Exclusive: Tignes to split from Compagnie des Alpes

Tignes has decided to take back control of its ski area from Compagnie des Alpes.

The local commune confirmed that the current contract with STGM – the subsidiary company that is 78% owned by Compagnie des Alpes – will expire on 31 May 2026.

Lifts valued at €100 million

At this point, a new company formed by the commune will take over operations, including the employment of 300 staff.

The handover will include a payment of around EUR100 million to cover the cost of the ski lifts and an option to buy other assets (which we understand to be snow groomers and other equipment) for EUR7.5 million.

Tignes have confirmed that the Espace Killy links with Val d’Isère will be unaffected by the change.

Compagnie des Alps has managed Tignes since 1989

Compagnie des Alpes took over operation of the Tignes ski area in 1989/90 after the resort suffered financial difficulties and was on the verge of bankruptcy.

In 2020, Les 2 Alpes took the decision to take ownership back from Compagnie des Alpes, forming their own lift company, SATA (now known as AEON).

Compagnie des Alpes owns and manages many of France’s largest resorts, including Val d’Isère, La Plagne and Les Arcs. The turnover of the group’s ski areas in 2024 to date is EUR542 million, up 13% year on year.

“The idea is to better manage our future”

Serge Revial, mayor of Tignes said:

“The idea…is to be able to better manage our future and to be able to continue to offer our customers a quality service with a particular focus on the environment and decarbonization.”

Vail Resorts on their mind?

It’s interesting to me to see a ski resort ‘taking back control’ (to coin a phrase), but especially to claim that the rationale is to improve environmental issues, as Compagnie des Alpes is a leader in this area.

CdA has a net zero target and is taking multiple actions to reduce their footprint.

I have no evidence of this at all, but could it be that at a time that Vail Resorts is being increasingly acquisitive – having already purchased Andermatt and Crans Montana in Europe and being transparent about wanting more to add more Alpine resorts – it’s a useful time for a ski resort to become independent.