About Us

About Us

Alpine Connect is a new and innovative b2b service provider offering its customers essential tourism services across the alpine zones of Europe in both summer and winter.  At Alpine Connect we represent both buyers and sellers of products, an intermediary connecting people and providing guidance and support along the way.

 

Vision

Leverage our profound destination knowledge and great relationships to deliver essential & highly desirable alpine products & services to our customers and do so responsibly taking into account the needs of all stakeholders

Values

Passion

We love our products and we love what we do

Honesty & Integrity

We know what’s right and act accordingly

Trust & Transparency

We build trust and promote transparency

Cooperation

We work with our partners

Dependable & Reliable

We get the job done

Visibility

Easy to find & easy to talk to

Team

The team have known each other for over 20 years and for much of that time worked together either for the same business or partner organisations. All three have dedicated their careers to tourism in the alpine zones of the world with particular focus on Austria and the European Alps. The technical knowledge and know-how across the team is extensive and includes product planning, purchasing, yield management, promotion and partnerships.

Our success is underpinned by profound product and industry knowledge combined with an extensive network of partners across the industry.

Above all else we believe great relationships are critical in building long-term success. We don’t just work with our partners; we cooperate and collaborate seeking win-win outcomes and do so with integrity.

Gordon Ritter

I started my career in the mountains back in 1991 working as a resort representative and in the 30 years since I have held numerous overseas-based operational, management and leadership roles. In 2006 I returned to the UK and in 2008 took on the role of Purchasing Director for TUI Ski, Lakes & Mountains. I have extensive knowledge of the industry particularly tour operating from ground operations through to product and purchasing.In my spare time I enjoy spending time outdoors; running mostly plus skiing when I get the chance.

I am also a Trustee/Director at Disability Snowsport UK where we believe that all people have the right to access the unique physical, mental, and social benefits of snow sport, regardless of disability, injury, or experience.
https://www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk

Michael Schagerl

A teacher by trade, I realized my passion for the travel industry by jumping in at the deep end in 2001 and learning this trade from scratch. Austria’s largest incoming corporation Eurotours proved a meticulous teacher back in the early 2000s and offered me to dig in deeper and build an extensive network of business relationships across Austria’s extensive tourism landscape. After a few years of self-employment with an incoming organization, I landed at TUI UK’s doorstep. There I bumped into today’s partners again. And it was these years within tourism’s largest corporate beast that made me decide to give it a go and try to shape this industry in a more personal way. After all, who does want “talking baggage”? We are after the joy and fun that once coined this industry.

I am also a teacher (again) at a school for tourism and hospitality. Thus I manage to combine the best of both worlds. www.hltsemmering.ac.at

Heiko Thomas

After my Civil Engineering studies, I realized that my heart wasn’t in that industry, so I made my way to Orlando, FL. I secured a job at WDW Resort in the EPCOT theme park followed by a role working in the Swan & Dolphin Hotel, my first exposure to the world of travel & tourism.  Following some time in Australia I returned to Europe knowing I wanted to work in tourism so moved to St Johann in Tirol and spent two years working in various roles in local hotels.

In 2003 I joined TUI UK as a resort rep in my new home base of St Johann in Tirol. After a few years I switched to an office-based reservations role and then moved into the Operations Department.  In 2007 I secured my ideal role in Purchasing and in 2015 secured the purchasing leadership role until I left the business in 2021.

I am a passionate mountain biker, keen skier, and enthusiastic traveller, and I love to visit the more exotic and beautiful destinations around the globe.

Now, together with my business partners I want to use my extensive travel industry experience, knowledge and network to provide the best possible service and solutions for my hotel partners/service providers and distribution partners alike.

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