from then and now

In this interview, Hubert Zegg tells his life story. It is also the story of his family, who, through hard work, foresight and tireless commitment, have made a significant contribution to the development of their home in Samnaun.

Mr Zegg, could you tell us how it all began?

HUBERT ZEGG: I grew up in Samnaun, in the old Hotel Silvretta. I first went to school in Samnaun, then to Scuol and later to the École Superieure de Commerce in Neuchâtel, where I graduated with a commercial diploma. I later joined the military and completed several officer schools. In between, I always worked in my parents' business, initially at the Hotel Silvretta. The Montana didn't exist yet. When it opened on 5 February 1966, my dad said to me: ‘Now you have to run it.’ I then had to do the Grisons landlord course. That was still compulsory at the time. It lasted two to three months. You had to cook, do service, bookkeeping and everything together. But it was never actually my goal to become a hotelier.

What would you have wanted to be?

HUBERT ZEGG: Pilot. That would have been such a dream. I had even taken my first exam for it, back then after school in Neuchâtel.

Did you have a role model or a kind of mentor?

HUBERT ZEGG: My role model was my dad. My dad was always proactive. We were the first in Samnaun to switch the hotel heating to oil. He was also the first to buy an automatic dishwasher to wash the dishes. He was the first to buy music machines for the bar. He was a pioneer in every respect. He also did a lot for Samnaun. Always open to new things - a very intelligent and strong-willed man.

What drives you, what motivates you?

HUBERT ZEGG: I was always looking ahead! Aiming for new goals and trying to realise them. I always had the urge to seize every opportunity and make the most of it.

One of these goals was probably the cable car. Without it, the Silvretta Ski Arena might never have developed into what it is today.

HUBERT ZEGG: It was absolutely necessary for Samnaun to take on this huge challenge. I used to run a hotel myself and realised that bookings were falling more and more. We also discussed this within the family, especially with my brother Walter. Without the full commitment of the municipality of Samnaun, under the leadership of Walter Zegg, the realisation of this project would not have been possible. We all realised that we absolutely had to implement it, otherwise Samnaun would die in winter. Samnaun could not survive on duty-free shopping alone. It absolutely needed ski tourism. So I simply put all my strength and energy into the project.

A project that didn't necessarily only have advocates ...

HUBERT ZEGG: Yes, many times it was hanging by a thread. If I had given up, the project would probably have died. But I was aware of my responsibility. I had my family here. My father was the real pioneer here in Samnaun, he built up so much. You can't just ‘ztschättere’ (let it all go down the drain). I always believed that it would work. When I was elected President of the project planning committee in 1972, things started to move forward. Also thanks to people like Dr Mathias Luregn Cavelty, who was then a member of the National Council and later a member of the Council of States in Graubünden. He helped us to obtain all the licences for the cable car. The efforts of Dr Fortunato Vincenz and Christian Candinas should also be mentioned in this context, not forgetting my brother Walter Zegg and my partners at the time, Anton Jenal and Erwin Aloys from Ischgl.

The Montana already existed at the time, so you also had to manage it ...

HUBERT ZEGG: Together with my wife, she was the real soul of the Montana. She practically took care of everything, I never had time. At some point it started with watches and jewellery, that was also her idea. Just like perfume and cosmetics. The haute parfumerie was also her initiative, to set it apart from the normal perfumeries. My wife has achieved an enormous amount and was a great pioneer and thanks to her, Samnaun now has many luxury brands in all segments, whether fashion, perfumery, cosmetics, watches or jewellery.

And then raising children ‘on the side’, how did you manage that?

HUBERT ZEGG: Yes, we have three children: Natascha, 1970, Olivier, 1972 and Tina, 1974. I don't think there has ever been a family in which the children have had so much freedom, because we simply didn't have the time. Nevertheless, they are all well, healthy and even work in the same ‘business’, Natascha and Olivier here in Samnaun, Tina in Monaco.

Then everything you've done has actually worked!

HUBERT ZEGG: So far, yes!

Do you regret not having done something?

HUBERT ZEGG: I could hardly have done more. What I regret is that we didn't do the lake in Samnaun! I was also on the tourism board as a delegate for the cable car and that's where we actually decided to build the lake and also decided on the location. But then a new municipal council came along and the project came to nothing. What a pity.

Now that you're 80 years old, you can look back on a lot. What are your favourite memories?

HUBERT ZEGG: Yes, there are many fond memories! Thank God, isn't that right? I have many fond memories of the Hotel Montana, starting with the opening in 1968, then the first major renovation in 1994 and finally the reopening last year. I'm particularly proud that we managed all of this in good time. I have particularly fond memories of the official opening of the cable car, which was on 18 December 1978, but I had already travelled up a week earlier, stood alone in this huge cabin, then travelled down to Alp Trida, then back up to the Viderjoch in the lift and on the descent I felt such enormous joy that it was now all working. After many years of hard struggle. All the things we've actually succeeded in are great memories. But let's not forget the family life we had as children. We are ten brothers and sisters. Those are wonderful memories. We always had a good time. Then the wedding and of course the births of the three children ...

What do you wish for the future?

That everyone stays healthy, especially my family and my siblings - who are all still alive - and that everyone continues to work together very successfully!