Ticino entrepreneur invests his own millions in San Bernardino
Published: Sunday, Dec 10th 2023, 13:00
Updated At: Monday, Dec 11th 2023, 00:59
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Ticino entrepreneur Stefano Artioli wants to develop San Bernardino GR into a year-round destination at a cost of 300 million francs. He bought half the village and is investing millions of francs from his own pocket in his vision.
He wants to turn the once flourishing mountain village into a tourist destination that offers activities all year round: Mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, climbing, skiing, wellness and much more is planned by the entrepreneur Artioli, as he wrote when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.
At the heart of his vision is a five-star hotel with a public spa and wellness area. The municipality transferred a 16,000 square meter plot of land to him for this purpose in the spring of this year. There are also several buildings in the village center, including two hotels that Artioli is currently renovating. He plans to open the Hotel Brocco & Posta as early as this season.
Artioli also wants to breathe new life into the ski lifts, most of which have been at a standstill for several years. All of his plans should be implemented by 2033. During this initial development phase, he wants to pay for them from the "family office" - i.e. from his own pocket. Later on, investors will contribute their share.
Not the only major project
Artioli is not only investing his money in San Bernardino. He is currently also investing in the revitalization of the Grand Hotel in Locarno, which has been closed since 2005. Here, too, he is tapping into the family coffers. He is investing 50 million francs in his vision of a luxury hotel that is set to shine again.
Such major investments in tourism projects are reminiscent of the Egyptian businessman Samih Sawiris, who had six hotels, 500 apartments, 28 chalets, conference facilities, a golf course and much more built in Andermatt. If you compare Sawiris' and Artioli's projects, the latter are a piece of cake: Sawiris invested 1.8 billion Swiss francs in his construction projects and an additional 130 million Swiss francs in the Andermatt-Sedrun ski arena, as can be seen from a fact sheet published by his public limited company "Andermatt Swiss Alps". Artioli's investments in Graubünden amount to CHF 300 million and CHF 50 million in Ticino.
The man from southern Switzerland earns his money with real estate. He founded the Artisa Group, which now manages real estate investments throughout Europe. His son Alain Artioli now manages the business of the company, which employs over 135 people. Flavio Petraglio, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of "San Bernardino Swiss Alps", which was founded in September 2022, is also a member of the Executive Board.
Former Graubünden councillor Christian Rathgeb (FDP) and the CEO of Graubünden Ferien Martin Vincenz are also contributing to the board of directors of the public limited company dedicated to the revitalization of San Bernardino.
Vision appeals
He is driven by a long-term, sustainable vision, Stefano Artioli wrote to Keystone-SDA. This commitment stems from a deep belief in the region's potential. The natural landscapes combined with the village's convenient location would make it an attractive investment. He wants to create lasting value here for residents and future visitors.
The authorities of the responsible municipality of Mesocco GR are unanimously behind Artioli and his company. In May 2023, all 19 members of the town council approved the transfer of the land for the construction of the new resort. Artioli is aware of the hope that the investor is giving the residents, as he writes. The community is eagerly awaiting new infrastructure, services and tempting offers. He is absolutely convinced that his investments will bear fruit.
©Keystone/SDA
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