Switzerland Tourism’s current Director of Canada, Pascal Prinz, will be taking on a new role as Director, Global Accounts at ST based out of Zurich. Switzerland Tourism has announced that he'll be replace by Oliver Weibel as ov 01NOV.
Prinz’s passion and legacy as not only the face of Switzerland Tourism in Canada but also the face of the European Travel Commission, Canada, will be missed.
“It’s been an honor to represent Switzerland and Europe in Canada for the past 4.5 years. My heart is full of gratitude for all I have learned and the wonderful people I have met”, says a wistful Prinz. “I’m proud of how as “Team Europe,” we have navigated this crisis in Canada and that people can now travel again. Travel is the best education there is! I wish my successor Oliver Weibel all the best and an excellent start, and I look forward to championing his success from my new perch overseeing global accounts at ST!”
Switzerland Tourism says Prinz leaves Weibel with an incredible network of loyal industry colleagues, friends, and media contacts who have worked tirelessly to build and rebuild the business from Canada to Switzerland.
No stranger to tourism marketing, Weibel has worked at the national tourism board's headquarters since 2017 as marketing manager, accommodations & hospitality.
He holds a bachelor's degree in "International Hospitality Management" from EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne. Weibel knows the hotel and hospitality business worldwide personally from experience. Before joining Switzerland Tourism, Weibel held several positions in the international hotel industry, most recently working as Head of Sales & Marketing and Congresses & Events at the Hotel Einstein in St. Gallen, where he was responsible for the North American market. At ST, he has been part of the accommodation & hospitality marketing team in Zurich since 2017.
"We are sad to say farewell to Pascal but know he will continue to guide our global success in his new role. We want to thank him for his amazing contributions to the Canadian business and the recovery effort for travel to Switzerland and Europe, says Claudio Zemp, Director of Americas at Switzerland Tourism.
"With Oliver, we have a tourism expert joining us with experience from the core part of our business. He has worked extensively with our partners in Switzerland and knows our business well. And, with his extensive experience in North America, he is the ideal man with proven expertise in both marketing and the hotel and hospitality industry," Zemp continued.
In 2019, the Canadian market generated 275,000 hotel room nights for Switzerland, representing a 17% growth from 2015*. The average daily spend of Canadian travelers to Switzerland is CHF 290 (CAD 388), placing them in the top third of this ranking**. The post-pandemic enthusiasm of guests from North America is also reflected in Canadian tourists. ST expects 75% of Canadian hotel room nights to return this year (compared to 2019).
