Nina Kölbl Takes Over as Head of Tourism at House of Winterthur

House of Winterthur is undergoing a leadership change in its tourism division: Nina Kölbl will take over as head of the tourism division and become deputy managing director effective September 1, 2026. She was selected from more than three dozen applicants through a multi-stage selection process.

«With Nina Kölbl, we are gaining a dedicated and experienced professional who is well-connected in the tourism industry and, at the same time, has deep roots in Winterthur,» says Jakob Bächtold, managing director of House of Winterthur.

Experience in international destination marketing

Nina Kölbl has extensive experience in international tourism and destination marketing. She currently works at Switzerland Tourism, where, as Deputy Head of Accommodation & Gastronomy, she is responsible for the strategic development of marketing for the accommodation and gastronomy sectors. Previously, she worked in marketing at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz; her career also includes roles in event and promotions management. Nina Kölbl holds an Executive MBA in Marketing and a MAS in Customer Excellence from HWZ University of Applied Sciences Zurich.

«I am very much looking forward to working with the team and our partners to further develop Winterthur as a tourist destination,» says Nina Kölbl. «Winterthur offers great potential as a diverse destination with a strong cultural and economic profile.»

Markus Gilgen is leaving House of Winterthur after nearly ten years

Markus Gilgen, previously Head of Tourism and Deputy Managing Director, is leaving House of Winterthur at his own request at the end of June 2026 to pursue a new professional challenge. He had assumed responsibility for the tourism division following the merger of Winterthur Tourism and Winterthur Economic Development and played a key role in shaping the development of the tourism destination during this time. He further developed the «Winterthur Switzerland» destination brand and translated it into concrete offerings—most notably the world’s first urban golf course, «Urban Golf Winterthur,» which has since been adopted by 17 destinations. He also steered the tourism sector through the pandemic and into two consecutive record years for overnight stays.

«Markus Gilgen has shown great dedication and extensive expertise in tourism in his work on behalf of our partners and the Winterthur region. We extend our heartfelt thanks to him and wish him every success in his future endeavors,» says Managing Director Jakob Bächtold.

Until Nina Kölbl takes up her position, Managing Director Jakob Bächtold will serve as interim head of the tourism division.

Source: www.winterthur.com