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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools