Destination snow
01-Sep-07 Felix Milns
The luxury ski market has substantially benefited from the overall strong European economy, according to Michael Bennett from Ski Independence. "There's a lot more disposable income now and this is filtering down into the ski market. Our average spend per passenger is now 37% higher than it was three seasons ago," he says.
Despite a very poor start to the European ski season last year, 2006 was not as bad as many feared. There was an overall 3.3% rise in skiers, pushing the UK total to just under 1.3 million. The North American market was particularly buoyant, thanks to great snow conditions and an ultra-strong pound.
A lot of luxury spend was on services such as helicopter resort transfers, flight upgrades and private jets, according to Elemental Adventure managing director James Morland. And as clients become ever more discerning, so operators are tailoring the bespoke service: Descent flew out Jamie Cullum for a series of acoustic concerts last season, and has Tom Aitkens as a guest chef at six of their Val d'Isere chalets next year.
Top-notch hotels are back in vogue, with Louis Vuitton's new flagship hotel in Courchevel charging starter prices of £750pp/pn. Many top-end skiers still look to the stellar resorts, as Kuoni senior product manager Alicia Welsman explains: "Guests want to go to blue-ribbon resorts in terms of skiing, gastronomy and entertainment."
But while many prefer established names, the profile of other resorts continues to rise. Andorra, for example, has officially made it to the big time. Elegant Resorts is featuring the opulent Sporthotel Hermitage in Soldeu for the first time this season.
Conversely, for those who seek a year-round date with the pistes, there is also a trend in skiers looking to get away from the crowds and try exotic destinations such as Kashmir and the southern hemisphere snow holes of Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.
This means operators at the top end must continually raise their game. "What previously has been considered luxury is now mainstream", says Antonia Lee-Bapty from La Chardon Mountain Lodges in Val d'Isere. Another key trend is the growth in corporate skiing. Like the Chalets de Philippe in Chamonix, its collection of exclusive chalets proves very popular for multi-property flexible group bookings.
NOVEMBER - BANFF, CANADA
Hot bed: The two-bedroom suites at the new Fox Hotel, a design-led mix of historic and natural elements reflecting Banff National Park. The spa centre is built around its own cave.
Classic hotel: Rimrock Hotel.
Terrain: The nearby ski areas of Lake Louise and Sunshine are as renowned for their backcountry bowls as for their postcard perfect pistes.
Client fit: Families, nature lovers and back-country connoisseurs.
Best mountain restaurant: Beefy burgers and maple syrup at the Sunshine Inn.
Best resort restaurant: Canadian-style steaks at the Maple Leaf Grille and Lounge (+1 403 760 7680).
Best non-skiing activity: Dog-sledding with Snowy Owl Tours (+1 403 678 4369).
Hot bed price: £858pp (two sharing) room only including flights and transfers.
Contact: 020 8776 8709, www.frontier-ski.co.uk
Recommended by Sandra Potter, managing director, Frontier Travel
DECEMBER - VERBIER, SWITZERLAND
Hot bed: The Penthouse master suite at Richard Branson's Lodge, Verbier (sleeps 18). Check out the Virgin touch treatment room for supreme indulgence.
Classic hotel: Hotel Chalet D' Adrien.
Terrain: Rightly vaunted as a cathedral of epic terrain, Verbier not only has its acclaimed steeps for the steep, but also greens for the green.
Client fit: Keen skiers and Eurotrash party people.
Best mountain restaurant: Check out the terrace views at the Sonalp.
Best resort restaurant: The tasting menu at the Michelin-starred Rosalp (+41 27 771 6323).
Best non-skiing activity: Clients can enjoy the views of the peaks from above by trying their hand at paragliding.
Hot bed price: From £35,325 half-board, not including flights and transfers.
Contact: 0800 716 919, www.virgin.com/limited edition
Recommended by Alex Withers, marketing manager, Virgin Limited Edition
JANUARY - LA PLAGNE, FRANCE
Hot bed: Summit View, five ski-in, ski-out private suites sleeping between six and 12 at 2000m, best of which is the seventh-floor Lugano Penthouse. Think weathered oak, open fires and awesome Grand Rochette views.
Classic hotel: Carlina Hotel.
Terrain: Now lift-linked with Les Arcs, there is wonderful intermediate cruising and plenty of challenging steeps.
Client fit: Families, intermediate skiers who want to do Paradiski in style.
Best mountain restaurant: Tartiflette at the rustic Forperet.
Best resort restaurant: A window table at La Chaudron (+33 479 092 333).
Best non-skiing activity: A white-knuckle ride down the Olympic bobsleigh.
Hot bed price: From £679pp half-board, flights and transfer.
Contact: +44 8701 123 118, www.snowline.co.uk
Recommended by Andy Sturt, managing director, Snowline
FEBRUARY - BAQUEIRA BERET, SPAIN
Hot bed: The Montarto Spa Hotel opens a new spa this season, complete with Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and local ice fountain.
Classic hotel: Four-star Hotel Tuc Blanc.
Terrain: High-altitude, north-facing slopes ideal for intermediate cruising.
Client fit: Food-loving intermediates keen to taste Spanish/French fusion on perfectly prepared pistes.
Best mountain restaurant: Cap del Port, a castle at the crest of the Port de la Bonaigua pass.
Best resort restaurant: Casa Irene (+34 973 644 364, www.hotelcasairene.com) is the royal favourite of King Juan Carlos and his amigos.
Best non-skiing activity: Check out the Roman thermal baths at the head of the valley.
Hot bed price: From £721pp half-board, flights and transfers
Contact: 020 8780 4433, www.inghams.co.uk
Recommended by Lynsey Devon, PR manager, Inghams
MARCH - DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
Hot bed: The master suite at the new ski-in, ski-out Tivoli Lodge (sleeps 12-16). The chalet comes complete with indoor swimming pool and waterfall.
Classic chalet: Chalet Eugenia, Klosters.
Terrain: Extensive long slopes and lots of accessible and rarely skied-out off-piste.
Client fit: Families will love the play area and adult groups can bask in sophisticated elegance.
Best mountain restaurant: Check out the Rosti up the mountain at Chalet Guggel (+41 814 is 135 148).
Best resort restaurant: Go traditional and cheesy in a positive sense at the Stubli at the hotel Fluela (+4181 410 1717).
Best non-skiing activity: Sledging is huge in Davos.
Hot bed price: From £24,610 half-board, excluding flights and transfers.
Contact: 020 7384 3854, www.descent.co.uk
Recommended by Julia Summers, head of sales and marketing, Descent International
APRIL - CHAMONIX, FRANCE
Hot bed: Chalet Les Grandes Jorasses in the Hamlet de Chalets Philippe, a magical sprawling chalet complex built from recycled mountain huts, complete with home cinema and the best collection of Savoyard antiques in the Alps.
Classic hotel: The Clubhouse.
Terrain: Strong intermediates and intrepid war-mountain explorers are best suited to the dramatic Chamonix steeps.
Client fit: Chalets can be rented individually or together, so a perfect romantic love nest or unique corporate hideout.
Best mountain restaurant: Try the great-value plat du jour at the tiny Refuge de Lognan and marvel at the spectacular views across the seracs of the Argentiere glacier.
Best resort restaurant: La Cabane (+33 450 532 327) is a vast Finnish-style timber cabin serving top-notch food on the side of the golf course.
Best non-skiing activity: Cocktails at the Clubhouse, the milk and honey Chamonix outpost.
Hot bed price: £840pp/pn including concierge.
Contact: Pollen Brooks, 01344 849 135, www.pollenbrooks.com
Recommended by Dean Pollen, managing director, Pollen Brooks
MAY - MAMMOTH, CALIFORNIA
Hot bed: Westin Mammoth Monache is the jewel in the Intrawest-developed Mammoth Village crown.
Terrain: Good cruising, steep faces and glade skiing across high altitude volcanic peaks.
Client fit: Families combining skiing with Disneyland, or volcanic lava-lovers.
Best mountain restaurant: Californian rolls at the Mountainside Grill (+1 760 934 0601).
Best resort restaurant: Lakefront Restaurant at Tamarack Lodge (www.tamaracklodge.com).
Best non-skiing activity: Spa treatment.
Hot bed price: From £1,100pp, two sharing room only, flights and 4x4 car hire.
Contact: 0845 310 3030, www.ski-i.com
Recommended by Michael Bennett, managing director, Ski Independence
JUNE - RIKSGRANSEN, SWEDEN
Hot bed: The "room with a stove" at the newly renovated Meteorologen Lodge.
Terrain: Rolling peaks under the midnight sun, night skiing does not get any better than this.
Client fit: Adrenaline junkies.
Best mountain restaurant: Cafe Lappis.
Best resort restaurant: Lapplandia - check out the local snow grouse and reindeer.
Best non-skiing activity: Schnapps and Hot tubs.
Hot bed price: £1,100pp B&B, flights and transfers.
Contact: 020 7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk
Recommended by Tom Barber, director, Original Travel
AUGUST - HELI-SKIING, LAS LENAS, ARGENTINA
Hot bed: The top-notch Hotel Piscis comes complete with casino and luxurious spa.
Terrain: Intrepid Andean adventures at breathtaking altitude.
Client fit: Gaucho-loving skiers.
Best mountain restaurant: Picnic on the rudders of your heli at the summit of another first descent.
Best resort restaurant: Steaks the size of saddlebags at the restaurant Escorpio.
Best non-skiing activity: Casino gambling.
Hot bed price: £8,840pp (four sharing), half-board, six days exclusive helicopter and guide.
Contact: 0870 738 7838, www.eaheliskiing.com
Recommended by James Morland, managing director, Elemental Adventure
BEST OF THE REST - ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND
Hot bed: The new spa at the Mont Cervin Palace.
Terrain: King of Alpine glacier skiing is the Matterhorn glacier.
Client Fit: Mountain lovers who'll indulge in oasis skiing, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Best restaurant: The idyllic Terrace at Zum See.
Best non-skiing activity: Ride the Gornergrat express to the summit.
Hot bed price: £1,080pp half-board, excluding flights and transfers.
Contact: www.seasonsinstyle.com
TERMAS DE CHILLAN, CHILE
Hot bed: Gran Hotel comes complete with indulgent spa and five-star service.
Terrain: Under volcanic peaks lies a small but perfectly formed network of pistes.
Client Fit: Upmarket gringos and spa-loving latinos.
Best restaurant: Avocados at Shangri-La.
Best non-skiing activity: Swimming in one of the hotel's three thermal pools.
Hot bed price: £934pp half-board, excluding flights and transfers.
Contact: www.skisafari.com
WANAKA, NEW ZEALAND
Hot bed: The understatedly stylish Minaret Lodge sits on the shores of the lake.
Terrain: Treble Cone and Cardrona are the two nearest ski areas, both offering stunning scenery, good heli-skiing and approachable terrain.
Client Fit: Rugged adventurous types.
Best restaurant: New Zealand lamb at Relishes.
Best non-skiing activity: Pick from the extreme pantheon, Zorbing, bungee jumping or skydiving.
Hot bed price: £749pp B&B, excluding flights and transfers.
Contact: www.minaretlodge.co.nz.
