Looking through a recent survey from Le Ski, I was struck by one stat in particular. While it was encouraging to read that the number of UK skiers and snowboarders is predicted to grow by 14% in winter 2023/24, the fact that only 13% stay in catered chalets highlighted how...
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is changing fast. A few years ago, it was just the name of one of Steven Spielberg’s less good movies, but in 2023 AI has moved from the world of ‘futurologists’ into the mainstream. The chances are that even if you haven’t tried ChatGPT (or Google’s ‘Bard’),...
Iain’s article ‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines‘ has now been published in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine. It’s also now available as a special episode of The Ski Podcast My first experience of working in the ski industry came 35 years ago when I went to Chatel...
Iain from Skipedia recently went ski touring in Morocco. Flying into Marrakech, and then travelling to Imlil (1740m), Iain then spent three nights at the Refuge des Mouflons (3207m), ski touring to different 4000m peaks. Ski hire was from Braemar Mountain Sports, guiding and logistics were organised by Toubkal Guide. You...
These are difficult days for the ESF in the UK. The current legal cases against Simon Butler and Le Ski have stirred up plenty of negative sentiment within the British market against the ESF. Both cases – which deal with different aspects of the law – are currently at different...
Okay, not strictly anything to do with marketing, but just for fun… So why do chalet girls bake a cake every day? As far as I know chalets have always left out a cake for their guests to tuck into for ‘afternoon tea’. After a long day on the slopes,...
I found this research from SIA (Snowsports Industries America) fascinating. 1. Don’t hassle me on social media 2. Put on a great event for me 3. Let me find your brand when I’m already thinking about snowsports 4. Definitely don’t try and reach me via TikTok You can find out more about SIA in my...
On 10 September, Iain hosted the ‘Ski Launch 2024’ forum at the Tara Copthorne Hotel in London. Keynote: Why Vail Resorts are buying in Europe (and what it means for the Epic Pass) Mike Goar was the keynote speaker, outlining Vail Resorts strategy for expansion in Europe (but disappointingly refusing to confirm any of the rumoured...
The latest ski destination to be linked heavily with Vail Resorts is Flims Laax in Switzerland. After their acquisitions of Crans Montana and Andermatt Sedrun, it’s believed the company is keen to add further resorts to their portfolio of 42 ski areas across the world. Is Flims Laax next on the list for Vail Resorts?...
Iain travelled to Chamonix in February 2024 to report on the centenary of the first ever Winter Olympics, which took place there in 1924. His article has now been published online by Skier and Snowboarder Magazine. It will appear in print in their Autumn edition next month. Listen to Iain’s report from Chamonix here:
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...
Over the last few months, I’ve been moving my clients off Twitter. For most of the last decade I’ve enjoyed representing my clients on Twitter, especially when I ran the Les 3 Vallées account, and was able to engage with holidaymakers enjoying that wonderful ski area. But as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp arrived on...
