"a happy and lively year"
62. Annual Report for the year 2024
The 2024 financial year was exceptional - full of events and experiences that will live long in the memory. The largest drone show in Eastern Switzerland in spring delighted around 5,000 guests with a glowing sky and musical accompaniment - impressive proof of Kronberg's innovative strength. Our 60th anniversary was celebrated with various attractions - including a ceremony, special hiking trails and a visual design for the cable car cabins.
Immerse yourself in the successful financial year.
Video 60 years of the cable car
Voices from partner companies
The annual report is available for you to view and download as a PDF document:
Report of the Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dear Shareholders,
2024 was a special year for Kronberg AG - our anniversary year.
We celebrated this milestone in style with a major event for our shareholders and key partners from the worlds of politics and business. The focus was on the history of our company. A specially produced film impressively documented the development of Kronberg and provided an exciting review of the past decades. The anniversary was not only a moment to look back, but also to look ahead to the coming decades. Kronberg is more than just a leisure and family mountain—it is a place full of experiences, tradition, and innovation.
Strong anniversary program
In addition to the main event, we celebrated the anniversary year with various other activities. The collaboration with Hoher Kasten, with whom we created special offers for our guests, deserves special mention. This cooperation demonstrates the importance of regional networking and the added value for visitors and companies alike.
Various events and special experiences have further strengthened the connection with our guests and partners. We were also able to expand our networking within the industry: Since last fall, we have been represented on the board of the Eastern Switzerland Cableways Association (OSVS) and coordinate our activities closely with the other Appenzell cableways - as a common Appenzell voice.
Record sales despite difficult conditions
Despite a challenging year in terms of weather conditions, we were able to achieve record sales. The anniversary activities and special offers contributed significantly to this success. The high occupancy rate on sunny weekends and the flexibility of our team in changeable weather underline the attractiveness of our offer.
Staff development and cost optimization
Recruiting and retaining qualified staff remained a challenge in 2024. The shortage of skilled workers is noticeable, but through targeted deployment planning, we were able to fill vacancies and optimize personnel costs without compromising on service quality. This underlines our attractiveness as an employer and the efficiency of our team.
Higher costs due to anniversary activities and investments
The higher costs, which led to a reduction in EBIT, are due in particular to the anniversary activities. In addition to the celebrations, the revision of the cable car and targeted investments in the future also contributed to this increase. New offers for team events are intended to enrich our group offering in the long term. These investments are essential to ensure our competitiveness and further develop our offering.
New market positioning
An important step in the last financial year was the renaming of our company: Luftseilbahn Jakobsbad-Kronberg AG became Kronberg AG. With this name change, we are making it clear that all areas and activities are united under one roof. At the same time, we are strengthening our employees' identification with the company and sending a clear signal about our future direction.
As part of the realignment, we have also revised our internal reporting and adapted the external presentation of key figures to current requirements. This creates transparency and facilitates the strategic management of our company.
Long-term development - Kronberg 2040 project
In the Board of Directors, we have taken a close look at the future of our company. As part of the Kronberg 2040 project, we have analyzed the long-term development and positioning of Kronberg and set an important course for the coming years. The results show clear areas for action that we will continue to pursue systematically. The close cooperation between the Board of Directors, operational management and external experts has proven to be very valuable in this regard.
Looking to the future
The coming years will be characterized by strategic development. New offers that attract guests in times of low turnover, sustainable investments and the optimization of our infrastructure will remain key topics. At the same time, we are keeping a firm eye on our identity as a family and adventure mountain.
Thanks and outlook
The Board of Directors and the Executive Board would like to thank all employees for their great commitment and flexibility. Thanks to their commitment, we were able to successfully master the challenges of the past year. We would also like to thank our guests for their loyalty and trust in our services.
We look to the coming years with confidence. The strategic investments and the high demand for leisure activities on the Kronberg make us optimistic that we can continue to achieve successful results in the future.
I wish you the best of health and send you my warmest regards.
Thomas Bischofberger
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Report of the Managing Director
The 2024 financial year was exceptional in many respects. The numerous events, encounters and experiences moved us all and will be remembered for a long time to come. The pictures on our website tell their own story - full of emotions, full of special moments. From the impressive drone show and the colourful traditional costume day to the big anniversary celebration "60 years of cable car Jakobsbad-Kronberg" and the atmospheric open air with pop star Beatrice Egli: the past year was marked by highlights that showcased Kronberg as a vibrant place of experience and community.
A brilliant start with the biggest drone show in Eastern Switzerland
The biggest drone show in Eastern Switzerland set new standards back in spring. Around 5,000 guests marveled at the glowing formations in the sky - accompanied by music and a dance performance in the cable car cabin. This spectacle impressively demonstrated that the Kronberg not only fascinates with its natural beauty, but also with innovative productions.
The 60th anniversary ceremony: an evening full of emotion
Another highlight was the ceremony in August. Provincial Governor Roland Inauen, District Governor Urban Fässler and Chairman of the Board of Directors Thomas Bischofberger led through the evening with depth and humor. Musical performances and a performance by Martin O. provided some touching moments. Various protagonists who shaped the history of Kronberg had their say in a contemporary documentary - an emotional look back at six decades of company history.
Events with charisma: what remains and what ends
The anniversary events have underlined Kronberg's potential as an event location. The drone show will continue in 2025 as the official opening spectacle of the summer season. Cultural events such as the Day of Traditional Costume and comedy evenings will also remain an integral part of the program. The open air, on the other hand, will not be continued after three successful years, as the market for music open airs is highly competitive and financially risky. The anniversary activities have increased the Kronberg's media presence, strengthened its image as an adventure mountain and attracted new guests.
Setting the course for the future
Behind the scenes, intensive work was carried out on the further development of the company. Modern IT systems, an expanded range of products and targeted replacement investments - particularly in the restaurant business - are laying the foundations for a successful future. The strategic realignment lays important foundations for ensuring long-term competitiveness.
Nature as a central component of the experience
A guest survey has confirmed that unspoiled nature is the main reason for a visit to the Kronberg. Our philosophy "In tune with nature" is therefore also reflected in new offers. The interactive puzzle pathbrings guests into contact with their surroundings in a playful way - whether by recognizing bird calls or feeling natural materials. This internally developed attraction is very popular.
New attractions and technical maintenance
Another new feature was presented in the summer with the opening of the ballpark. Children can experience the four elements - fire, water, air and earth - in a playful way. Existing attractions such as the zipline-park and fairy-tale-world underwent extensive maintenance in order to continue to offer a high-quality experience. Of particular importance was the overhaul of the running gear of the first cabin as part of the annual inspection. At the same time, ropes, supports and controls were checked to ensure the highest safety standards. The overhaul of the second drive will follow in 2025.
Thanks to everyone involved
Such a successful year would not have been possible without the commitment of many people. Our special thanks go to our employees - they are the key to our success. We would also like to thank our guests, suppliers, partners and the Board of Directors for their constructive and trusting cooperation.
Best wishes and see you soon at the Kronberg
Felix Merz
Facts and figures
Toboggan ride track frequency (record)
184929
Sales in TCHF (record)
6723
Coffee drinks
45344
PET bottles
35000
Frequency cable car
+10 %
Financial commentary
Kronberg AG financial year 2024: review and outlook
Kronberg AG achieved a new sales record of CHF 6,723,000 in 2024 (+6.5 %). The main drivers were higher income from the cable car (+9.5 %), the restaurants (+5.5 %) and anniversary activities such as the open air, the puzzle path and other additional offers.
The toboggan ride (-2.9 %) and zipline-park (-9.5 %) recorded declines due to poor weather conditions. Fairy-tale-world, on the other hand, grew by 9.7 % despite lower visitor numbers thanks to new offers. Overall, anniversary activities throughout the year led to a 4.8 % increase in sales compared to the previous record year of 2022.
Personnel expenses fell in relation to sales to 47 % (previous year: 50 %), although absolute costs rose slightly. The search for specialist staff remains challenging, but Kronberg AG is asserting itself as an attractive employer with good working conditions.
Higher expenses were incurred for anniversary activities, materials, IT and a drive overhaul, among other things. These additional costs led in part to a deficit for individual major events outside of the anniversary program.
Kronberg AG is financially stable. EBITDA amounted to TCHF 618 (-40 %), adjusted for one-off effects to around TCHF 1,100. Investments of TCHF 567 were financed from cash flow; in addition, TCHF 250 in loans were repaid. The equity ratio increased slightly to 39 %.
The solid starting position forms the basis for future investments as part of Project 2040, which will significantly shape the future direction of Kronberg AG.
The auditor's report, the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, notes to the financial statements and key figures can be viewed and downloaded in the PDF document:
Organization
Strategic management
The Board of Directors of Kronberg AG is responsible for the strategic development of the company as a whole. The members of the Board of Directors are elected until the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
The Board of Directors is made up of the following members:
From the left: Hansjürg Freund, Ruedi Ulmann, Evelyne Gmünder, Thomas Bischofberger, Sabrina Huber, Stephan Rusch
Operational management
From left: Emil Signer, Head of Attractions, Marc Bodenmann, Head of Technology, Felix Merz, Managing Director, Michael Bieri, Head of Marketing and Sales, Simeon Herb, Head of Gastronomy
Kronberg team
Adrian Signer, Aleksandra Maselli, Alessandro Facchin, Ali Mohammadi, Amanullah Rahimi, André Araûjo, Andreas Tinner, Anna Heimann, Beat Signer, Benjamin Lütolf, Carlo Zehnder, Conny Fuchs, Corina Reichmuth, Corinne Rechsteiner, Daniel Koller, Daniela Ory, Debora Gasser, Dominic Bösch, Dominic Rodigari, Dominik Husistein, Emil Fuchs, Emil Signer, Erika Koller, Eveline Walder, Fabienne Häberli, Felix Merz, Hans Büchler, Helen Stark, Ida Koller, Imelda Stäheli, Ira Behrendt, Ivo Goldener, Javier Roth, Jeanine Zürcher, Joel Khair, Johann Neff, Jonny Broger, Katharina Preisig, Karin Gantenbein, Ladina Rhyn, Lara Reichmuth, Larissa Hofmeister, Leandra Inauen, Luzia Inauen, Marc Bodenmann, Marisa Dörig, Martha Signer, Matthias Inauen, Michael Bieri, Michelle Wick, Mitjam Signer, Monika Rechsteiner, Monika Roth, Nathalie Eberhard, Nicole Streule, Nuno Araûjo, Patrick Engler, Qasim Safi, Rabea Stöcklin, Ramon Mock, Reto Alder, Reto Schiess, Rolf Mayr, Roman Streule, Roman Zachensky, Sabrina Nauer, Sandro Broger, Sarah Kägi, Simeon Herb, Stefanie Hartmann, Susanne Steinbauer, Sven Junginger, Tamara Siegrist, Uschi Frey
(in alphabetical order)