing planner degree from Marketing Management Zenturm in Schlieren.  A Swiss national from Bern, Mr. Schaer speaks five languages English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

For further information and high resolution images, please visit www.thealpinagstaad.ch.