Val Thorens named world’s best ski resort- again
France’s high-altitude resort of Val Thorens has been named as the best place in the world to ski for the fourth time in five years.
The resort, which is the highest in Europe, scooped the title of World’s Best Ski Resort at the 2017 World Ski Awards, held in Kitzbuhel in Austria.
LAAX in Switzerland was judged to be the best freestyle resort.
Sunweb, which operates in the UK and several other European countries, was judged to be the World’s Best Ski Tour Operator. Swiss Leo Trippi scooped the trophy for World’s Best Ski Travel Agent.
The W Verbier was named as the Word’s Best Ski Hotel and Chalet Les Anges in Zermatt was crowned best ski chalet. The Vale Niseko in Japan was voted best ski boutique hotel.
In a first for World Ski Awards, Rocksresort in the Swiss resort of LAAX – whose stone buildings are heated with entirely renewable biomass energy – was voted World’s Best Green Ski Hotel.
Bergbahn AG Kitzbuhel was also honoured during the red carpet event, taking the title of World’s Best Ski Resort Company, while Bella Coola Heli Sports in Canada was recognised as World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator and Ski-Lifts picked up the award for World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator.
Meanwhile LAAX was celebrating having been recognised by voters as World’s Best Freestyle Resort, while Ski Dubai scooped the trophy for Best Indoor Ski Resort.
Hip design-led hotel, Fahrenheit Seven in Val Thorens, collected the trophy for World’s Best New Ski Hotel while Alpaca, in the French resort of M-©ribel, was recognised as World’s Best New Ski Chalet.
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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