The well-known newcomer: Manuel Huber (2nd from left) will be presented in Wallgau as the successor to Sabrina Blandau. Congratulations (from left) Bastian Eiter, Thomas Schwarzenberger and Enrico Corongiu. © Christof Schnürer
This option was obvious: Manuel Huber becomes the new managing director of Isartaler Tourismus-GmbH. The current deputy succeeds Sabrina Blandau, who will leave her post at her own request at the end of the year.
Upper Isar Valley – The fact that Manuel Huber (41) was chosen is in no way surprising. It was obvious that the native of Mittenwald would succeed Sabrina Blandau (42) as thinker and leader of the tourism company Alpenwelt Karwendel at the turn of the year. Huber has been preparing for this demanding task for the past five years, so to speak. "I've always flirted with it. " On Tuesday, the mayors of the three AWK partner municipalities presented it at Wallgau City Hall.
This is exactly where Manuel Huber was also introduced as Blandau's deputy in September 2018 – at that time by the community leaders Hansjörg Zahler (Wallgau), Thomas Schwarzenberger (Krün) and Adolf Hornsteiner (Mittenwald). Of these three, as is well known, only Schwarzenberger is still in office. He describes Huber as a "homegrown" and refers to his first internship experience at the Mittenwald Tourist Office with the then spa director Klaus Ronge. As Mittenwald's town hall boss Corongiu, who is chairman of the supervisory board of Alpenwelt-Karwendel-GmbH until July 1, notes, Blandau's successor was not chosen in a classic selection process. He had been specifically addressed. However, the aspirant then had to submit a written application and face the decision-makers (supervisory board and local councillors). "He was convincing to the fullest," Corongiu emphasizes, speaking of unanimous decisions in this context.
Young as time flies: In September 2018, Manuel Huber (2nd from left) is presented as deputy to GmbH boss Sabrina Blandau. Congratulations at the time (from left) Hansjörg Zahler, Thomas Schwarzenberger and Adolf Hornsteiner. © FOTOPRESS THOMAS SEHR
"We are very happy to have found a successor," says Wallgau's mayor Bastian Eiter, relieved – especially because Manuel Huber is a proven expert. He will initially receive a three-year contract. "My preferred candidate," reveals Sabrina Blandau, who announced her retirement in April after 14 years as head of the GmbH.
Huber will officially take up his new post at the AWK office in Mittenwald on 1 January 2024. He is supported by almost 30 employees. In any case, the family man is not lacking in qualifications and professional experience: After completing his training as a tourism clerk, Huber studied business management in the tourism and leisure industry at the FH Management Center Innsbruck from 2008 to 2011 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business. From 2012 to 2018, he ensured smooth tourism management at the tourist information office in Kochel and Walchensee. In other words, Huber learned his job from scratch – first at the counter, now in the executive suite. The cooperation with him as vice president and Blandau as managing director is said to have been "always at eye level". "We saw ourselves as a team – which is not something that can be taken for granted."
When Huber thinks about the future, he also speaks of "major problems" – be it tourism acceptance and so-called "over tourism" in general and the shortage of skilled workers in particular. "It's all become more complex."
Incidentally, his previous deputy post will soon be officially advertised. "Then," says Thomas Schwarzenberger, "we will see how attractive the Karwendel Alpine world is."