Ski Independence launches new winter programme
After seeing a 10% rise in sales last year, Ski Independence has launched its ski programme with 31 resorts in North America, 31 in Europe and Niseko in Japan.
The operator said its top seller in Europe last year was the high altitude French resort Val Thorens, while in North America it was Whistler.
New for this year are the five-star Four Seasons Hotel on the slopes in the upmarket French resort Megeve, the five-star Hotel Daria-I Nor in Alpe d/Huez, the new Le Refuge de Solaise at the top of the new Solaise gondola in Val d’Isere, the ski-in, ski-out Limelight Lodge at Aspen Snowmass, and the Canalta Lodge in Banff.
The operator said it saw a trend towards shorter ski breaks last year, but spend per passenger was up year on year, possibly in part due to skiers switching to hotel rather than self-catering accommodation.
Regional flights from low-cost airlines including easyJet have made the slopes in the Alps more accessible, while Norwegian’s flights to Denver have reduced the cost of skiing in some North American resorts, it said.
However, British Airways has cancelled its Calgary service for the winter, making it harder to get seats on the only remaining service with Air Canada.
On the plus side, Air Canada has confirmed its free ski carriage on all transatlantic routes giving free ski and boot carriage in addition to the regular 23kg luggage allowance.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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