Ski Report

Jeremy Gates investigates the turning tide in favour package operators when it comes to booking your ski holiday this season, with new flights, deals and resorts on offer...

It looks as though ski operators - major brands like Crystal and Thomson and smaller, specialist firms - are holding off the challenge of "no-frills" airlines and customers who piece together cheaper DIY packages on the internet. The Ski Industry Report 2005, compiled by market leader Crystal Ski, claims the number of independent travellers to the slopes is still rising, up from 314,000 to 330,000 last winter. Yet the total number of packages sold by tour operators is up too, from 600,000 to 626,000 in 2004-5.

Says Andy Perrin, who heads family ski specialist Esprit Ski: "If you want a week's skiing in France in self-catering accommodation, who needs a tour operator these days? But if you want a good quality chalet or chalet hotel, with highly trained staff, exclusive ski instruction for a small number of children, fully qualified English-speaking nannies caring for the children, and the operator exercising direct control over in-flight meals on aircraft.... then you need an operator who can put all those things together when it is pretty difficult to do it yourself. Operators must give people good reason to use their services."

Operators are fighting back so effectively, says The Ski Industry Report, that the number of "no frills" flights to the slopes is actually falling. Total number of aircraft seats dropped from 904,000 to 824,000 last winter, with Easyjet dropping key Alpine target airports like Zurich as DIY travellers couldn't find enough saving against packaged products already available in the market. Scheduled airlines also provided fewer seats to ski destinations, while the number of seats available on tour operators' charter airlines rose slightly.

Skiers' choice of destinations is also polarising: France remains clear market leader, with 36%, while Austria slightly increased its market share to 20%-plus. Switzerland, Italy and Andorra all saw slight falls in the total number of British skiers, while America and Canada continued to advance on the back of the weak dollar and saw total market share exceed 6%.

Eastern Europe, say operators, is largely a price-driven market; it's cheap, but usually lacks facilities found in Western Europe and North America. However, the report indicates another change in the market: the sale of ski holidays by High Street travel agents in "terminal decline" as travellers turn to specialists focussing on a handful of destinations for a loyal clientele.

At Inghams, an operator which incorporates the Bladon Lines chalet and clubhotels division highly popular with groups, spokeswoman Lynsey Devon says e-brochures, downloaded electronically and packed with resort information, bring a rising number of bookings. "E-brochures are environmentally friendly and the way forward", she says.

Operators accept that prospects for the 2005/5 ski season are uncertain, because economic prospects hinge on a wobbly housing market, and rising fuel costs. Prices are likely to be 2-5% up on last winter, after early booking discounts have been phased out. Inghams' Lyndsey Devon predicts Canada will see bigger rises, because of increased flight costs, while prices in Bulgaria are being pushed higher by buoyant demand. There are also concerns bookings could be affected by both Christmas Day and New Year's Day falling on a Sunday, when skiers often hate to travel. A mid- April Easter 2006, is raising fears some resorts will be closed by then. An added concern is that the Winter Olympics in Turin in early-2006 will slash capacity in Northern Italy. Where does that market go this time around?

How are ski operators shaping up?
By the end of July, operators said about a quarter of 625,000 ski packages for 2005/6 were sold, with families chasing key dates, and group bookings leading the way. Says Andy Perrin at Esprit Ski: "If groups want a chalet sleeping twelve, they must get in early. Groups need to get their act together fast, when some early discounts allow one in five to go along for nothing."
Esprit ski reservations: 01252 618 300 or www.esprit-holidays.co.uk

Most operators offer early booking discounts, typically until the end of October. Trailfinders deals to Canada currently include seven nights in Tremblant from £609 and seven nights' in Banff National Park from £662.
Trailfinders Earlybird Ski Specials: 0845 050 5900 or www.trailfinders.com

Erwan Jacob, marketing manager at directski.com, which goes to France, Austria and Norway, predicts another key trend in 2005/6: with demand strong for short breaks from £250, couples planning longer breaks often mix skiing with exploring the area and shopping, which is why directski.com offers Oslo for the first time this season. "Two years ago people only went for skiing", says Jacob. "Now they might book Andorra for seven days, and spend two of those days shopping. In Oslo, they'll probably go to the museums. Even in France, there is growing interest in alternatives to ski: para-gliding, ski-jumps, possibly skating on the ice rink. Chamonix is very popular for shopping, too."
Directski.com reservations: 0800 587 0945 or www.directski.com

"If you want a good quality chalet or chalet hotel, with highly trained staff, exclusive ski instruction for a small number of children, nannies caring for the children.... then you need an operator who can put all those things together when it is pretty difficult to do it yourself. Operators must give people good reason to use their services."

Here are other trends to check out for the 2005/6 ski season:
Grab a cut-price deal from a "no frills" airline and book accommodation later. Jet2.com, the North's low-cost airline, offers regular flights into Chambery in the French Alps from Leeds/Bradford and Manchester, starting December 17, from £21 including taxes. More than 30 ski resorts are within an hour's drive of Chambery, including Courchevel, Les Arcs and Meribel, with Chamonix, Morzine and Val d'Isere about 90 minutes by car.
Jet2.com reservations: www.jet2.com/ski

To track down find the small specialist ski operators, contact The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) which has around 30 members covering Europe, North America and even South America. The new list for 2005/6 arrived in early September.
Call 0208 744 9280 or visit www.aito.co.uk

Smaller, independent travel agents specialising in skiing are also listed by AIT.
Call 0208 744 9271 or visit www.realholiday.co.uk

Check how long early booking discounts remain with each operator, because prices can rise by 5% afterwards, and possibly more if bookings are strong. At chalet specialist Total Ski, for instance, it's October 28. Its destinations include traffic-free Saas Fee, Switzerland, "the Pearl of the Alps", with additional chalets available in Courchevel, Val d'Isere, Les Gets in the Portes du Soleil area, Tignes and Les Arcs 2000. Lead-in price for seven nights' catered chalet accommodation is £329.
Total Ski reservations: 08701 633 633 or visit www.skitotal.com

Mix a ski trip with a city break. Swiss Travel Service, offers breaks in Zurich and Geneva starting at £349 for three nights' half-board in Geneva, including BA flights with Swiss Travel Service, and many hotels offer seven nights for the price of six. Kuoni's Switzerland winter programme is upping the choice of deluxe hotels, often within tailor-made packages, and looking to attract the family market with children's holidays from £110. Lead-in price is £229 per person for three nights at Les Nations in Geneva.
Kuoni Switzerland: 01306 747 008 or visit www.kuoni.co.uk

Squeeze eight days' full skiing from a Saturday-Saturday stay by taking the Snow Train to the French Alps, either from Calais, or from Paris via Eurostar. Trains run from December 23 untilMarch 31, to Chambery, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime la Plagne, Landry and Bourg St Maurice, all linked to principal resorts by ski bus in less than an hour. Les Arcs is only seven minutes by furnicular from Bourg St Maurice, so you are on the slopes by 9.30am on Saturday after travelling through Friday night. Return tickets to the slopes, from London or Folkestone, start at £169.
Rail Europe reservations: 08701 24 4646 and visit www.raileurope.co.uk

For skiing in the US/Canada, Virgin Snow should be a pacesetter by batching packages around its own flights. New resorts include Smugglers Notch in New England, and Steamboat, Aspen and Copper Mountain in Colorado. Virgin also pioneers "snow and sun" holidays, with Whistler / Hawaii a big hit and other skiers heading for Las Vegas and San Francisco. Canada saw fastest growth amongst Virgin skiers last winter, while Lake Tahoe in California proved most popular snow resort after record snowfalls.
Virgin Snow reservations: 0871 222 0308 and visit www.virgin.com/holidays

Crystal's lead-in prices for North America start at £399 for seven nights in Colorado. Crystal uses 20 UK airports next winter, including Leeds/Bradford, Belfast City, Southampton and Coventry.
Crystal Ski reservations: 0870 160 6040 or www.crystalholidays.co.uk

Market leader Thomson Ski has lined up 20 UK airports and added 17 new flights for 2005/6. Lead-in prices are £199 for seven nights' self-catering in Chamonix, and £399 for seven nights' room-only in Colorado, incl. return flights into Denver, from January free child places and free ski helmets are also included.
Thomson Ski reservations: 0870 606 1470 and www.thomson-ski.co.uk

Watch the chase for family bookings hotting up. Crystal, one of the biggest operators, launched "The Family Brochure" as a new concept in January 2005 and repeats the programme this year, with kids' clubs, a chance to meet Santa on ski trips in Finland, and Pepi Penguin Clubs with leisure activities for children into Summer 2006.
Crystal Family Brochure reservations: 0870 402 0293 and www.crystalholidays.co.uk

With childcare facilities a key selling point this winter, chalet-hotel specialist Mark Warner marks its 31st ski season with the addition of a new five-star hotel in Les Deux Alpes in the French Alps. Seven nights in early December at £564 per adult could be good if snow comes early. Mark Warner extends its daily children's clubs to 6.30pm for 4-12 year olds this season, and all its resorts offer exclusive ski schools for children.
Mark Warner reservations: 0870 770 4226 and www.markwarner.co.uk

Be wary of Italy in Olympic year, advises John Shephard of Equity Ski, an "all-in" ski specialist whose packages include lift pass, equipment hire, insurance, travel, half-board accommodation and guiding/ tuition. Says Shepherd: "Last season's growth came from new clients who not only don't want the hassle of booking holiday components separately, but who realise it's actually better value to do it in advance too." For those keen to see the Olympics, he advises: "A good way to enjoy the experience without the pain is to stay in Montgenevre just over the border". Equity Ski also has a cheaper "stripped down" internet based brand, Rocket Ski.
Equity Ski 08704 992 992 and www.equityski.co.uk Rocket Ski 08704 99 26 26 and www.rocketski.com

Exodus Snow's programme of winter activities across the Arctic, Alps, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia includes eight days in the Finnish Wilderness including snowshoeing, dogsledding with a team of huskies, cross country skiing and snowmobiling staying in remote areas like the Oulanka National Park from £899.
Exodus reservations: 0870 240 5550 and www.exodus.co.uk/snow

Waymark adds new packages to Eastern Europe, and Norwegian Lapland this year, a big choice of destinations in Norway, long weekends of cross country ski for individuals and groups, and expert instruction in Nordic skills in several centres.
Waymark reservations: 01753 516 477 and www.waymarkholidays.com

Prices and information correct at time of going to print. Please check for latest prices with individual operators.