Giusep Fry hands over “Uto Kulm” to his son

The king of Üetliberg resigns – and hands over the crown to his son. Probably the most notorious hotelier in the city of Zurich, Giusep Fry, announced on Wednesday that he was handing over the management of “Uto Kulm” to his son Fabian, with immediate effect.

“I started here at ‘Uto Kulm’ thirty years ago. I was as old then as Fabian is now. And I always swore to myself that I wanted to give him the opportunity to get on here as well,” says Giusep Fry. His son is ready for it.

Fabian Fry is only 25, at the age of 14 he began his apprenticeship as a hotel manager. He worked at the Park Hyatt in Zurich and Dubai, among other places, before returning to his father’s business a few years ago.

“Of course it’s not the norm to become managing director so early,” Fabian Fry told the NZZ. “But if I wasn’t able to do that, I wouldn’t have been given this responsibility either.”

With yoga and pop-up to a younger audience

Under the new management, the “Uto Kulm” wants to attract more young guests, for example with yoga events or a new gastronomic concept in pop-up style for the summer. The Christmas market at “Uto Kulm”, which was introduced during the pandemic, is also to be continued. Its introduction was Fabian Fry’s idea, emphasizes the media spokesman for “Uto Kulm”, Benjamin Styger.

Styger also confirms two less positive news about “Uto Kulm”: The event company Giardino Verde, which also belongs to the company, will be closed, and operations will be outsourced in two other business units. They want to concentrate on the core business – i.e. on the hotel on the Üetliberg.

Even there, however, the future is less certain than it seems after the handover from old to young Fry. According to the “Uto Kulm”, there were talks with the city of Zurich about a possible takeover. So far, these have not yet borne fruit. “However, we are still open,” says Styger.

Will “Uto Kulm” soon belong to the city of Zurich?

It is fitting that the new managing director Fabian Fry reacts with conspicuity when asked about his vision for the “Uto Kulm” for 2030. “We live in dynamic times. You can’t project as far into the future as you used to.”

This can be interpreted as modest restraint – or as a sign that the “Uto Kulm” 2030 may no longer belong to the Frys.

City councilor Daniel Leupi (Greens), who is responsible for real estate, also confirmed to the NZZ that takeover talks with the Frys had been going on for two years. “So far there has been no agreement, but the city is still interested.”

It is not known what the selling price would be. In 2014, Giusep Fry spoke to SRF of a high double-digit million amount that he would ask for his life’s work.

With the handover to the son, Fry senior is now sending out a clear signal: the business should continue without a sale. Wanting to polish up the outdated image of “Uto Kulm” with a young manager fits in with the strategic thinking of this resourceful gastronomy family.

Provocative style continues

The Frys have been making headlines for years with unconventional activities and trouble with the authorities – which hasn’t harmed their reputation. Again and again, extensions to and around the hotel came into conflict with environmental protection and cantonal law. Most recently, the Christmas village at “Uto Kulm”, which Fry junior initiated in 2020. At that time, the canton decided that a building permit was actually needed for the so-called winter magic.

The Frys kept putting things in public space without obtaining the appropriate permits, criticized the Pro Üetliberg association, which is committed to protecting nature the Tamedia newspapers.

Even under the aegis of Fabian Fry, not much is likely to change in the provocative business style on the Üetliberg. All the more so because saying goodbye to Giusep Fry is actually only half.

As Chairman of the Board of Directors, he will continue to keep an eye on his son. Or as they say in “Uto Kulm”: to give him good advice.